4A/DOS usefulness and documentation

[gfreige]

Hi:

I'm trying to do something with 4A/DOS. I'm able to boot it using the ROM image from FLASROM99, and the 4A-DOS.dsk converted to hfe in the Lotharek.

I was unable to load DOS directly from disk using E/A, as it never show in the menu after loading it and soft reset. Something to do with loading E/A from FlashRom99?

I don't know. Also I don't know what the different DOS/xx files do, except I can use DOS/O with the F18A.

Anyway, using the ROM image and getting chara1 from disk works, but after that I don't know how to use the thing

 

The PDF made by Omega is too succinct to my taste There is a more complete documentation somewhere??

 

For example I have no idea what to do inside the editor.

Also when I tried to run something from disk with LOAD FIX80 or X I don't know what to do

X CHKDSK loads and then nothing. I need to use some extra parameters?

I can use it to load E/A option 5 files? Basic programs? No idea.

All I can do is changing drives with vol and listing them with dir.

That´s it? I hope not.

It`s possible to use MDOS instead?

 

HELP

 

Regards

 

Guillermo

 

[+jedimatt42]

The E/A loadable 4ADOS expect to be used with a supercart, with writable RAM. The flashrom99 doesn't allow the TI to write to that ram. Letting the flashrom load the cart image directly as a bin file does the trick, as you've seen.

 

It can load ea5, with restrictions, but not basic or xb.

 

X chkdsk is a bit opaque. Chkdsk is a different program with its own documentation somewhere. 4ados was extensible in this regard. You can also extend it with assembly routines, but I think that might need the original docs.

 

You might search things like micropendium magazines for a review. Might have more details.

 

-M@

[Omega-TI]

When loading an E/A3 file via the FIX80 command -- If you do not know the start name, type REF and it will give you a list of names in the current table. After you get the name, type LINK and the name listed in the table and the program will start.

 

If it's a program you plan to run often, make a BATCH file stacking the necessary commands.

 

I'd forget about the extended programs executable with the X command. For the most part they are obsolete, you would be better off using a program like DM2K. Also, if you plan on using or editing the AUTO-BAT file, I'd suggest using a program like EAIIEDIT-8.BIN which also resides in the FR99.

 

Yes, MATT is 100% correct, no BASIC programs. This was originally a Super Cart program, which as you know is just a modified Editor/Assembler module with 8K of battery backed memory.

[gfreige]

Thanks for the answers.

Another question: E/A functionality really works in 4A/DOS running from flashrom99?. As I see, the supercart with 8K RAM also have a E/A GROM. That GROM isn't present in FR99. That can be the reason I'm unable to load anything that works?

Also, can a MiniMemory module be used instead of the supercart?

[+jedimatt42]

I think the mini-memory is too small, only 4k.

 

4ados has an 'init' command that sounds like it loads the ea routines into 0x2000 from disk, but I've never seen that disk. Maybe it is on the disk with chkdsk and format.

 

-M@

[gfreige]

Mini memory is too small or incompatible with DOS binaries. Didn´t work

I had success loading E/A 5 (with LOAD) and E/A 3 (with FIX80) in most cases but not always. So the 4ADOS present in FR99 definitely can load E/A programs.

Actually I'm using DSK1 for chara1 and DSK3 for E/A programs. Less disk swapping

X commands are a lost cause

 

Guillermo