The operating system QMEG+OS 4.0   

As angek?ndigt, I developed a new version of the QMEG-OS, the version QMEG+OS 4.0.  Here now some details in addition:     

With the QMEG+OS 4,0 it concerns a 16K-Betriebssystem (OS),  which can be used more?ber a switch in place of standard the ATARI XL  OS.  After the installation (does not go unfortunately without L?ten,  it is, in the computer is already a gesockeltes OS-ROM or OS-EPROM)  the following things stand for you zus?tzlich to the Verf?gung:     

1.Floppy-Speeder-Unterst?tzung   

The following drive assemblies are unterst?tzt:    

- Speedy (Ultra speed) 
- Happy (Ultra speed) 
- XF551 (High speed) 
- 1050 turbo (turbo-DRIVE) 
- hyper+ XF (Ultra speed)  

The recognition of the drive assembly extension takes place  fully automatic.  Each drive assembly can be zur?ckgestellt also on  normal speed.  With Happy and Speedy drive assemblies also the " Slow" mode can be switched on and off or durchgef?hrt a floppy RESET.  With  Speedern, which work with sector Skewing instead of a TRACK Buffers  (XF551, hyper+ XF and turbo), at formatting with activated Speeder the sector Skewing automatically ber?cksichtigt.     

2.Ramdisk-Verwaltung with inserted disk copier   

With at least 192KB auxiliary memory places the QMEG+OS a RAM disk to the Verf?gung, which verh?lt itself exactly like a normal  double Density f?higes drive assembly.  The following  130XE-kompatiblen memory expansions is recognized:    

- Buchholz/ABBUC (Bl?cke $$A0 $$C0 $$E0) 
- Atari magazine (Bl?cke $80 $$A0 $$C0 $$E0) 
- Erw. from Poland (Bl?cke $80 $$C0 $$E0) 
- Compy Shop/Megaram 1-3 (Bl?cke $20,$60 $$A0 $$E0) 
- Newell 1MB (Bl?cke $00,$20,$40,$60,$80 $$A0 $$C0 $$E0 as  well as $02,$22,$42 etc..)    

The QMEG Ramdisk can be addressed under any drive number and  with each DOS, which the SIO routines of the OS are formatted beutzt  in the three densities single, medium and double.  Au?erdem k?nnen  with an inserted disk copier whole disks into this RAM disk to be read in and also again written out.  That serves on the one hand for  copying disks, on the other hand one one can read in e.g. a boat disk  into the RAM disk and then the RAM disk than drive assembly 1 specify  and thus boats.    

Zus?tzlich can be used with computers with at least 64KB  auxiliary memory also the standard DOS 2,5 RAM disk.    

Example:  The Adventure ZORK I l?dt very h?ufig from disk  after, which nervt after one while rather.  Therefore we insert the  2.Seite (data side) into a drive assembly and to read the complete  disk into the RAM disk.  Now boats we quite normally the 1.Seite.  If  the program requests us to insert the 2.Seite we - to turn instead of  the disk - dr?cken a combination of keys, with which the QMEG+OS  reroutes now all accesses to drive assembly 1 to the RAM disk, which  goes nat?rlich very many more quickly.     

3.  Drive assembly control   

F?r each drive assembly 1-8 can be in or switched off the  floppy Speeder, or be rerouted accesses to the RAM disk.  Also is it  m?glich to exchange each drive assembly 2-8 with the drive assembly 1  so there?  one of arbitrary drive assemblies boats can.     

4.  Directory would list and files load   

Hereby the directory of a DOS 2.x-kompatiblen disk (DOS 2.x,  MYDOS or Bibo+Turbo DOS Quad Density) can be indicated to a disk (or  the RAM disk).  ATARI basic, COM and BIN programs as well as cartridge program k?nnen directly - with or without L? main storage - from the  directory to be loaded and started.  With MYDOS disks it is also  m?glich to branch out to Subdirectories.  With the help of this  function mu?  one no more GAME DOS versions on file disk writes.    

XF551-Laufwerke are recognized and adjusted before indicating the Directories to the correct density (the XF551 cannot switch  selbst?ndig from single or medium to double Density automatically).     

5.  AS SIMULATOR   

The AS SIMULATOR in the QMEG+OS serves for the loading of  diskette file, which?bertragen direct from cartridge on disk (DOS 2.x  or MYDOS) is.  Storing from cartridge program is not m?glich however.      

6.  Machine language monitor (MLM 2,3)   

In the QMEG+OS also a complete small machine language monitor is contained, which unterst?tzt the following functions:    

Memory Anzeige/?nderung in/along:   
- hexadecimal values 
- decimal values 
- ATASII indications 
- screen code character 
- Disassemblieren (hex or decimally)  

Scan the memory after:   
- hexadecimal values 
- decimal values 
- ATASII indications 
- screen code character  

Also the RAM B?nke of a memory expansion k?nnen to be  indicated, ge?ndert or scanned.    

Storage areas shift (move) or compare (Verify) or f?llen.    

Counting and converting Hex and decimal numbers.    

6502-Register anzeigen/?ndern and coded programs start.    

Disk sector reads directly and writes  

With all obligations to display also an expression is m?glich on the printer.     

7.  Module/basic and cold weather starting control   

The inserted basic or a put in SWITCH module (Action!,   MAC/65, basic XL) can be switched on and off at any time.  It can be  durchgef?hrt (with SHIFT RESET) at any time a cold weather starting.      

8.  QMEG Men?     

The QMEG Men?  with SELECT/RESET one calls.  From here become all attitudes specified above (drive assemblies, RAM disk etc..)   durchgef?hrt and all actions ausgel?st (read disk in, write, file  load, MLM call, RAM disk out boats etc.).  All functions in the QMEG  Men } leave main storage untouched, i.e. it is m?glich, with a  RESET-FIRM program the Men?  to call occasionally to regard around  e.g. a directory or copy a disk and the QMEG Men?  to leave again,  without zerst?ren the straight geladende program.  (exception is  nat?rlich boats and loading of files.)     

9.  Function keys   

The following 1200XL-Funktionstasten stands to the Verf?gung:   

- cursors above/down/left/right position 
- screen in/out 
- keyboard-click in/out 
- key repeating rate slowly  

Some the Einstellm?glichkeiten in the QMEG Men?  can be  ausf?hren also?ber combinations of keys directly in a current program:   

- switching between High speed and normal speed f?r drive  assembly 1 
- replacing the drive assembly 1 by the RAM disk   

10.  RESET key combination  

SELECT - QMEG Men?  call 
SHIFT - cold weather starting ausf?hren (boats) 
OPTION - BASIC ein(!)schalten 
START - all QMEG special functions switch off  

OPTION and START are queried only with the cold weather  starting.  All functions of the RESET key combination k?nnen also  more?ber the QMEG Men?  are ausgel?st.    

Switching all QMEG functions off is durchgef?hrt  automatically by the QMEG+OS, as soon as a program the configuration  table of the QMEG+OS (lies from $3ed-$3f7 in the RAM)?berschreibt.  In this case function only the RESET key combination, freezing into the  auxiliary memory and the QMEG Freezer (see below).     

11.  Programs in auxiliary memories or on disk freeze   

Hierf?r are at least 64KB auxiliary memory necessarily.  By  means of the combination of keys CTRL HELP CTRL a program can be  frozen into the auxiliary memory, in order to thaw it out more sp?ter  again (with CTRL HELP CTRL-L). however can it with complex plays when  thawing problems out give (the leidigen not readable hardware register is to it debt).    

Also an exchange of a frozen program with that straight  current program is m?glich.  It is m?glich to store two current  programs simultaneous the memory.    

With the disk read and write function in the QMEG Men?   k?nnen the frozen programs also on disk to be stored and again loaded.    

12.  Mini Freezer f?r Freezer POKEs   

Hereby one (nearly) can freeze each current program (play),  one or more Freezer POKEs type, and the program out then again thaw.     

Freezing is to be taken here w?rtlich, which is blindly typed current program (picture and sound) will simply continued and the  Freezer Pokes m?ssen.  This happens therefore this way, so that there  are no problems when thawing out (because of the not readable hardware register).    

The QMEG Freezer functions with all programs, which do not  switch the operating system ROM off completely.    

Can the program which can be frozen is resetfest, one  nat?rlich also with SELECT/RESET in the QMEG Men?  goes and the  Freezer Pokes in the machine language monitor typing.     

13.  Place f?r own SIO drivers   

In the QMEG+OS still something place (124 byte) is f?r  drivers, which are eingeh?ngt into the SIO routine of the OS k?nnen  (e.g. f?r a ROM DISK or a printer driver).  At present there is a  driver f?r the ARGS ROMDISK, the Centronics interface of the QMEG-OS  3.x as well as f?r a self-developed Flash ROM module.     

In order to accommodate these functions all in the  16K-Betriebssystem of the ATARI XL/XE, from the original XL/XE  operating system the following was removed:    

- SELF TEST 
- cartridge Handler (replaces by AS SIMULATOR) 
- international character set  

Programs, those the POKE 756.204 for switching on on  internat..  Character set use (e.g. the turbo-basic compiler), k?nnen  however also under QMEG+OS to be re-used, since the QMEG+OS ensures  daf?r, there?  in this case the normal character set is activated, so  there?  the umlauts are not only readable.    

Schlie?lich were removed still some other routines, which  were intended by ATARI f?r hardware never developed and also only with such hardware can be used (Relozierer and linear list administration  f?r loadable IO HANDLER).    

The routines f?r Ger?te at the parallel bus are contained  however - in contrast to the QMEG 3,2 - in the QMEG+OS 4,0.     

Erh?ltlich is the QMEG+OS 4,0   

Stefan thorn village 
Ringstr.  22 
30966 Hemmingen  

Price:   
Collection with above address:  30 DM 
Order by v-cheque:  35 DM 
Order by cash on delivery:  35 DM + NN Geb?hren (at present  6.50 DM)    

New version?     

Possibly I still another update of the QMEG+OS will give  change.  I make that however only, even if Verbesserungsvorschl?ge  arrive with me.  So far it there quite lean out (only one suggestion)  sees.  The following is e.g. conceivable:    

- M?glichkeit of the re-establishment of the Player/Missile  registers when thawing a program (thawing out many plays out of disk  fails only because of it) 
- improvement of the Ultra speed routine, thereby one with  kopiergesch?tzten disks the Speedy always do not switch off mu?  -  Kompatiblit?t to the ATARI OS improve  

F?r the last point m?chte I you asks to communicate to me  each program which does not l?uft under the QMEG+OS.  Ask in writing  to above address or by E-Mail to " har@atari computer.de ".   So far me the following programs are well-known:    

- Inside (yet does not examine) 
- drop it (jumps in the middle into the boat routine of the  OS) 
- Spy vs Spy I (it remains h?ngen however perfectly, l?uft  also not under SPOS) to the shop, after Dr?cken of BREAK l?uft   

Stefan thorn village        

The hyper+ XF ROM - a new development f?r the XF551  

In time to the ABBUC JHV I finished a new operating system  f?r the XF551, mentioned hyper+ XF.  There are two variants, one f?r  to 5,25"-Floppys and one, which are intended f?r converted XFs with a  3,5"-Laufwerk.  The installation of the hyper+ XF ROM is very easy,  one mu?  only the XF?ffnen, which lever old ROM chip from its base and which new use.  Also the change in a 3,5"-Laufwerk is m?glich without  L?ten.  It l??t itself however only single -, medium or double Density uses (max.  720KB), High Density (1,4MB) is not m?glich, since the  floppy CONTROLLER does not control WD1772 into the XF this format.    

Here the extensions built in the hyper+ XF ROM in the  comparison with the XF551-ROM:     

1.  Ultra speed and hyperspeed   

All OS and many DOS version f?r the XL/XE unterst?tzen the  Ultra speed of the Speedy and Happy (e.g. SPOS, QMEG-OS, US+OS, Bibo  DOS, Sparta DOS).  Now also the XF551 understands Ultra speed, what  continues to accelerate diskette operation, here a comparison:    

XF551 normally:  100% 
XF551 High speed:  160% 
XF551 Ultra speed:  200%  

Should have you still no Ultra speed f?higes OS in your  computer, hyperspeed is used:  Hyperspeed is just as quick, has  gegen?ber Ultra speed however the advantage, there?  daf?r the n?tige  routine is very small (only 128 byte) and into the ATARI XL/XE  operating system latch themselves l??t.  This routine is already  contained of the 1050-TURBO-Erweiterung in the hyper+ XF ROM and can  be already loaded?hnlich as with before that boats of a disk into the  ATARI (through boats without disk in the drive assembly).  Au?erdem  l??t itself software f?r the XF551 easily in such a way patchen,  there?  Hyperspeed is unterst?tzt.    

In order to use the high speed also with a DOS, as with the  normal XF551 the disks m?ssen being particularly formatted (Ultra  speed second gate Skew).  That happens?brigens automatically, if the  formatting command is sent by the DOS in Ultra ultra-oder hyperspeed  to the XF.  For copying disks I will develop still another special  disk copier (hypercopy), which reads and writes the sectors also with  normally formatted disks quickly.     

2.  Formats, partitions and operatings mode   

Disks k?nnen in single, medium or double to be formatted  alternatively on one side (with 3,5"-Laufwerken only 40 TRACKS) or  bilaterally (whole disk).  E.G. 2880 sectors with 256 byte stand to  the Verf?gung, make together 720KB. one need a suitable DOS (MYDOS,  SpartaDOS, BeweDOS) to only use with the bilateral double Density  format on 3,5"-Disketten.    

With the hyper+ XF can one in addition, a 3,5"-Diskette in  four partitions divide, with 5,25"-Disketten stand for only two  partitions to the Verf?gung.  On each partition contents of a  5,25"-Diskseite (single/medium or double) l??t themselves accommodate  and nat?rlich also with each DOS work on.  Au?erdem can be gebootet  each partition.    

F?r the administration of the partitions gives itself it the  following eight operatings mode, more?ber the Bootmen built in the  hyper+ XF ROM?  to adjust leave:    

Mode A,B,C,D:   
Access to one of the four partitions of a 3,5"-Disk.  With  these four modes one knows the appropriate partition boats.    

Mode M,F:  (multi, multi-format) 
The four partitions can be accessed with ascending drive  numbers (abh?ngig of that 
Switch attitude in the back on the drive assembly).  If the  XF is adjusted e.g. as drive assembly #1, then become with D1:  to D4: the partitions A to D addressed.  One has quasi four drive assemblies  to the Verf?gung, which is zusammengefa?t on a disk.  Thus one can  access with each DOS the entire disk or copy together also e.g. the  four data disk side of " Alternate Reality - The Dungeon " on a  3,5"-Disk, which makes diskette change?berfl?ssig when playing.    

In the f-mode zus?tzlich with each partition change an  inquiry of the Density is durchgef?hrt, so there?  one also without  special software between differently formatted partitions to change  can.    

Mode S:  (ST/IBM/HDI/Standard mode) 
Serves for the access to double-sided disks in the old  standard format, as it is used e.g. by the HDI.  Also  ST/IBM-720KB-Disks do not k?nnen in this mode to be read, letters go  however.    

Mode X:  (XF mode) 
This mode is active when switching on of the XF on, it  corresponds to the normal XF551-Betrieb.  The mode X differs from the  mode S only by the format on the R?ckseite the disk (the XF551 stores  the sectors on the R?ckseite " wrongly around ", e.g. the logical  sector 1441 in the s-format on TRACKS 0, sector 1, in the x-format  against it on TRACK 79, is sector 18 with a 3,5"-Double-Density-Disk).    

3.  Bootmen?     

Bootet one the hyper+ XF without a disk, becomes a Men?   indicated, with which one knows the operating mode?ndern or which can  load hyperspeed routine into the computer.  When leaving the Men?s an  inserted disk is then gebootet.     

4.  TRACK analysis and formatting instruction   

Hereby many kopiergesch?tzte disks (single or medium) can be  copied, a fast sector map function use (?hnlich Speedy Diskmapper, in  10 seconds to become 40 TRACKS scanned) and own arbitrary formats to  produce.    

The TRACK analysis is at least as well as the MS copy f?r the Speedy, to be copied k?nnen disks also 
- ver?ndertem sector Skew 
- ver?nderten sector Abst?nden 
- DATA CRC error 
- header CRC error 
- record type error 
- record emergency found errors (zerst?rte sectors) 
- doubled sectors (phantom sector) 
- are enough for sectors (draw DATA error) 
- short sectors (up to 44 on a TRACK)   

5.  Improved Density inquiry   

The hyper+ XF can change without special software (like DOS  with XF Unterst}tzung) of single or medium on doubles.  However as  with the XF551 only after the first access to a disk the density is  correctly adjusted.  If one calls the directory thus e.g. with a DOS  without XF Unterst?tzung after a disk change, then folds only with the second time (only if one from single/medium on doubles or changes in  reverse).  With DOS version, which reads with a?ffnen file the sector  1 (Sparta DOS, MYDOS), gives it against it no problems.    

The hyper+ XF offers however the M?glichkeit to insert with  something L?ten a contact at the drive assembly flap then the Density  inquiry functions?hnlich as fully automatic with the 1050.  That can  be done however only with 5,25"-Laufwerken, with 3,5 " because of the  lack of space in the drive assembly will probably fail.     

The disk utility (sector copier, TRACK copier for copying  gesch?tzter disks, disk map by, partition Auswahlmen?,  ST/IBM disk  readers) are not finished yet.  I become it therefore gradually on the ABBUC disks ver?ffentlichen.    

Price of the hyper+ XF ROM (zun?chst without disk utility):    
Collection:  25 DM 
Order with v-cheque:  30 DM 
Order by cash on delivery:  30 DM + NN Geb?hren (at present  6.50 DM)   

Order:   
Stefan thorn village 
Ringstr.22 
30966 Hemmingen  

Please with an order indicate whether the 5,25"-Version or  the 3,5"-Version want to have you.     

Stefan thorn village        

The Flash ROM module   

Since 1995 we (the H.A.R.) plan to develop, a ROMDISK module  for the module pit.  However a problem stood in the way:  At the  module pit stupid-proves the absolutely necessary RESET signal is  missing, so that the module activates itself automatically when  pressing a certain RESET key combination.    

After we finally succeeded to produce the RESET signal with a monoflop we assembled a prototype from a Ballblazer module with  a usual 64KB-EPROM, and on the JHV 97 demonstrated.   Opposite the ARGS ROMDISK has ours the advantage that no special OS  or software is necessary, in order to access the ROM DISK.    

One must only the module put in and can as used with the  ATARI to be worked.  For the activation of the module one presses the  combination of keys START HELP RESET or SHIFT CTRL ACRE SET.  Then the menu of the ROM DISK on the screen and one appear can any program from the ROM DISK load.    

So far - so well.  After the JHV 97 we made a plate draft,  even still fit the plate (1 64KB-EPROM and 3 TTL ICs) into an original ATARI X Modulgehaeuse.    

The only problem of a ROM DISK is that describing of the  EPROMs is very pedantic in the ROMDISK module.  An  EPROM (erasable programmable ROM) is not primarily a ROM i.e. during (with 5 V) can an EPROM be only read, letters goes.   One can change contents of an EPROM only in two steps:     

1)  EPROM delete:   
In addition one needs delete equipment,  which consists only in principle of a UV lamp.  With that UV light is removed the charge held in the EPROM by the round  transparent window on the EPROM chip.  That takes altogether about 7  minutes.  After the deletion all bits are set in the EPROM to 1, i.e. all bytes have the value $$FF=255.    

2)  EPROM burn:   
With an EPROM burner attached at the ATARI (Peter Burner,  Bibo Burner) one can again burn afterwards the EPROM, i.e. some bits  are converted of 1 to 0, as by means of a high programming tension  (12-13 V) electrons are pumped by an isolation layer to a bit cell.   All too quickly does not go however, my Bibo Burner nevertheless needs to burning 64KB 3 minutes.    

Importantly:  With the burner only  bits can be converted of 1 to 0.  If one would like  to convert a bit of 0 to 1, one must unfortunately reset the whole  EPROM, set thus all bits to 1.  In addition one can  delete and again burn an EPROM only some 100 times,  afterwards the EPROM says good-bye...  

As one sees, the reprogramming of a EPROMs is quite complex:     

- EPROM from base of the ROMDISK module lever 
- delete EPROM in the UV  delete equipment (lasts 7 minutes) 
- program EPROM with suitable EPROM burner again (lasts 3  minutes for 64KB) 
- EPROM again into bases put   

BUT:  To these disadvantages one does not have to  resign oneself nowadays any longer.  Since a few years is there  so-called Flash EPROMs, which has the following  enormous advantages opposite normal EPROMs:    

1)  Flash EPROMs can be deleted WITHOUT employment  of delete equipment and a burner directly  in the ATARI and described again, even the  12V-Programmierspannung in the Flash EPROM are internally produced.   This is reached by an additional write line (/ WE)  at the Flash EPROM.  The wiring of the write line in the ATARI is  quite simple:  / WE = NOT(BPHI2 AND EMERGENCY R/W) 
In order to burn or the EPROM delete a byte,  is not sufficient it by the way to work on the EPROM easily  with POKEs.  Rather determined addresses with certain bytes must be  described in an exactly specified order, before a byte is actually  burned or the Flash EPROM is deleted  .  Thus the Flash EPROM is protected against an  inadvertent change.    

2)  Modern Flash EPROMs can be deleted guaranteed at least  100000 times and described again again.    

3)  Flash EPROMs can be described very quickly, for 64KB need the ATARI only 4 seconds (a PC even only 1 second would need).  The  deletion of 64KB takes 2 seconds.  The letter goes  so quickly that one can abuse even 180 KB Flash EPROM as buffers for a disk copier, in order to copy also without RAM DISK in the ATARI a  disk in a slide.     

For our ROMDISK module we selected ourselves the  512KB-Flash-EPROM 29F040 of AMD (jawoll, correctly read:  512 Kilo  byte).  This chip, which is to be had for only 15 DM with Conrad, has  still another further advantage:    

The 512KB is divided into 8  blocks to 64KB, which can be deleted  independently.  So all the 512 KB do not have to be  deleted equal, if one wants to change contents  of the Flash EPROMs.    

After René Schlichting had fished  the associated data sheet of the 29F040 from the Internet,  was clearly that the circuit of our ROM DISK only by a write signal be extended must, in order also Flash EPROMs to delete  and to describe be able.  Our new circuit draft is  able to use up to 1MB Flash EPROM as ROM DISK and fits still in a  ATARI Modulgehaeuse.  However we will use first  times (only) 512KB.  The ROM DISK functions by the way quite  similarly as a RAM DISK:  With a POKE into the address range  $$D580-D5FF a 8KB-Bereichen from the Flash EPROM, from 64 the  available, is faded in into $$A000-$BFFF the storage area.  The only  hook thereby is that starting from $$BC40 normally the Graphics lies 0 screen.  That would mean that when switching on of a 8KB-ROM-Bank on  the screen begins moved to play.  But if one waits  for a vertical blank interrupt before the access to a 256-Byte-Sektor  of the ROM DISK, that is no more problem.    

In the meantime Christoph Kirzanowski soldered the ROMDISK  module together and tested I it.  Result:  Folds  perfectly.  It makes fun correct to describe the Flash EPROM evenly  briefly again times and to have all important utilities in the ROM the Verfuegug.  For a demo on the JHV 98 I wrote still another ROMDISK  driver for the QMEG-OS and a burning and a delete  program, with which into the Flash EPROM will transfer any DD disk  can.    

Since on the JHV 98 active interest in the Flash ROM module  prevailed (already over 30 reservations) we a small series (50 pieces) of the module will probably present.  However I must still write some  software for the module, therefore it will probably last the  completion of the modules at least up to the ABBUC JHV 1999.  The  price of the module (512KB Flash ROM) will move for instance with  50-60DM, more exact information takes place later on this side.     

Stefan thorn village