General Stuff(tm)

[stephen_usher]

Pretty easy as they were used for a great number of machines, including the TRS80 etc. They're Tandon TM-100-2 drives.

[stephen_usher]

With a little help from my friends:



Almost boots:

[stephen_usher]

Well, it's not the 74LS243s as I've swapped them as they were socketed.

The next thing I might do is convert the .IMD files I have for Kaypro boot disks into .HFE files and hook up a Gotek to take any potential floppy issues out of the picture. It will also allow me to test a large variety of images in case it's a ROM compatibility issue with the boot image causing the hang. It removes another variable.

[rubber_jonnie]

Well, it's not the 74LS243s as I've swapped them as they were socketed.

The next thing I might do is convert the .IMD files I have for Kaypro boot disks into .HFE files and hook up a Gotek to take any potential floppy issues out of the picture. It will also allow me to test a large variety of images in case it's a ROM compatibility issue with the boot image causing the hang. It removes another variable.

Definitely worth a go.

[stephen_usher]

I've found a disk image which will boot to the prompt now...

IMG_3571.jpeg

But it's not reading the keyboard.

I can see fro the oscilloscope that the machine is receiving data on the keyboard interface so I will have to see where that goes and if there's a problem somewhere down the line.

[stephen_usher]

The keyboard data is getting to the SIO chip.

Of course the questions now are, is it the correct data and is the SIO chip working?

[rubber_jonnie]

The keyboard data is getting to the SIO chip.

Of course the questions now are, is it the correct data and is the SIO chip working?

It's not a foam and foil conductive pad keyboard is it? They are notorious for failing over time.

[stephen_usher]

It wouldn't be sending data to the computer if the key switches weren't working.

[stephen_usher]

The keyboard is sending out ASCII values for the key presses, so that's fine.

[stephen_usher]

I found an image which did a DIR listing at boot:

IMG_3572.jpeg

All good on the display side except the deflection coils could do with rotating a little bit as the image isn't horizontal.

Wrote the data to a real floppy and...

IMG_3573.jpeg

It boots faster with a real floppy vs. the Gotek strangely.