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Re: Apple Integer BASIC firmware card



Stephen Shaw <xstephenx@apple2.org.za> wrote:

> You can use them to "break" copy protected software. When you flick the switch
> which protrudes out at the back of the card in generates a non maskable
> interrupt (NMI).

You're thinking of a different card, such as a "Wildcard".

With the Integer BASIC firmware card, all the switch does is set the
initial state of the latch which determines whether the card is
overriding ROM when you press Control-Reset.

You can use it to reset into the monitor without any chance of the
software intercepting the reset operation, but this is more intrusive
than an NMI.

With a Wildcard, there is a button attached to the card which generates
an NMI.  This is intercepted by firmware on the card, which then does a
memory dump directly to disk.