Re: Softcard Flakyness

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

Linards Ticmanis wrote:
> I'm currently having trouble with a Softcard, a 1:1 clone of the 
> Microsoft design, it seems.
>
> The card works well in a IIe, but fails to work in a II+. The symptom is 
> random crashes during or shortly after I boot CP/M 2.23. The card 
> doesn't seem to disturb normal 6502 operation though.
>
> I tried pulling all cards except for the Sofcared and one Disk II 
> controller. No improvement.
>
> Unfortunately I don't own a second II+ and/or a second Softcard to test.
>
> What do you think? Is this likely to be some problem on the II+ 
> mainboard, or is the card likely to be at fault?
>
> Thanks for any tips.

Interesting...  The original SoftCard is supposed to be flakey in
a //e (and, of course, work reliably in a ][ or ][+).

The SoftCard uses several features of an Apple II that are not
often used in other cards (like DMA), so it may be exercising
things that don't work on your ][+.  Unfortunately, it will take
either serious work with a 'scope and/or logic analyzer or several
parts substitutions to localize the problem.

(You have tried "skootching" all the socketed chips up and reseating
them, right?)

-michael

Music synthesis for 8-bit Apple II's!
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/

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