Alex Freed wrote:
> Steven Hirsch wrote:
>>
>> Sounds like I should blow the dust off of the software and drivers...
> 
> Good idea!
> 
> I looked at the disassembly of the bootstrap ROM and apart
> from obvious things there are a lot of mystery routines. I ran it
> on the FPGA model and sure enough  it sends 'Z' to the Apple side.
> Waits for a long time ( 15 seconds or so ) for input from Apple
> and then goes into an endless cycle sending a different byte several
> times a second to the interface. It also reads the port $E0 that is
> decoded to a chip select on the external connector that is not supposed
> to be wire to anything. Maybe just a scope strobe for debugging?
> 
> I was able to dig up one good article about how it works on the software
> side. A file called STARCPM.IMG from the A2.CPM.COLLECTIONS has a 
> document STAR.DOC describing the software interface between Apple and 
> the Applicard. I'll use that for testing.

Alex, You really should have the entire OEM development document.  I will try
to scan that over the weekend.

If you need the user manual (explains driver installation and system 
generation), drop me private e-mail.

> Many other files in the A2.CPM.COLLECTIONS are compressed. The xZx 
> extension implies the "crunch" method according to the CP/M
FAQs, but no
> decompress tool works on them. The magic number is 76 DF which is not
> what the tools expect. Anybody knows how to deal with these files?

Those will probably have to be uncrunched with the CP/M tool (ran into the 
same thing you did).  But don't work too hard at it.  I have all this stuff in 
easier formats.  What specifically are you after?


Steve
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