Re: Z-RAM for IIc: install questions

[dockery@griffin.cuc.ab.ca (Sean Dockery)]

sebugg@presby.edu wrote the following article:

| 1) The board is AE Z-RAM (1985), Rev B, while the manual is Z-RAM II,
| v. 1.0.  Are there any important changes between these two models?

The manual should have instructions on how to install previous versions of
the Z-RAM cards.

| 4) Any suggestions of technique for easing the board down onto the
| CPU and MMU sockets?   It appears to be a "flying by instruments"

Make sure the you are pressing the board down hard enough.  If the pins are
not in correctly, it'll either hang the machine with some interesting
images on the screen, or the internal disk drive won't start up.  Do not
close up the machine until you have verified that it is working properly
(saves having to take it apart again and again.)

| 5) The manual mentioned that a DISK was provided with Z-RAM with
| diagnostics, CP/M tests, etc.   Does anyone have a copy of this diskette
| which they could bootleg over to me?  (I presume that if I have the
| RAM board, then the descendants of now-defunct Applied Engineering
| will not mind me getting an informal copy of the diskette.   B-)

The manual should detail how these tests can be accomplished by explaining
how to use the card in the "programmer's section."  :-)

| 6) I have five IIc computers.  Three were Unidisk 3.5" IIc's, while
| three were original IIc's,all of which are now upgraded to Unidisk 3.5

three + three == five ???

| model via the free upgrade program.  Main difference remaining is that
| the older ones (original IIc) have the bulky plastic-framed keyboard
| made by Atlanta photocircuits.
| 
| Will the RAM board fit below the bulky plastic keyboard frame?  I have

You will have to remove the keyboard brace, period.  The card will not fit
into the machine otherwise.  It is a simple pinch and push operation on the
ends of the plastic pins attaching it to the keyboard.

| not yet checked this, but I suspect that I will have to select a computer
| that does not have either a ZIP CHIP or a No Slot Clock.  The ZIP and NSC
| will likely by too tall to fit inside; correct?

I have an RC accelerator installed on my Z-RAM II.  You're ZIP chip will
not give you a problem.  I don't know what a NSC looks like; the Z-RAM II
has a built-in clock.

| If this board works and I will be able to run CP/M software, where do
| you get it?  Is it the abundant Commodore 64/128 software found at
| every yard sale?   B-)

You will not be able to run Z-80 software.  The version which included a
Z-80 CPU is the Z-RAM III.

| sebugg@presby.edu
-- 
Sean Dockery                        |  Tickle us, do we not laugh?
Griffin Software Development Group  |  Prick us, do we not bleed?
dockery@griffin.cuc.ab.ca           |  Wrong us, shall we not revenge?