800xl ram upgrade usage inquiry

[calfranklin0598]

I have a 800XL with the 256k ram upgrade and don't know how to use it for programs or which way to switch it on.

[Geister]

Hi Cal. 

Any ram above 64K is bank selected via various methods and the software needs to know how to do the bank selection.  It's usually selected by turning on various bits in the 6520 PIA.  Again, if your software doesn't know how to address the ram it can't use it.  The most common usage was to create a RAM disk with drivers on either DOS 2.5 or SpartaDOS. 

[Peri Noid]

1 hour ago, calfranklin0598 said:

which way to switch it on

Run SysInfo and check, at which position you have only 64KB and at which it's more.

[reifsnyderb]

That switch could also be for selecting the OS and/or BASIC versions.

[Beeblebrox]

1 hour ago, reifsnyderb said:

That switch could also be for selecting the OS and/or BASIC versions.

@calfranklin0598  just to check, have you assumed the pole switch is for the ram upgrade? As mentioned I'd think it likely the pole switch has nothing to do with the ram and it's an os switch. I could be wrong. It could be you have an older popular rambo XL 256k upgrade in there. 

 

Best way is to open it up and snap some pics and post them up here in the thread. The forum can then identify what you have and also you may find some other surprises under the hood which we can identify. 

 

 

[calfranklin0598]

Thanks for response.  I will check this out and post pictures.

[calfranklin0598]

After booting up this modified 800XL, I found out that it doesn't have a memory upgrade, but a XL Boss V1.0 alternative OS upgrade.  This allows me to boot older programs requiring the Translator disk without actually booting the Translator disk on the 800XL.  I've included a bootup screen so you can see it.  If you have any additional info about XL Boss v1.0, I would be curios about if there's any other functions.