This weekend's haul

From: Roger Merchberger <zmerch_at_northernway.net>
Date: Fri May 30 08:12:42 1997

Due to massive amounts of caffeine & sleep deprivation, A.R. Duell said:

>> Interesting. How are the drives interfaced to the CoCos? I've got a
>> CoCo1, CoCo2, and CoCo3, but I've never found a disk drive for these
>> machines.

>You need a disk interface cartridge. It fits into the ROMpack slot, and
>it contains a ROM containing the disk extenstions to BASIC and the disk
>controller (WD1773 in later models, WD1793? in earlier ones). The disk
>drive plugs into a 34 pin connector on the end of the cartridge
>
>Late version disk interfaces (FD500 and later) work in all CoCo's. Early
>interfaces need a 12V line (I forget if it's +ve or -ve) that's only
>available on the CoCo1. Of course there's nothing to stop you hacking it.

Uhhhh, yea, what he said. I forgot to mention the disk interface cartridge
in my last post... I have a few Disto mini-controllers (MC-1's) sans case
if you're interested... I think I have a PD dos available as well, as the
DOS chip (on ROM) is no longer available from RS.

>> Heh. I couldn't even get mine apart, because of the two six-pointed
>> screws on the bottom. The screws have a lump in the middle so I can't use
>> a flat-blade screwdriver as I did when I had a similar problem opening my
>> Mac 512K.

>Tamperproof TORX screws. Drivers for them are available from good tool
>shops in the UK - I have a reasonably complete set to deal with such
>things...

Boy... y'all got everything over there, don't you? I've *never* seen a
T-proof Torx screwdriver on this side of the pond... therefore I just
tampered the tamperproofs to get in.

HTH,
"Merch"
--
Roger Merchberger       | If at first you don't succeed,
Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should
zmerch_at_northernway.net  | *not* be your first career choice.
Received on Fri May 30 1997 - 08:12:42 BST

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