XEGS "memory error flight simulator will not run on atari 400 or 800"

[Joey Z]

famicommander, boot the atari XEGS up to BASIC (you'll get the READY prompt) and type

POKE 54017, 128

followed by the return key. If the system crashes, you have a working XEGS, as far as I can tell, and I don't know why the FS II cart isn't working. If you system doesn't crash, and continues to run BASIC normally, you have a hardware issue preventing the OSROM from being disabled.

[Rybags]

That'd work insofar as testing a fault that might be PIA or MMU.

 

Here's a type-in program that gives a visual Ram test. It only shows most of the last 8K under the OS but should be sufficient to show up any problems.

Once you run it, press START to reverse what's stored in the RAM. The screen will reflect that (holding Start it'll flash between all zeros and all ones set).

 

If there's some glitches in the memory the screen will have dots rather than a totally solid block.

5 GOSUB 200
10 GRAPHICS 24:POKE 709,0:POKE 710,170
20 D=PEEK(560)+PEEK(561)*256
30 POKE D+5,224:POKE D+101,240
40 Z=USR(1536)
50 DATA 120,160,0,140,14,212,169,254,141,1
60 DATA 211,132,224,132,226,169,224,133,225,152
70 DATA 177,224,73,255,37,226,145,224,200,208
80 DATA 245,230,225,208,241,169,255,133,226,169
90 DATA 8,141,31,208,173,31,208,201,6,208
100 DATA 244,240,218,0,-1
200 TRAP 250:FOR A=1536 TO 1700:READ D:POKE A,D:NEXT A
250 POP :RETURN

Edited November 26, 2014 by Rybags

[famicommander]

How do I boot into basic? If I turn it on with the keyboard on and no cart, it boots right into the self test screen.

[Rybags]

It shouldn't do that. Try holding Select when powering on and see if it's any different.

 

Default behaviour should be Missile Command if no kb, Basic if one present. Select switches that behaviour. Option requests Self-Test.

[famicommander]

With no cart in, select boots to Missile Command.

 

With no cart but the keyboard plugged in, it flashes the BASIC with a cursor but it immediately goes to the self test screen before the "ready" shows up.

[_The Doctor__]

Oh you don't have a drive... try select and option together press some number keys...... adding a sio drive of some kind would be most helpful

Edited November 27, 2014 by _The Doctor__

[Rybags]

Normal behaviour is you'll get a blue screen+cursor before Self-Test, that's the attempted disk boot.

 

Seems there's something amiss somewhere with this machine - makes it a bunch harder to do any diagnostics if you can't get to Basic or run downloaded programs on it.

Maybe the Option key is sticking, which would prevent Basic starting, but doesn't explain the FS II cart message.

Edited November 27, 2014 by Rybags

[_The Doctor__]

FS II was suppose to allow a dos to load and allow saving and scenery disk... yes or no?

 

Boot options:
For Missile Command
(a) With XE keyboard not connected:
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk
drive.
(b) With XE keyboard connected:
- Hold down [select] while turning on the computer with no cartridge
inserted and no powered disk drive.
For Self Test program
- Hold down [Option] while turning on the computer with no cartridge
installed and no powered disk drive.
For Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
For Cassette
1. Hold down [start] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [Play] on the program recorder.
3. Press [start] on the XE console to load and run cassette program.
Disk on, Atari BASIC enabled
(a) With XE keyboard not connected:
- Hold down [select] while turning on computer with disk inserted in
powered disk drive.
(b) With XE keyboard connected:
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Disk on, with Atari BASIC disabled
- Hold down [Option] while turning on computer with disk inserted in
powered disk drive.

Edited November 27, 2014 by _The Doctor__

[Paul Westphal]

New motherboards are 45 buc$ at best electronics and B&C computervisions.

[gilsaluki]

Yeah.,
Brad says he is SO busy. His accounting "Department" is SO busy. Betty order from B&C.