Re: Pascal file system and Superdrive on IIgs

["Tim Haynes" <timhaynes@alumni.NO.SPAM.PLEASE.uwaterloo.ca>]

Hi David,

Thanks for the great reply.  My comments follow:

"David Empson" <dempson@actrix.gen.nz> wrote in message
1fobhiv.lfkiixskmbdmN%dempson@actrix.gen.nz">news:1fobhiv.lfkiixskmbdmN%dempson@actrix.gen.nz...
> Tim Haynes <timhaynes@alumni.NO.SPAM.PLEASE.uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
>
> > Hmmm... I posted about the FTA Weaky demo not loading properly on my
> > Superdrive controller-enabled ROM 01 IIgs.  It turns out that any Pascal
file
> > system floppy disk will boot into a '3.5" Disk Controller Test' on this
> > machine.  This prevents such floppies from booting.  Does anyone have
any
> > suggestions for getting around this self test so that the disk actually
> > boots??
>
> It sounds like the built-in self test of the SuperDrive controller is
> being invoked when Pascal attempts to boot.  The test software has a
> specific entry point somewhere near the start of the $Cn00 area, but it
> isn't documented in the user manual so I'd have to go hunting for more
> detailed information.  Pascal must be calling this location (or
> something which falls into it) during the boot sequence.

Sounds reasonable.  I didn't know of this built-in self test!  Is it only
invoked by jumping to a memory address, or is there some startup key
sequence that gets you there, too?  Just curious...

> The most likely issue is the slot in which the SuperDrive card is
> installed.  If the card is in slot 4, 5 or 6 then Pascal knows to treat
> it as a disk controller.  (Pascal 1.3 will be able to use the SuperDrive
> card, but earlier versions will ignore it because it doesn't look like a
> 5.25" controller.)

It's actually in slot 5.  I have my slot 5 turned to "your card".  Another
weird thing about this configuration is that one of my 5.25" drives has it's
drive light continually on.  I'm not sure if maybe my AppleTalk is doing
that, though - it seems to flicker along with the lights on my Gatorbox (but
only when my drives are daisychained into my Superdrive controller).

> If it is in slot 1 or 2, then Pascal will try to treat it as a printer
> or modem interface respectively, and may be attempting to call specific
> entry points on the card to initialize it.  If this is the case then
> your options are to either disable the slot before attempting to boot a
> Pascal disk, or move the SuperDrive card to slot 4, 5 or 6.
>
> Slot 3 would have the same problems as 1 and 2 - Pascal expects the
> primary text I/O device to be there (80 column card or something like a
> serial interface for an external terminal).
>
> Pascal ignores slot 7 unless you are running special drivers, so you
> could put the SuperDrive card there if you want to completely ignore it
> in Pascal.

That would screw up my AppleTalk, though, right?  (ROM 01)

Thanks, David!