HermIRES it’s a cross-platform hires bitmap (Art Studio 1 format) editor for the Commodore 64.

The format has some restrictions, here are the rules:

• The maximal resolution of the picture is 320×200
• Only 16 fix C64 colours can be used (no gradient either)
• In a 8×8 pixel-block only 2 colours can used to be displayable by C64 (this is detected in HermIRES, but .hbm files can be saved with clashes too.)
• On a real C64 the PAL will blur the screen-content a bit, should check on CRT, or at least VICE emulator’s CRT simulation.

Changelog:

• Gave 45 pixel taskbar-height for GUI-size auto-detector (more tolerance)
• LoadVPL() is now before LoadFile() in ‘main’ (by commandline-argument or from config-setting) so opening .png/.bmp at startup is converted correctly with the latest palette.
• Caption name now doesn’t contain the extra letter at the end (string-delimiter 0 was put in wrong place by loop)

Download:

• HermIRES v1.28 (Windows/Linux) (908)

source: hermit.netne.net

SNDH archive v4.1 released – 3726 SNDH files (total 7003 tunes)

Ever since the birth of the Atari ST, different chip music formats have had different ways to use them. If you are coding a chip music player for the Atari ST you would have to use dozens and dozens of special ways to replay music.

But in the mid 90′s, BDC of Aura crew became tired of this inelegant system and decided to fix the issue once and for all. He then created the ‘SNDH’ file format. SNDH is actually the original songfile and replaycode with a header bolted on top of the music and replayer. The header has a unified calling interface no matter what type of chip music is hidden beneath it, and it has extended datas about the music.

Download: SNDH Atari ST YM2149 Archive v4.1 (1305)

source: sndh.atari.org

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

• A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
• A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Firmware Slim SD HxCFloppyEmulator v2.0.2.2:

• First public SD Slim version firmware.

Release notes for the HxCFloppyEmulator software v2.0.12.2:

• GUI now Based on FLTK : http://www.fltk.org/
• Windows / Mac / Linux support ( http://torlus.com/floppy/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1120  ;) )
• New library : libhxcfe -> Contains the floppy management functions (track generator/images loaders/analyser/file system layer…).
• New library : libusbhxcfe -> Contains the HxC USB Floppy Emulator support layer.
• New Integrated DOS Disk browser : Can generate / add / get / remove files from any DOS HFE files.
• New Track Viewer/Analyser : Low level floppy track is now analysed and displayed.
• “Load Raw image” : Predefined floppy disk format description in XML (based on Expat XML Parser)
• New low level Track format : TYCOM (custom FM) & MEMBRAIN (custom MFM)
• Floppy disk dump : “missing sector” issue with some FDC corrected.
• FM Track format : desync added to the end of the track to solve the SCAN command issue with some FDC.
• Disk Browser : Support of special/custom 2.5MB DD & 4.5MB HD FAT floppy disk format.
• Batch converter : It is now possible to batch convert RAW images files.
• Track pregap support/setting added.
• Some issues corrected & enhancement in the following loader : D88,JV3,DMK,IMD,AFI,EDE,OricDSK,Emax…
• New file export support : TI99/4A V9T9 file image
• New Loader : Kryoflux Stream Loader (*XX.X.raw) / analyser.
• New Loader : Sega System24 Loader (*.S24)
• New Loader : Apple 2 NIB image support added. (*.NIB)
• New Loader : Casio FZF floppy image support added.
• W30 Loader : Roland S50/S330/S550 image support added.
• HFE Files : New alternate format flags for the track 0 side 0 & side 1.
• Sanity check function added to some loader.
• And a lot of minor corrections/enhancement too.

Download:

• HxCFloppyEmulator v2.0.12.2 (1115)
• Slim HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v2.0.2.2 (940)

source: hxc2001.free.fr lotharek.pl

Some new games (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: Alpha Flight, Alf Yngve, Antarctica, Onslaught, Nostalgia and Really Proud Lamers.

Download:

• Psycho Soldier +7DFIR 101% (1004)
• Labyrinth +2D (Shaun Southern) (945)
• Spy Rider (922)
• Inertiania +2D (970)
• Bad Scrolling Game Preview +2H (940)
• Berzerk Redux Special Edition +4DF 101% [pal/ntsc] (942)
• All Games in One Archive (2322)

source: csdb.dk

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I had several problems with the repair of the Hewlett-Packard HP-85.

The first problem was the way to reconstruct the pinch roller using a latex tube, this is a very bad choice, then i have used a 10mm heat shrink, this choice instead is very good.

The second problem was the rubber parts of the pinch roller are literally dissolved and the rubber is went to cover the optical diode and part of the pcb and of course nothing has worked and the tape drive was always in stalled state.

After cleaning, the drive started to work perfectly. The last problem are the magnetic tapes 3M DC-1000 instead of HP DC-100, for the correct operation you must perform a modification by adding a resistor of 2kohm in parallel to the already present on the pcb. After this mod you need to format the tape with the “erasetape” command.

I must also thank John of the site vintagecomputers.freeserve.co.uk for the support.

Download:

• 3M Data Cartridge Compatibility List (1609)
• Athana DC100A / 3M DC-1000 Fix (1371)

source: voidware.com/calcs/hp85rep hp9845.net vintagecomputers.freeserve.co.uk

Autopsy:

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from Wikipedia:

The Hewlett-Packard series 80 of small scientific desktop computers was introduced in 1980, beginning with the popular HP-85 targeted at engineering and control applications. They provided the capability of the HP 9800 series desktop computers in a smaller package including storage and printer, at half the price. Ultimately, the market for desktop computing would go to IBM PC compatible personal computers (the IBM PC was announced shortly after the 80 series).

The first model of the Series 80 was the HP-85, introduced in January 1980. In a typewriter-style desktop case, it contained the CPU and keyboard, 16 kB dynamic RAM, a 5-inch CRT screen (16 lines of 32 characters, or 256×192 pixels), a tape drive for DC-100 cartridges (210 kB capacity, 650 B/s transfer) and a thermal printer. Both the screen and printer display graphics in addition to text, and the printer can copy anything shown on the screen. The chassis includes four module slots in the back for expansion which can hold memory modules, ROM extensions, or interfaces such as RS-232 and GPIB.

All components were designed at the Hewlett-Packard Personal Computer Division in Corvallis, Oregon, including the processor and core chipset. Later models offered variations such as different or external displays, built-in interfaces or a rack-mountable enclosure.

The machines were built around an HP-proprietary CPU code-named “Capricorn” running at 625 kHz (0.6 MHz, sic) and had a BASIC interpreter in ROM (32 kB). Programs could be stored on DC-100 cartridge tapes or on external disk/tape units.

Despite the comparatively low processor clock frequency, the machines were quite advanced compared to other desktop computers of the time, in particular regarding software features relevant to technical and scientific use. The standard number representation was a floating point format with a 12-digit (decimal) mantissa and exponents up to ±499. The interpreter supported a full set of scientific functions (trigonometric functions, logarithm etc.) at this accuracy. The language supported two-dimensional arrays, and a ROM extension made high-level functions such as matrix multiplication and inversion available.

For the larger HP-86 and HP-87 series, HP also offered a plug-in CP/M processor card with a separate Zilog Z-80 processor.

Video:

source: wikipedia

Some new games (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: Iceout, Norbert Kehrer, onebitman, Onslaught, Nostalgia, Martin Piper, RGCD and Genesis Project.

Download:

• Bad Scrolling Game Preview (1094)
• Asteroids Emulator (Build March 18, 2013) (972)
• Invasor +2 100% (969)
• Sheer Earth Attack +2D (939)
• Finding Elvis (914)
• Asteroids Emulator +6D 101% (965)
• Black Hawk +9D (988)
• Berzerk Redux Special Edition +4D 101% (930)
• Berzerk Redux Final (crt) (943)
• All Games in One Archive (2332)

source: csdb.dk

Autopsy:

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from Wikipedia:

The GX4000 was Amstrad’s short-lived attempt to enter the games console market. The console was released in Europe in 1990 and was an upgraded design based on the then still-popular CPC technology. The GX4000 shared hardware architecture with Amstrad’s CPC Plus computer line, which were released concurrently, this allowed the system to be compatible with the majority of CPC Plus software.

The GX4000 was both Amstrad’s first and only attempt at entering the console market. Although offering enhanced graphics capabilities, it failed to gain popularity in the market, and was quickly discontinued, selling 15,000 units in total.

James Harding of The Times said that the console was “promptly outgunned by the 16-bit Sega Mega Drive and Super Nintendo – it failed the cardinal test of entrepreneurship: stamina.”

After months of speculation, the GX4000 was officially announced along with the 464 plus, and 6128 plus computers at the CNIT Centre in Paris in August 1990. The system was launched a month later in four countries, Britain, France, Spain, and Italy, priced at £99.99 in Britain, and 990f in France, software was priced at £25 for most titles. The racing game Burnin’ Rubber, a power pack, and two controllers were bundled with the machine.

Initial reviews of the console were favourable, with CVG calling it a “neat looking and technically impressive console that has an awful lot of potential at the very low price of £99″, but while impressed by the graphical capabilities, they criticised the audio and controllers. ACE magazine came to a similar conclusion, stating that the system “puts the other 8-bit offerings to shame bar the PC-Engine”.

A marketing budget of £20 million was set aside for Europe, with the advertising focused on selling the GX4000 as a home alternative to playing arcade games, the tagline for the machine was “Bring the whole arcade into your home!”

source: wikipedia

Replacement:

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Simple steps to replace the keyboard Membrane of the Sinclair ZX81. The removal of the old keyboard is not illustrated but it is a very easy job.

• Open the Sinclair ZX81.
• Place the membrane.
• Remove the adhesive protection.
• Place the membrane and press firmly.
• Check the Membrane Connector.
• Gently insert the connectors on the pcb side.
• Close the Sinclair ZX81.
• Enjoy.

source: rwapsoftware.co.uk

AspeQt is a cross-platform, free and open source Atari 8-bit serial peripheral emulator. The name is an acronym for Atari serial peripheral emulator for Qt, Qt being the cross-platform application development framework used by AspeQt.

AspeQt emulates various Atari 8-bit peripherals like disk drives and printers via an SIO-2-PC cable. If you are familiar with software like Sio2Pc, APE, Atari810, AtariSIO etc., you probably won’t have any problems getting used to AspeQt.

Even though AspeQt is not fully mature yet, it is easy to use and, despite its shortcomings, has many features that you may find useful, the highlights being:

• Up to 15 disk drive emulation.
• Up to 6x SIO speed (125,000bps)
• Support for ATR, XFD, PRO and ATX (preliminary) disk images.
• Mount folders as emulated disks.
• Disk image explorer.
• Directly boot Atari executables.
• Text only printer emulation with PC print, save, and ATASCII font support.
• Cassette image playback.
• Multilingual GUI (English, Polish, Slovak, German, Turkish and Russian)
• AspeQt client module (AspeCl) for Atari, communicates with the server and performs a variety of remote operations.

Changelog:

• Added an option (Options/Emulation menu) to selectively enable/disable filtering of underscore character from file names in Folder Images (Ray Ataergin)
• Fixed a problem where “Unmount All” menu item was only unmounting the first 8 images. (Marcin Sochacki)
• Updated Polish language translations (Marcin Sochacki – TheMontezuma)

Download:

• AspeQt v0.8.8 (Windows) (1014)
• AspeQt v0.8.8 Changelog (998)
• AspeQt v0.8.5 Manual (English/German) (1551)

source: aspeqt.sourceforge.net

I have repaired an motherboard of a Commodore CBM 4008 for a friend. The computer at the start-up shows only a black screen

The components that have been replaced are:

• 1 x Video Ram 2114
• 2 x SN74LS244
• 1 x 6520

The computer after the repair works perfectly. You can see from the Photo.

Autopsy:

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from Wikipedia:

The Sinclair ZX80 is a home computer brought to market in 1980 by Science of Cambridge Ltd. (later to be better known as Sinclair Research). It is notable for being the first computer (unless one counts the MK14) available in the United Kingdom for less than a hundred pounds (£99.95). It was available in kit form, where purchasers had to assemble and solder it together and as a ready-built version at a slightly higher cost. The ZX80 was very popular straight away, and for some time there was a waiting list of several months for either version of the machine.

Internally, the machine was designed by Jim Westwood around a Z80 central processing unit with a clock speed of 3.25 MHz, and was equipped with 1 kB of static RAM and 4 kB of read-only memory (ROM). The ZX80 was designed around readily available TTL chips; the only proprietary technology was the firmware. While the successor ZX81 used a semi-custom chip (a ULA or Uncommitted Logic Array), this merely combined the functions of the earlier hardware onto a single chip — the hardware and system programs (except the BASIC versions) were very similar, with the only significant difference being the NMI-generator necessary for slow mode in the ZX81. (See ZX81 for technical details.) Both computers can be made by hobbyists using commercially available discrete logic chips or FPGAs.

The ROM contained the Sinclair BASIC programming language, editor, and operating system. BASIC commands were not entered by typing them out but were instead selected somewhat similarly to a scientific calculator – each key had a few different functions selected by both context and modes as well as with the shift key.

The machine was mounted in a tiny white plastic case, with a one-piece blue membrane keyboard on the front; it owed its distinctive appearance to industrial designer Rick Dickinson. There were problems with durability, reliability and overheating (despite appearances, the black stripes visible on the top rear of the case are merely cosmetic, and are not ventilation slots).

source: wikipedia

Autopsy:

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from Wikipedia:

The Enterprise is a Zilog Z80-based home computer first produced in 1985. It was developed by British company Intelligent Software and marketed by Enterprise Computers. Its two variants are the Enterprise 64, with 64 kilobytes (kB) of Random Access Memory (RAM), and the Enterprise 128, with 128 kB of RAM.

The Enterprise has a 4 megahertz (MHz) Z80 Central processing unit (CPU), 64 kB or 128 kB of RAM, and 32 kB of internal read-only memory (ROM) that contains the EXOS operating system and a screen editor / word processor. The BASIC programming language was supplied on a 16 kB ROM module.

Two application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips take some of the workload off of the central processor. They are named “Nick” and “Dave” after their designers, Nick Toop, who had previously worked on the Acorn Atom, and Dave Woodfield. “Nick” manages graphics, while “Dave” handles sound and memory paging (bank switching).

A bank switching scheme allows the memory to be expanded to a maximum of 4 megabytes (MB). The highest 2 address lines from the Z80 are used to select one of the four 8-bit Page Registers in Dave chip. The output from the selected register is used as the highest 8 bits of the 22-bit address bus, while the lowest 14 bits come directly from the Z80 address bus. Effectively, the 64 kB address space of the Z80 processor is divided into four 16k sections. Any 16k page from the 4 MB address space can be mapped to any of these sections. The lowest two pages (pages 0 and 1) of the 4 MB address space contain system ROM.

The next four pages (2 to 5) are reserved for a ROM cartridge (max 64 kB). The top four pages (pages 252 to 255, totaling 64 kB) are used as video RAM, but can be used for storage of program code and data as well. On the 128k model, the additional 64 kB of ram is mapped on pages 248 to 251. The remaining memory space can be used by external devices and memory modules connected to the expansion bus.

Loading a demo from Tape:

source: wikipedia ep128.hu

Homemade video connector for the computer Enterprise 64/128.

source: enterprise.iko.hu

I have repaired an Enterprise 64 (SixtyFour) for a friend. The defect via Composite or RF was a Black Screen but with the RGB output you could see a video signals without vertical sync.

The components that have been replaced are:

• 1 x BC337
• 1 x 74LS86 (HSync/VSync to Csync)
• 1 x 74LS32 (HSync/VSync to Csync)

The computer after the repair works perfectly. You can see from the Photo.

Download: Enterprise 64/128 Schematics (1062)

source: enterprise.iko.hu