Re: CP/M on //e?

[louiss@gate.net (Louis Schulman)]

In <53aeoe$bsf@newsflash.concordia.ca>, ds_spenc@alcor.concordia.ca (Doug Spence) writes:
>Greetings!
>
>I recently upgraded my failing ][+ clone to a //e, only to find that I 
>can't get CP/M up and running on it.  When I try to boot from the CP/M 
>disk, I either get a totally munged screen or some munge and a "CAN'T 
>FIND Z80 SOFTCARD" message.  Sometimes the LED on the card lights up.
>
>The card still works on the ][+.  I've tried it in every slot of the //e, 
>and I've tried it without any other cards installed except the floppy 
>controller.
>
>The software doesn't come up with a version number, only a copyright 
>notice (Microsoft) from 1980.  I don't have the original disks or 
>documentation.
>
>My //e's motherboard is a revision A (in case it's relevant).
>
>Thanks for any help.
>
>
>Doug Spence
>DS_SPENC@alcor.concordia.ca

What you evidently have is a timing problem that occurs with certain coprocessor
cards (like the Z-80) and certain versions of the //e.  The fact that you have a 
Revision A may be relevent, because this problem does not occur for everyone.

I have no problem with any version of the Z-80 cards or with the Stellation Mill
6809 coprocessor on my revision B //e.  But the person who sold me the 6809
card couldn't run it on his //e, but it ran on his //+

The bottom line is you will probably need a different Z80 card, and/or a different
//e.  I don't know of any cure for a timing mismatch.

Louis