rich-c: salut, Daniel rich-c: you are here early Daniel B: yea rich-c: how is your weather up there? pleine de neige? Daniel B: i didn't want to miss another chat session. long time no see Daniel B: yeah it's snowy rich-c: right, sometimes they're deadly dull, others they quite crackle rich-c: we had a dusting yesterday but it has melted away even though the temperature is close to 0 Daniel B: i suppose you don't want to create your own Coleco game... Daniel B: i'm right? rich-c: in theory, it's a great idea, but in practice my programming skills are nil Daniel B: programming is too difficult... i know rich-c: I cant even figure out why my computer suddenly decided it was part of a network rich-c: not so much difficult as time-consuming to learn, and us old folks dont have that much time Daniel B: do you think i will receive the coleco bios information i asked to dr.d? rich-c: yes, eventually, but it may pay to keep reminding him gently at tactful intervals Daniel B: i'm not a tactician rich-c: well, in dealing with some social situation, basic tactical skills are a must rich-c: Rich has a working wife and four young daughters beside a job and house to look after
moved to room Meeting Place Daniel B: who's there? rich-c: we'll see in a second; my guess would be George
changed username to George Daniel B: GEORGE! hello! rich-c: yes, I see I guess right - hi, George George: Hi Daniel, Rich rich-c: which computer are you using today, George? George: a new one rich-c: oh, when did you get it and what are the specs? rich-c: anyway, Daniel, Rich has good intentions and even tries to carry them out, but cna get distracted George: yesterday, p4 2.0 ghz 256mb ddr pc2700 ram 64 mb nvidia video 16 x dvd-rom rich-c: with a household and obligations like his, he cant turn around without a new claim on his attention rich-c: in short, a more or less current package - will the DVD-ROM burn CDs? Daniel B: With a computer like this, are you able to program coleco games? Daniel B: :) hehehe rich-c: Daniel, you'll get a kick out of this rich-c: Frances found three 5-1/4" discs kicking around yesterday rich-c: they were the Amiga Cross Development Environment, from the first days of Amiga George: no, i'm using the cd burner from the old computer rich-c: since the DVD reader will also read CDs that will let you copy CDs very conveniently then George: yes , i've copied audio cds very successfully rich-c: I suppose I should get a DVD reader too, if I only had any reason to want to read any DVDs rich-c: Daniel - inteerestingly, I was able to copy the 5-1/4 discs to 3-1/2 discs within DOS George: i don't think my cd burner will copy dvds though it has a 650 mb limit rich-c: the reason it has a 650 MB limit is because the laser beam is that coarse - DVDs require a much more precise beam Daniel B: rich - you are my hero! hehehe! that's amazing! rich-c: that's why DVD readers can read CDs but not vice versa rich-c: sort of like I can write a 720K format to a quad density disc but not a 1.44 format to a 720K disc, George George: i'm just glad my burned cds will will work on my old cd-rom drives rich-c: actually DOS made little complaint on the first two discs but on the third I had to use a backup program to image it rich-c: yes, there are some CD formats that are not universal in their ability to be used rich-c: I use CDs to keep backup copies of all the neat stuff I download from the internet George: exactly rich-c: my CD burner program isnt acting properly but I have found workarounds George: i have to get used to this new keyboard everything is in a different place Daniel B: Want to see my last Coleco development? it's rich-c: why? does it have more keys than you are used to? Daniel B: it's a GUI to help using hi-tech c compiler for cp/m with windows. Daniel B: i writed a few messages in some forums but i don't know if you see my messages.
moved to room Meeting Place Daniel B: who is it?
changed username to Ron Daniel B: Ron! Ron: Yo! rich-c: nothing I would use, Daniel, but I suspect Dr. D. and Dale and a couple of others will find it tremendous rich-c: yo, Ron! Ron: Large as life, twice as ugly rich-c: gotten over the sorry tale of the Eskimos self-immolation yet? Ron: Well, I suppose so, but ...the thought of the Grey Cup reside east pains me stilll George: all the keys are in different places but it has the same amount of keys as the other keyboard Ron: be back in a couple of minutes...gotta go make myself some lunch rich-c: funny, I suspect Daniel doesnt mind at all Ron: no, I don't imagine Ron: brb rich-c: strange - except for the keyboard Daniel uses, most are pretty standard in their key location rich-c: except for laptops, of course, where they have to make wild compromises George: this is a memorex keyboard rich-c: didnt even know Memorex made keyboards rich-c: maybe that's the problem - they are new to it and still learning how George: i got it at the compusa for $7.99 Daniel B: URL : http://www.chez.com/cdi/cci/cci.html Daniel B: sorry for the pupop ads rich-c: not exactly top-line merchandise then, but doubtless perfectly servicable George: keyboards are a generic item Daniel B: i know... you are talking about keyboard and this link is about my GUI program named cci (coleco compiler interface). rich-c: that's OK, I went quiet because I was writing down the URL Daniel B: if someone with an english windows nt,2000 or xp could test it... rich-c: are the French-Canadian keyboards sort of a semi-monopoly or do all the big outfits make them? Daniel B: it's the last test i never done rich-c: ouch - Dale works mostly in Linux and Dr. D. in Apple Daniel B: my keyboard is a qwerty (standard one) but with more symbols on it... like "é" George: i stay with win98se rich-c: maybe Guy could help you, but he's out today rich-c: you should have the c cedilla, cents sign, Euro sign, all the basic accents, don't you? Daniel B: ok... someone here want to test CCI? just to confirm it's very easy to understand, very easy to use! rich-c: what's involved in testing it? remember I cant get my Adam emulator to work either Daniel B: Well, my keyboard (and driver) is based on french-canadian, not french international so i don't have the Euro sign George: i'm too dopey to use many coleco programs rich-c: ah, I thought the old pound sterling sign manual typewriters used to have had been replaced by the Euro sign rich-c: I can remember when manual keyboards had 1/2 and 1/4 keys, too George: i have a strange symbol on my 5 key rich-c: basically is the French-Canadian market big enough to support a number of keyboard makers? Ron: I have retoined rich-c: I thought since management was basically a software thing it would just be the same as one sold in France rich-c: my 5 key has the percentage sign - what does yours show, George? rich-c: Geogre has bought himself a new computer, Ron Ron: aha! rich-c: and I covet a keyboard like Daniel's, with the extra keys Ron: with the accents on it? rich-c: yes, and there are other neat little things too often Ron: ok Ron: every now and then I want to get into my "Better review my french vocabulary mode" - the iMac will allow me to install a more international keyboard George: it has a percent sign and what looks like a C with = in the middle after the 5 rich-c: Daniel needs someone to test out his GUI for hitech C compiler for cp/m in NT, 2000 or XP Ron: This one probably will too, but I am not sure how to do it rich-c: any idea who might be knowledgable enough to oblige him? Ron: (the Duron that is) rich-c: George, that sign you don't recognize is the Euro sign Ron: circonflexaccent? George: oh Ron: you're right Rich George: how does it work? rich-c: the necessary software is standard in Windows, but it's no use if the keys arent on your keyboard rich-c: unless you're dealing in European currency you dont need the Euro sign, George George: thats good i don't go abroad Ron: true. I know some people in Ottawa who used t paste little labels on the keys Ron: showing what was where rich-c: if you have three possible uses on one key, the third is often invoked with an Alt or Function key Daniel B: brb rich-c: my laptop keys are like that Ron: must have been previously owned by a bilingual civil servant rich-c: no, I meant in having the function variant, it doesnt have multilingual though Ron: oh ok Ron: Rich -- - this is slightly off topic - but Ron: I have included a Powerpaint screen in the Xmas card for you and Frances Ron: so you're in rich-c: Dell got chintzy qith the regular qwerty assorment so had to ut the ones they omitted as function rich-c: bless you, Ron, we appreciate that Ron: waiting now for Dr. D. rich-c: wish I could get my emulator going; some day I might take a bash at it myself Ron: right....speaking of which .... believe there is an outstanding question you asked me, which still sits in my e--mail Inbox rich-c: you may well be right - I too have other preoccupations George: i didn't get to bed till 5:30am this morning for putting this system together rich-c: I would never do anything like that, George rich-c: mainly because by midnight I would not have the slightest clue as to what I was doing anyway Ron: just looking at my e-mail Ron: and it has to do with various items not loading under the emulator George: it was a rush job to put my banking back online Ron: SmartBASIC TDOS,most notably rich-c: we do not bank online; Frances says doing it by telephone is much easier rich-c: right Ron, but there are questions I didnt include Ron: indeed George: for me i save fees rich-c: like, on that screen that says which ROMs to load, what do you put in the last box? Ron: hmmm......I don't use the windows front end, but as I recall, that was only there for use if you want to play one or the Ron: cart games. If not, leave it blank rich-c: oh, and I cant get File Manager to load either, and that may well be the one I need most of all Ron: but I'll load up the emulator, just a sec Ron: right.... if the emulator detects anything about the startup disk that it doesn't like then it will default to Smartwriter rich-c: it's the box marked "paths" rich-c: starup disc? Ron: How are you loading Filemanager? Ron: Wait till I get my ADAMemAM set up rich-c: bassically I go to the Images tab and put it in the drive A box George: i can't too work right under dos with these new soundcards because the irq's and the dma's they use aren't supported Ron: there ya see, if I did things the same way other people do 'em, I'd be on the same page at least Ron: wait one Ron: bringing it up on my laptop George: i'm getting tired Ron: I've been tired all morning George rich-c: the Adam emulator should automatically detect your sound card, George Ron: yes it should George: it freezes rich-c: yes, just barely lunchtime out your way, isnt it, Ron Ron: 1 pm now. I didn't get back from the Hospital until afteer noon - Hospital ECU computer club rich-c: how many computer groups are you in anyway, Ron? Ron: ummm...... let me see...... I'm techie for that one (Lord help em) and also President of North Island Linux User group, and President of theComox Valley Mac User Group Ron: and President of Comox Valley Community Information Society Ron: that's all Ron: and the only reason I'm President of all these things, is I can't say NO George: good luck Ron: I'm a people pleaser from away back rich-c: I know, I went through the same thing with MTAG - if you dont do it the whole thing goes phffft Ron: you got it Ron: Ok so now....looking at ADAMEmMam rich-c: OK, I've got teh paths for teh four basic ROM images in, now need the startup path Ron: ok, so put in there the path to wherever you've got your emulator program located rich-c: just realized - it tends to get upset if the printer isnt on, even if the printer isnt being used Ron: in my case it's C:\windows\desktop\adam Ron: Ok there should be a tab acrross the top Ron: goto Images rich-c: OK, in my case it was c:\ Adam Emulator rich-c: my file names are so original rich-c: got Imiages Ron: oh yeah.... you enter your startup directory, which may or may not be the same as your adamem path Ron: hey... whatever works! rich-c: anyway, I'm in Images and A has the path to SmartBASIC rich-c: hold on, I will try it and see what happens Ron: Ok, so you're using that as Disk A? rich-c: guess what? it worked!!! Ron: wonder of wonders rich-c: I got Intel-Load screen and picked File Manager Ron: so you should also have a disk image for Filemanager rich-c: in fact Basic came up asking "initialize Ramdisc y/n and I took y George: i'm lost Ron: Actually, now that I look at this thing, (ADAMEmMam) I wonder why I'm not using it rich-c: I guess if I'd taken the Hello file on the subsequent menu I'd have got Basic Ron: Except, as Cousineau always used to tell me, I'm not lazy enough. rich-c: the old principle - if you want to find out the most efficient way to do the job, give it to the laziest guy in the office Ron: yup rich-c: wonder where Daniel has got to? we seem to have lost him Ron: he said, "brb", but that was a while ago rich-c: I guess if I move his games to my Disc Images folder I can load and play them from there Ron: Sure wouldn't mind a copy of that SmartBASIC of yours Rich... the one that starts a RAMdisk Ron: could you e-mail me the .dsk file? rich-c: I just have the Adamem CD that we all got at Adamcon, Ron Ron: Oh...maybe it's on there....never thought to look. Ok.. I've probably gotit rich-c: if you don't, let me know and we'll fix it George: is there a smartbasic.rom file? Ron: re the images....yes.. easier if you have them in one spot rich-c: no, SmartBASIC was software, never burned into a ROM (officially, anyway) Ron: it's a disk image George for use on the emulator Ron: Think Tony Morehen or BJ Lingrell could have done that, but so far as I know, Tony only did CP/M to load in place of Smartwriter Ron: or TDOS rather George: oh, i use files that have .rom extention Ron: right...most of the games are .rom files Daniel B: hello... i'm back! Ron: I assume they load themselves into a different area of memory Ron: re-HI Daniel Daniel B: Ron! Rich! George! George: they are the only ones i know how to work rich-c: I think one of the Walters twins put SmartBASIC on a cartridge, Ron rich-c: Ron, you should have teh file in your mailbox now Ron: Hmmm....SmartDisk Cart? Ron: I have that somewhere around here Ron: yeah, come to think of it, the Walters bros. would make you a cart to order would they not....whatever you wanted on it? Daniel B: I saw your messages.. you are talking about "dumping" my games into disk? rich-c: no, just plain accessing them, Daniel - Ron wasw helping me to get Adamem responding Ron: right rich-c: yes, I think I still have one of their SmartDSK series carts in my inventory Ron: that was it....SmartDSK rich-c: actually I am going to have to trash a lot of my redundant Adam stuff soon Daniel B: adamem? maybe you could try a DOS command line with the correct options like this "adamem -vi 0 -so 1 ...". Do you read the text file (about adamem)? Ron: found it the most infuriating ADAM product I'd ever bought rich-c: no, I had it on the screen, Daniel, I just needed some help filling in the blanks Ron: that would have been my way of doing it Daniel, but Rich was using the Windows Front End for the Emulator (ADAMEmMAM) Daniel B: oh.. I see! Ron: which gives you fields for entering the various paths, and images, or ROMS you want to run rich-c: well, Jim's SmartDSK came in three levels of power, maybe yours wasnt right for your purposes Ron: Yes, I think I just bought the generic one, and somehow expected it to do more than it did Daniel B: do you have a working .dsk file ? Ron: As I recall it was one of these places where my understanding of the menu's and the wording thereon, was not the same as the author's Ron: which made it tough to appreciate the setup rich-c: Jim's talents were not literary Ron: exactly rich-c: very savvy technically but not good at explaining things Ron: yup Ron: However, I've noted - particularly with shareware, that can be a problem for non-professional programmers rich-c: by the way, other than doing a restart, I don't seem to have any DOS access here in WIn98SE Daniel B: adamem is a pure dos application. adamem doesn't work with windows long name. Ron: OH? Ron: that's wierd Daniel B: This could explain rich-c: yes, when you boot the Windows front end, it opens what is clearly a DOS window Daniel B: the bug you have Daniel B: do you use filename with space or with more than 8 caracters ? rich-c: yes, I don't have the MS-DOS prompt in accessories or its subdirectories or in Control Panel Ron: might have to reinstall it from your Win98 CD Ron: Add/Remove Programs? rich-c: there's no provision to do so in add software Daniel B: wait a second Ron: no, that's right....and what's it doing missing in the first place? rich-c: same way, I don't have a fax program any more either Daniel B: rich, go to "run..." in the "Start" menu of windows rich-c: that's not quite true as I have Winfax in Norton Works Ron: sounds like something got whacked George: windows 98 did away with it Daniel B: try typing "command" then return Daniel B: if it doesn't work Daniel B: try typing "cmd" then return Ron: no that was ME George, wasn't it? rich-c: I did have that disc failure way back when but did a restoration from a full Ghost image George: win me has a dos window Daniel B: every windows have DOS (emulated one sometimes) rich-c: yes Daniel, command.com is the core of DOS, and I can get it that way Daniel B: good! Ron: path is c:\windows\command Ron: Isn't that where most of the pseudo-DOSstuff hangs out? George: i think xp did away with it altogether rich-c: just that I am used from Win95 to having the icon to click on and I miss the poor little thing Daniel B: tell me, what is the full path for the adamem on your computer? Ron: The devil you know vs the devil you don't rich-c: c:\adam emulator Daniel B: ok, I will extract the adamem in the same directory Ron: c:\adam emulator or c:\adam\emulator Daniel B: I will test the emulator to see if there is someting wrong with this longname path Daniel B: where is your adamem frontend? rich-c: it's OK Daniel, I think we have things under control now rich-c: former, Ron Daniel B: are you sure? rich-c: I have Disc Images as a suddirectory within it Ron: ok rich-c: essentiall I created teh Adam Emulator directory then extracted teh zip file into it Ron: should run from there, as long as you're logged into it Daniel B: this directory ? "c:\adam\emulator" rich-c: yes, with teh front end I havent tried running it from DOS, but I'm sure it would work rich-c: I used c:\Adam Emulator actually, Daniel then extracted the zip file into it rich-c: there is a lot of background here, Daniel, based on the Emulator session at Adamcon Daniel B: ok, then you extract the adamem frontend in the same directory? rich-c: Doug Slopsema burned a whole bunch of CDs so everyone in the group could have the program rich-c: yes, Daniel Daniel B: ok, i have do the same thing rich-c: what bugged me was that I put it on my laptop at the convention and had it working just fine rich-c: then I lost track or did something wrong at home and couldnt get it going again rich-c: meanwhile I sent an image of the CD to Fred and he reported it worked fine for him rich-c: anyway my next preoccupation I think will be to scrap a bunch of non-working Adams Ron: Sorry guys...got sidetracked. Daniel B: ok, it's working for me after a few configurations. I needed to set the paths carefully. Daniel B: C:\Adam Emulator\Adamem.exe Daniel B: C:\Adam Emulator\Eos.rom Daniel B: C:\Adam Emulator\Wp.rom Ron: Will have to leave you I'm afraid.... so we'll see you all Wed Daniel B: C:\Adam Emulator\Os7.rom rich-c: right, Daniel, once you get the paths set right it's all downhill from there rich-c: OK Ron, thank you for the help and card, and see you Wednesday Daniel B: I used one of the A.N.N. dsk files to test. I put the file in the same directory Daniel B: bye ron Ron: be well all
Ron left chat session George: my ADAM is still working the printer is beat up though Daniel B: where did you place the dsk file? rich-c: yes, it ws that fifth path, just C:\Adam Emulator, that gave me problems rich-c: that's on the images page; I used Disc A rich-c: what's the problem with your printer, George? Daniel B: ok, and you put something like this? Daniel B: C:\Adam Emulator\Jan02ann.dsk rich-c: actually, on the Images tab, I just browsed through the directory and picked what appealed George: the casing and daisey wheel is smashed rich-c: one gets spoiled in Windows rich-c: if you'll send me the postage I'll happily send you a new casing if that's all you need Daniel B: ok, so the dsk file is not in the same directory rich-c: I have a subdirectory in Adam Emulator titled Disc Images rich-c: that is whre, for instance, the SmartBASIC image I sent Ron is located George: the ribbon and assembly was also wiped out Daniel B: ok, and what is the name of the .dsk file ? rich-c: oh, you need a whole new printer - they are very heavy and cost a lot to ship, I think $10 - $15 rich-c: it is just plain basic.dsk, Daniel George: does that include the power supply that goes to the Adam? rich-c: yes, the poweer supply is built into the printer Daniel B: like this ? Daniel B: C:\Adam Emulator\Disc Images\basic.dsk rich-c: you can take it out but it is hardwired in rich-c: I think that's teh path, yes Daniel B: and what happend when you hit the "Launch" button? rich-c: that particular one has been set up with Intel-Load to give a lot of options George: it will take me a while to get the money order together rich-c: no little prompt and "Colecoco SmartBASIC 1.0" rich-c: rather a choice of programs including setting up a ramdisc rich-c: I will weight a printer and see what it costs to ship, George rich-c: I will let you know by email or in next Wednesday's chat George: can you wait a while? rich-c: anyway Danile I was online so didnt explore much but it was a lot more than just SmartBASIC showing up for duty rich-c: I dont know - Frances is afer me to trash a lot of teh redundant Adam stuff rich-c: anyway George lets see how much it is and then you can make your move accordingly Daniel B: well, if you see the "choice" in a popup window, it probably means that the emulator can't run your dsk file. George: the last time it took me a few months to send for the data drives rich-c: sorry Daniel, I think I'm confusing you rich-c: the emulator (once Ron set me straight) opened the DOS window and ran the file I called for rich-c: it's just that the file I called for was more sophisticated than I expected Daniel B: ok,.. i just wanted to help, to find what's wrong with adam emulator. rich-c: it was labelled Basic which was there, but under a batch loader that offered several other goodies too rich-c: PEBKEC rich-c: sorry, PEBKAC Daniel B: all this stuff is in the dsk file then... George: i have to go i need to go to wal-mart i was putting it off Daniel B: bye George rich-c: yes, the CD is as far as I know just the stuff from de Kogel's site but packaged more conveniently George: see you Wed. rich-c: OK George, nite and see you Wednesday Daniel B: maybe i will be online this wed. George: bye Daniel B: bye rich-c: bye George
George left chat session rich-c: it's nice to turn up when you can, Daniel Daniel B: I have to go too... it's time to eat a little something rich-c: you nevr know what you will get into - may be dull, may be lively, always different rich-c: yes, Frances is back from shopping so I have to go too Daniel B: I,m not 100% sure but sometimes a protected file makes the emulator crash. rich-c: see you Wednesday, then Daniel B: maybe wednesday... rich-c: we shall hope so Daniel B: bye rich-c: bonsoir, maintenant Daniel B: bon appétit! Daniel B: bonsoir rich-c: u revoir Daniel B: à bientôt!
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