Search found 429 matches

by stephen_usher
Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:12 pm
Forum: The Off-Topic Section
Topic: Today I Received...
Replies: 638
Views: 284168

Re: Today I Received...

Today I had a mammoth 8 hour round trip to pick up an Apricot Xi (and as an extra surprise, an Acorn Electron). IMG_3597.jpeg It also came with some nice, fully ripe RIFA caps... IMG_3600.jpeg And rather corroded (net even) foil and foam key switch pads. IMG_3607.jpeg But after void the the hard dri...
by stephen_usher
Sat Feb 17, 2024 11:26 pm
Forum: The Off-Topic Section
Topic: Today I Received...
Replies: 638
Views: 284168

Re: Today I Received...

Thanks. So not Hermes. Fair enough. :-)
by stephen_usher
Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:04 pm
Forum: The Off-Topic Section
Topic: Today I Received...
Replies: 638
Views: 284168

Re: Today I Received...

Thanks to @Forgetful I have an Issue 5 QL, copies of Sinclair QL World and more documentation. The QL has a reset issue, probably needs a new reset capacitor, and needed the keyboard ribbons trimmed as they'd cracked and torn. All working now. Looks like an Issue 5 motherboard which originally had I...
by stephen_usher
Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:29 am
Forum: Hardware
Topic: New microdrive internal replacement
Replies: 141
Views: 1023810

Re: New microdrive internal replacement

Popopo, I think you've misunderstood what Derek is asking for. I think he's asking for a way to change Microdrive images rather than the files on those images. I'm guessing that the way the vDrive does it is to send command data on the data lines without turning on the motor. In this way the firmwar...
by stephen_usher
Mon Jan 29, 2024 5:58 pm
Forum: Compatibles Corner
Topic: ICL OPD BASIC now in ROM!
Replies: 12
Views: 1117

Re: ICL OPD BASIC now in ROM!

That would certainly help with the C1 floppy interface as that takes 7.5K RAM meaning that the configuration programs can't load as they need BASIC and there's not enough memory left.
by stephen_usher
Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:29 am
Forum: For Sale
Topic: Free stuff
Replies: 2
Views: 380

Re: Free stuff

I can collect this if you wish, but at east not until next weekend as I'm having to go down to Cornwall this week to start getting my Dad's house on the market. I've been trying to get a complete set of Sinclair QL World to take to the RMC Cave as a donation but seem to have lost at least a year, so...
by stephen_usher
Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:23 am
Forum: Compatibles Corner
Topic: ICL OPD
Replies: 180
Views: 166232

Re: ICL OPD

I'm not surprised. Microsoft rewrote the filesystem code in MSDOS 6 changing the default format to FAT16, even for floppies. It sounds like MSDOS 6 must have dropped support for MSDOS 2 FAT12 filesystems (which is what the C1 is writing). It probably requires the extended MSDOS 3 BPB information and...
by stephen_usher
Fri Jan 26, 2024 9:59 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: FPGA replacment for the ZX8301 ULA and more
Replies: 211
Views: 96599

Re: FPGA replacment for the ZX8301 ULA and more

I wonder if it'll work in an ICL OPD. ;-)
by stephen_usher
Fri Jan 26, 2024 9:57 pm
Forum: Compatibles Corner
Topic: ICL OPD
Replies: 180
Views: 166232

Re: ICL OPD

Apparently the PCML TeleDrive interface could read C1 disks but would corrupt them if they were written to by it. They are supposed to be PC compatible, i.e. FAT12 with a PC boot sector and with the same geometry as a PC 720K as formatted by MSDOS. The PCML you see is in the DOS manufacturer field o...
by stephen_usher
Thu Jan 25, 2024 9:30 pm
Forum: Compatibles Corner
Topic: ICL OPD
Replies: 180
Views: 166232

Re: ICL OPD

Isn't a .IMA file merely a raw image which you can dd or rawwrite onto a 720K floppy?