IDE HDD (SMUC)
music by DNK
(C) Yu Kovalevsky
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I then asked for feedback on
product from 'Scorpion' & MOA ', referred to as
SMUC, such as "universal controller
HDD, CMOS, NVRAM, and IBM periphery. "The writer of
nevazhnetsky me, (who had happy to read my description of the
programs - Understand!) So sorry if the style
This opus is somewhat reminiscent
description of the "domestic iron, electric."
Immediately it should be noted that the controller
bought me a long time (early fall 1996
year) and it is likely that the shortcomings
My version has already been eliminated. In this regard,
I beg your pardon for the authors of the development of
unsubstantiated (per prescription) assaults. As history would
be noted that until recently, I
worked in pathology, where the charge 'Pentagon 2 + +' was
found 155 km. wire koim fluster: skorpionovskoe ROM
Turbo mode, mouse controllers, and IBM keyboards 512K RAM and a
bunch of even smaller lotions. The question of how it all
coexist with each other and the software we do zamnem better.
I, personally, stoically turning a blind eye. Yes. There. What
was I mean what? Yeah. Generally, this summer (1996)
I came up with 'fresh' idea:
Spectrum, as it now is, dies.
Yes, and how not to die - PC getting cheaper faster than the
ruble and entice the user simply eyes. (And do not say that it
is not so are meant gamers, although probably not the only
ones). In general, I put his pathology on the rack and started
dostavaniem Amiga (This story requires a separate exposition as
possible will be done). Well, as if there was no platform I
really have changed, but suddenly find out that released HDD
controller emulation TRDOSa. "It's exciting!" - I said to
myself, and as I could, went to the market. Controller does not
it was, but with the market, I returned with the card
'Scorpion Turbo +' (as is now not
sorry). Summarizing all this lyric
I will say this: perhaps, if it were not for the emergence of
HDD controller firms 'Scorpion', little
veroyanosti that I ever came back
would be to Spectrum-y. Why? I already had
computer controller IDE - 'TURBO 2 +'
and his example, I'm convinced that without
programmatic support for a complete zero.
Similarly, I am and to the controllers
other firms that require the computer is started
on floppy disk. Why do I so interested in the controller of
Scorpio. I'll try set out hereafter.
Hence the case. First TTD. I have currently installed only
HDD controller (not installed chip CMOS and interrupt
controller), firmware version 3.98, version of the board 1.00,
HDD 420 Mb.
So. What functions does it
device. Well first - it's relationship with
IDE HDD. With hard-ohm everything is simple - a pair of
ports for bus communication with the controller, hard drive, so
pay attention to soft, ie the fact that stitched into the ROM.
Immediately I want to note that unlike
other controllers (I know of) firms,
where work with the HDD is possible only after loading the
appropriate software from a floppy disc, here we have the
opportunity START machine with a hard disk, because all the
minimum required for this is Rom. In addition to the driver in
the HDD firmware is enabled for working with virtual
TRDOS-discs to the HDD. About the need is or not, we can argue
until blue in the face, but I opinion that let it be, and
the user can decide which mode
use access to the HDD. Especially because
controller supports other modes
work with the hard-drive.
I personally believe that support for the old
format the disk is a must
at first, until the program, "sharpened" under the HDD and the
opportunities it offers, in contrast on the flop. From personal
experience I know that the collapse of this software in the
near future expected, and buy a HDD and continue
to use only floppy disks, you see, it is insulting. Now more
specifically. Supported ob'em:
Actually HDD 7,200 Mb
Well, everything is clear, we can say directly -
any IDE HDD.
Global partition 1800 Mb
Another section is called the HDD. Creating more
one section only makes sense if you intend to use this HDD is
not for one computer (I wonder who on this
go?), or in the future, when
supported by not one, as now, but
several sections for the Spectrum-a.
Local partition32 Mb
Also called sub-HDD or priminitelno System Emulation TRDOS-ROM
drive, collection of discs. These subsections may
be up to 63. If a section of emulated
TRDOS, it can contain 51 virtual disk. If the section set
better iSDOS or MicroDOS or
something else - it is simply a space with ob'emom 32
megabytes. Thus on the hard disk can be simultaneously
multiple operating systems. If you're a fan, for example,
iSDOS, then by setting the startup route to the appropriate
section in 30 seconds. after restarting the computer, get a
working system (as in a decent "adult" computer). Same for the
CD collection. Install a route to konretnomu discs, including
for him avtoboot and after the power or reset-y you have it
running. And this happens if you There is no disk in drive A.
Otherwise, the start is carried out with a floppy disk uniquely.
What is a virtual disk? To the user it is an imitation of the
standard (format 2 * 80, Sector 256 bytes) disk TRDOS. Of
course there can be stored only programs that are loading and
subsequent work with the disk did not use a direct appeal to
the firmware TRDOS either SH 93. Read / write speed on the
virtual disc is virtually identical to the speed of
conventional TRDOS drives formatted as a 'fast'. (Obviously
this due to multiple hops sector
memory emulation TRDOS). But the lack of
Error reading / writing to close at
the eyes (a little bit, a little bit and just
YET!).
I also quite liked the fact that no
need to immediately break the entire section on the collection
of disks, and can increase their number gradually.
Esche on the controller board has the ability to install chip
CMOS, which give a computer the ability to track
real time. The board also set
ISA-8bit slot and socket under MS interrupt controller that,
with appropriate software, allows connect IBM - offshoring.
(But I do not I know, so there is easy now to get such
vintage cards, yes we have a country
any PC stuff nataschili, and now we will use to grandfather the
Soviet of computer.)
I, incidentally, tried to insert into
panel CMOS mikruhu - Controller hangs.
Honestly, I did not delve into
question just took it all. Perhaps
This was because I have not hooked back up power supply? I do
not know.
Well, praises over, now about
or bad - I do not like this
controller.
First, the specific "bugs." Firstly, when trying to read or
write to the HDD byte at address # 0FFFF all die (this
I naturally about emulation TRDOS).
Because of this, "byaki" does not work, some
program, which theoretically should
would work with the HDD.
Secondly, in the mode of access to the HDD through
RST 8 can not read or write data from the upper segment of the
RAM, the address # 0C000-# 0FFFF. More correctly spelled, and,
accordingly, read pages N 8 (one that belongs to the Shadow
Monitor) with all the ensuing consequences.
Especially when reading!)
Third, when dealing with HDD installed regime of the computer
'Turbo' it is understandable why, but after
read / write the initial regime
restored! This leads to
that work, for example, a modem connection is broken due to the
transition in Turbo mode for each podgruzku the disc (not all
the same may be a modem in the turbo!). In manual mode is more
tolerant (though with the proper case of vocabulary), and when
working in automatic mode (Program 'MacroModem') quite well
worthless!
Fourth, for some mysterious
because items recording parameters of the Shadow
Monitor in flash memory sometimes suddenly blocked (then,
however, all recovered) that gives, say, gently, some
irritation.
Now for the inconvenience. Very uncomfortable
that the route to the ramdisk can only be set from the Shadow
Monitor (setting outside procedures RST 8 acts only until the
first reset-a, or initialize the disk (CALL 15635 for C = 1)).
C this can be tolerated, if rarely "change"
disks or the number of the employed ramdisk
does not exceed three (because both have three routes for B, C,
D devices, and they can be switched, as regular drives). I
wanted to authors controller in the future should consider
opportunity to "hard" route pinning means RST 8 (or maybe
something I do not know and is such an opportunity? Then the
well-to reflect this as something in description of the
controller). Anyway I have prepared a layout of the program
(something like Commandera) for HDD with optional routes easier
and more affordable way than in the Shadow Monitor), but work
has stalled because without fixing these routes function is
meaningless.
Very much like a 6-letter names
subsections (well, what kind of name is ridiculous
right. I when partitioning HDD each time for five minutes,
wrinkling his brow, trying to give the name of the subsection
is not similar to existing ones, and to me the most is not set
to a standstill after a month or two.) Do not like it that
instead of names for appointment ramdisk route shadow
businesses, I was given a cute spisochek: 'Disk01, Disk02 ...
Disk24'. Let someone try to remember in what
of 24 discs recorded the desired program.
Have had to return the paper to
memory. Really it would be difficult to quickly
crawl subsection and issue for
Users list the real names of disk drives,
and disk numbers used only within the system?
Well, actually, and all that I can
to say on this topic. I hope that it
(Theme) in the magazine is exhausted only this article, and
anyone else share their joy (sad) experience work with the
controller HDD firms 'Scorpion' (and not necessarily just her).
Dare also hope to continue sharing
views and in the future.
P.S. Recently bought a PC keyboard to your Scorpiona (old me
'Omega' - keys so hard and velikovata). Tempted to small sizes,
up to 15% less than mine, and the wonderful soft buttons.
Joyful came from the market, which includes NOR FI-HA is not
working infection! As it turned out Skorpionovsky controller
does not understand This type of keyboard. So, comrades,
Be careful, do not get caught like me.
Klaviaturka And this small production
China (under license in Canada), ochchchen nice, worth 66.000,
be marked on the box: BTC 'ENHANCED KEYBOARD'. In the RS
it works perfectly! So gentlemen, manufacturers harda for
Scorpiona, please accept my congratulations and best wishes to
prompt corrective controller firmware. (May be true, it is
already fixed? I have version 'V2.2 D.K. 1996 '.)
This opus is made with the assistance of
text editor MicroEditor V 3.30.
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