Ice-T XE lockup

[darwinmac]

@tschak909,
 

I tried to use Ice-T XE to access an Atari BBS. Unfortunately, unlike previously, Ice-T locks up before the splash screen appears. I’ve used both my local copy of the modem-programs.ATR and the version at atari-apps.irata.online with the same problem. 
 

Bobterm, Flickerterm, and Ice-T 800 all still appear to work. I can’t say for sure, but I assume the problem started with the 1.1 firmware. 

If I need to downgrade the firmware to see the last version that works, I may be able to do that over the Labor Day weekend.
 

Bob C 

[darwinmac]

Unfortunately, I have no idea what firmware version worked for me. I've tried every firmware back to 4 October 2022, but all of them lock up before you see the title screen. I thought it may be something with my expanded memory (external Syscheck II), but I used Syscheck (different program) to confirm that I had 576K and I also loaded a game that required 320K.

 

However, I'm willing to admit it could be something on my end. Is anyone able to get Ice-T XE to work on their Fujinet upgraded to firmware 1.1 (or any earlier version)? I know I had this working previously, but I have no idea how it worked now.

 

For the record, I'm running a stock 800XL (except for the 5V mod) with an external Syscheck II along with my Fujinet 1.6 hardware version upgraded to firmware 1.1.

 

Bob C

[mozzwald]

11 hours ago, darwinmac said:

For the record, I'm running a stock 800XL (except for the 5V mod) with an external Syscheck II along with my Fujinet 1.6 hardware version upgraded to firmware 1.1.

I loaded it fine on my 800XL with internal RAM upgrade on FujiNet Firmware v1.1.0

[darwinmac]

@mozzwald - Thanks. Then, it’s something on my end. I know it used to work, but I don’t know why it’s now working now. 
 

Bob C

[_The Doctor__]

maybe list the memory choices you've tried with your syscheck

what OS choice

the infamous keep the flasher program running with USB attached and send debug output

 

Try using the WEB UI and set the SIO divisor down to the lowest setting for HSIO

 

make sure to configure and set all other options save each time as you go

 

delete the fujinet config type files from the SD card and try all of the above again.

 

the last couple of steps have helped, the configs seem incompatible or corrupted a great deal of the time

Edited September 2, 2023 by _The Doctor__

[darwinmac]

@_The Doctor__ - The debug info didn't show anything useful. The last entry was an SIO command. No error occurred. I tried setting the SIO divisor to the lowest setting, but it didn't make a difference. The program still locks up with a black screen.

 

I've tried deleting the fnconfig.ini file. However, the information was retained after I deleted the file. Therefore, I'm wondering if the configuration is now kept in a different file.

 

As far as memory options on the Syscheck II, you either have a 512K external memory expansion or you have no expansion at all. Therefore, I don't have any option to select a different memory size. If I remove the Syscheck II, I don't have enough memory in the 800XL to run Ice-T XE.

 

Bob C

[_The Doctor__]

You might have to delete the files and make sure there is no power to the fujinet or the computer. then re insert the SD card, refresh any web ui using ctrl f5 on your browser, power it all up

[_The Doctor__]

okay I tried bobterm with 1.whatever and SDX. Using SDX to load from a standard mydos disk like usual and it choked on the polled rs232 as well as choked on phonelist and cfg.

tried the supplied SDX rbin. but it still choked on cf and ph1 files

Tried MyDOS at standard speeds and it was successful on all 3 poll232 cfg btm, Bobterm ran as expected.

 

Edited September 3, 2023 by _The Doctor__

[darwinmac]

1 hour ago, _The Doctor__ said:

okay I tried bobterm with 1.whatever and SDX. Using SDX to load from a standard mydos disk like usual and it choked on the polled rs232 as well as choked on phonelist and cfg.

tried the supplied SDX rbin. but it still choked on cf and ph1 files

Tried MyDOS at standard speeds and it was successful on all 3 poll232 cfg btm, Bobterm ran as expected.

 

Bobterm has always run for me. I think I’m running version 1.23 or 1.22. Anyway, that always runs. I’m not sure if the menu program that includes Bobterm, Ice-T 800, and Ice-T XE uses MyDOS or not. 
 

Bob C

[_The Doctor__]

are you running them off SD card from the fujinet when you say local and TNFS server when you say apps-online or real disk or ramdisk?

 

I ask because it can help rule out what path things take and how they do on do not work

 

also, SYSCHECK 2 will use internal 64/syscheck 64/or syscheck 512

 

I will try using a syscheck like 320/512 XE ram expansion as well

 

Edited September 3, 2023 by _The Doctor__

[darwinmac]

2 hours ago, _The Doctor__ said:

You might have to delete the files and make sure there is no power to the fujinet or the computer. then re insert the SD card, refresh any web ui using ctrl f5 on your browser, power it all up

First of all, I appreciate all of your suggestions.

 

Here's what I've done:

1. Remove the SD card from the Fujinet when the 800XL is turned off

2. Empty the trash (my modern computer is a Mac) to make sure there's no trace left of fnconfig.ini.

3. Reinsert SD card into Fujinet. My Fujinet is powered by the SIO port and is not externally powered so the Fujinet is off when the 800XL is off.

4. Power on 800XL

5. TNFS slots and settings (including Wifi password) are all retained

 

If I look at the Fujinet again, I may see another fnconfig.ini that has been created.

 

Bob C

[darwinmac]

52 minutes ago, _The Doctor__ said:

are you running them off SD card from the fujinet when you say local and TNFS server when you say apps-online or real disk or ramdisk?

 

I ask because it can help rule out what path things take and how they do on do not work

 

also, SYSCHECK 2 will use internal 64/syscheck 64/or syscheck 512

 

I will try using a syscheck like 320/512 XE ram expansion as well

 

Yes, local means from the SD card and TNFS server is what I mean when I say apps-online.irata.online. I am not running these programs from an actual floppy disk or ramdisk.

 

I wanted to use just the 64K from Syscheck II, but I couldn't get the 800XL to boot when I did that. I tried to reset the DIP switches so that Syscheck II ran as a diagnostic cartridge, but the system won't boot when I do that. I'm hoping I have the DIP switches set incorrectly, but maybe my PBI port got messed up during my move. Right now, I can only get Syscheck II to work as a 512K RAM expansion. While I haven't seen any problems besides Ice-T XE, it's possible there's a problem with my 800XL. Unfortunately, my only other Atari (my XEGS) can't use the Syscheck II so I don't have another system to try things on.

 

Bob C

[_The Doctor__]

make sure it's all shut off,

pull the sys check and blow out the connector and pbi slot

set the sys check to normal OS not check and not qmeg etc.

set to 512k

re iinstall sys check into port.

 

fujinet is a little flaky about high speed these days, it doesn't always load the rs232 at first try or sometimes it stalls during rs232 driver loading in from the fujinet, some software can't handle that.

 

using an R.BIN can get you around that.

 

are you using the communications atr disk from apps-irata?

it will attempt to load the rdevice before the menu appears, if you don't hear the long beep before the menu it failed to load...

Bobterm will try to load it again if it is not there already, ICE-T will not.

 

I did try using the memory extension that is like syscheck and does not have ANTIC banking... it worked just fine, but that being said, the first 16k bank on an XE always has it, the external upgrades do not do so without a modification requiring a wire or two added to the mix and attaching to both the upgrade PCB and the Atari PCB

Edited September 3, 2023 by _The Doctor__

[darwinmac]

I’ve set the Syscheck II to use the OS on its board. There’s no change. 
 

I’ve also downloaded Ice-T XE from Atarimania. That version boots into MyDOS. It has several handlers that can be renamed to RS232.COM (what the Ice-T docs recommended). The handlers all load, but Ice-T XE locks up. 
 

If Ice-T 800 also doesn’t check for the handler again either, then that isn’t the problem. 
 

I’ll have to wait a few days to buy some compressed air to see if blowing out the connectors helps. 
 

This looks unrelated to FN so I wish I could move the thread somewhere else. 
 

Bob C
 

 

[_The Doctor__]

Maybe, a thread, Does ICE-T XE work  on the SYSCHECK 2.x memory upgrade.

I haven't been able to replicate the behavior with other external memory upgrades

at least none other than the normal FN issues.

Edited September 3, 2023 by _The Doctor__

[darwinmac]

3 hours ago, _The Doctor__ said:

Maybe, a thread, Does ICE-T XE work  on the SYSCHECK 2.x memory upgrade.

I haven't been able to replicate the behavior with other external memory upgrades

at least none other than the normal FN issues.

It worked previously with the Syscheck II 2.2 memory upgrade/system check device. However, I haven’t tried it in a few months and I’ve moved since I last tried it so something could’ve happened during the move. 

 

Bob C

[darwinmac]

@_The Doctor__ - I finally was able to purchased some compressed air. Not surprisingly, it didn't make a difference. However, I emailed Jurgen (tf_hh) and he had me try a different set of DIP switch settings to see if QMEG OS appeared. It did appear, but I know nothing about how to use QMEG OS so my test stopped there.

 

With that information though, I set the "OS" to boot into the Syscheck testing interface. That worked. Therefore, that part of the problem appears to be incorrect DIP switch settings by me. Syscheck said my memory was good and the OS ROM checkdigit was ok. I tried the diagnostic program several times without getting any errors.

 

At this point, I'll reach out to someone I know who has the same equipment I'm trying to use: 800XL, Syscheck II 2.2, and Fujinet. If he doesn't see a problem, then it's probably something on my 800XL. He's at VCFMW this weekend so I'll have to wait until next week to contact him. Now, that the problem appears to be limited to loading Ice-T XE, I'm not overly concerned about it.

 

Bob C

[darwinmac]

I'll tie up this thread. After having another weird error (128K Caverns of Eris wouldn't load from Fujinet SD card), I investigated this further. The game loaded from my Ultimate Cart. I was also able to load the game from my Sdrive Max. At that point, Thom posted that @mozzwald was selling more Fujinets. I took the chance that buying a new Fujinet would eliminate my problems. I'm glad I bought quickly. The XL/XE colors are already sold out. Only the 400/800 colors remain available in his store.

 

TL;DR: Buying a new Fujinet solved my problems. The 128K game loaded correctly and Ice-T was able to run on my 800XL with the Syscheck II. I'm not posting the person I bought my first Fujinet from because it's entirely possible that the Fujinet was damaged in my move. I knew not to put the 800XL on a moving truck that probably got as hot as the sun, but I was concerned about car space so I packed my 8-bit accessories (Syscheck II, Ultimate Cart, Fujinet).

 

I'll reach out to someone in my small Atari user group to see if he wants to look at my original Fujinet to see if it can be brought back to a completely working state. 

 

Bob C

[mozzwald]

22 minutes ago, darwinmac said:

I'll reach out to someone in my small Atari user group to see if he wants to look at my original Fujinet to see if it can be brought back to a completely working state.

Glad you at least figured out what it was. If you can't find anyone locally to repair it, you can send it to me and I'll check it out.

 

[darwinmac]

On 9/22/2023 at 6:46 PM, mozzwald said:

Glad you at least figured out what it was. If you can't find anyone locally to repair it, you can send it to me and I'll check it out.

 

@mozzwald - I'll send you a PM. I would need to send it to anyone to have it fixed. There's no one local to the Boise, ID area who would have the Atari and/or Fujinet expertise to look at it.

 

Bob C

[darwinmac]

As a final follow-up, @mozzwald looked at my Fujinet. He didn't see any of the problems that I had with the device. However, he saw random floating solder balls on the circuit board that he removed. He made a few other changes:

 

* Added light pipes to the case for LEDs

* Replaced MicroUSB port

* Remove and reattach SIO plug pins

* Ultrasonic cleaned the board to remove flux and solder balls left from original assembly

 

He sent the Fujinet back to me. Initially, I planned to sending it along to the president of our small Chicago-area Atari user group, but I wanted to test it on my machine first before I sent it along. I didn't want to send a device that wasn't working on my machine for fear that it would have problems on someone else's Atari.

 

I tried my old Fujinet as soon as I received it back from Mozzwald. I tried all of the items that didn't work when I sent it out (128K Caverns of Eris locked on splash screen, Ice-T locks up, some ATX files don't load on the original micro SD card). All of them worked. For the ATX files, I thought I had previously tried a Sandisk 16GB card. However, it looks like I only used the original micro SD card which was a generic card. The other items worked with no other changes.

 

I feel comfortable now sending along the Fujinet to a new home. Since I've already purchased another one from Mozzwald, I don't need to start collecting Fujinets. When I can settle into my new home, the XEGS will probably go on the market since I only have place to set up the 800XL and my work PC.

 

Bob C