Re: Need help with Micro$oft Softcard

[Patrick Schaefer <patrick.schaefer@topmail.de>]

sirarlias@webtv.net schrieb:

> Anyway, does the card activate only when CP/M software is present? I'm
> asking because the red LED on top of the card doesn't light up when I
> turn on my IIe. 

The card is getting activated when a CP/M disk is booted. You should be
able to find Apple CP/M (it has to be in 16 sector GCR format, MFM disks
don't work) on the usual ftp servers.


> Also, what is the correct settings for the DIP switches?

SW1 allows DMA when Z80 is active -> open it or write a new OS
SW2 disables address relocation (a Z80 starts up at 0000h, the 6502 has
its zero page there. To avoid conflicts all addresses are shifted, e.g.
I/O appears at 0Exxxh instead of $Cxxx) -> open it
SW3 connects Z80's NMI to the Apple slots
SW4 connects Z80's INT to the Apple slots

If you don't intend to use interrupts with the Z80, open these two
switches. Default position ist all four opened.


> And...I'm not done yet...which slot is best for this
> card? 

The card will run in each slot. It uses /IOsel, but not /Devsel, that
means it could co-exist with a Saturn-style RAM expansion in a single
slot.

Usually you will put it into slot 4 or slot 7. CP/M expects a video
terminal (80col board) in slot 3, a printer (ser or par) in slot 1 and a
reader/puncher device (SSC) in slot 2. You have to boot from slot 6.


Patrick