Explanation of how it work the program “RAM3_RAMFAIL_BAS” written by Dominic Brown in the 1990 in Super Basic for the Sinclair QL which is used to calculate what the RAM on the Sinclair QL is broken, you need to use the MINERVA ROM (RAM PassCheck).

I tried to explain how it work and i have rewrote the software in a “language” a bit more modern ;-D

MINERVA OUTPUT EXAMPLE:

——————————————
WRITE: 5 4 8 C 4 8 7 8
READ: 5 C C D 5 C C D
ADDRESS: 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0
——————————————

HEX WRITE: 54 8C 48 78
HEX READ:  5C CD 5C CD

Convert the numbers in decimal:

DECIMAL WRITE: 84 140 72 120
DECIMAL READ:  92 205 92 205

You have to make a xor in pairs (write & read)

XOR: 84 XOR 92 = 8
XOR: 140 XOR 205 = 65
XOR: 72 XOR 92 = 20
XOR: 120 XOR 205 = 181

Now you need to do an OR with the result of the XOR starting with “0″ and continuing with the result of every OR

OR: 0 OR 8 = 8
OR: 8 OR 65 = 73
OR: 73 OR 20 = 93
OR: 93 OR 181 = 253

Convert the final result of the OR in Binary.

DECIMAL: 253
HEX: FD
BINARY: 11111101

Follow the table to find the faulty ram. Pay attention to the memory address.

1: BAD Ram
0: GOOD Ram

BINARY = 1     1     1     1     1     1     0     1

IF < $30000 (ADDRESS) = IC8  ,IC7  ,IC6  ,IC5  ,IC4  ,IC3  ,IC2  ,IC1

IF > $30000 (ADDRESS) = IC16 ,IC15 ,IC14 ,IC13 ,IC12 ,IC11 ,IC10 ,IC9

IF > $40000 Faulty ram is in expansion memory.

The Original Program (ram3_ramfail.bas) was written for the SINCLAIR QL in SUPER BASIC language by Dominic Brown (1990).
Documentation of how it work by Xad/Nightfall (2015).
Thanks to my friend for the support.

Faulty Ram Decoder Changelog:

• v0.1: First Release.
• v0.2: Added a message (Faulty ram is in expansion memory) if the Address > $40000.

Faulty Ram Decoder Online: http://www.nightfallcrew.com/minervaram

Download:

• Faulty Ram Decoder v0.1 PHP Script (1057)
• Faulty Ram Decoder v0.2 PHP Script (1105)

Javatari is now Javatari.js! The emulator has been completely rewritten, and is now 100% in HTML5 and Javascript.

Javatari.js is a multiplayer Atari 2600 emulator written in pure Javascript/HTML5 with no external libs.

Features and Highlights:

• Javatari is now on HTML5/JS! No more need for the Java Plugin.
• Runs in any modern Web Browser. Tested in Chrome and Firefox.
• Real Atari Console user interface.
• All major ROM formats supported.
• Save and load Game States easily, or create a Save Game file.
• Support for Keyboard and Gamepad controllers.
• Full Screen mode.

New in version 0.91:

• Keyboard controls now configurable!
• Starpath/Arcadia ROM format support.
• Full Screen mode bugfix.
• Paddle analog control with Gamepad controllers.
• Audio now mutes when browser tab is not visible.
• Better auto launch mechanism.

Download: Javatari.js v0.91 (2347)

source: javatari.org

For this donation i thank: Andrea C. from Trieste.

The Sharp PC-1360 is a small pocket computer manufactured by Sharp. it can also be considered as an electronic calculator.

The PC-1360 was introduced in 1987 and was used by engineers, and favored by programmers for its decent programming and graphical capabilities. It was the top model of the (very small, only two models) 13XX series. It has a LCD display with four lines, also the SC61860 CPU, two RAM extension slot which work with the cynox RAM cards, a 15 pin serial interface and also a powerful BASIC. This is the best models for graphic applications.

Gallery:

source: computinghistory.org.uk

For this donation i thank: Paolo Cognetti from Roma.

This is a 3rd generation pong color system. It uses the usual 10 games cartridge: Tennis, Hockey, Squash, Practice, Soccer, Basketball, Basketball Practice, Gridball, Traget 1 & 2.

You can find this system everywhere in Europe though it´s origin once was Hongkong. This is a color variant sold by Irradio in Italy.

Gallery:

source: pong-picture-page.de

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

• P0 Snake +4FD 100% [pal/ntsc]
• Space Ambush +1EJHD
• Carrera F1
• On the Farm +34D [crazy hack]
• Shoot or Die [seuck]
• Space Trip +24D [crazy hack]
• Carrera F1 +5H
• Sex trainer ++ [german]
• Rabbit Pie HS
• Commando Arcade SE
• Bruce Lee II +
• Ultima IV Remastered
• Break64 Preview +
• Break64 Preview [pal/ntsc]
• Paperboy [cartridge]
• Trance Sector Ultimate
• Trance Sector Ultimate +10HD
• Zyflex Preview +4HF [pal/ntsc]
• Bimz Preview +2
• Abyssonaut [seuck]
• Return of Heracles ++MD+Map
• Abyssonaut +2D [seuck]
• Return of Heracles +M V0.9.1
• Return of Heracles +15
• Return of Heracles +MD
• Bruce Lee II v1.9
• Bruce Lee II v1.9 +
• Ultima IV Remastered V2.1
• Knuckle Busters +29D [crazy hack]

Download: All Games in One Archive (3559)

source: csdb.dk

This is the official demo party results from Revision 2015 (Top 3 Entries only). See also the CSDB Revision 2015 section for more informations.

C64 4K Intro:

• 3 – Aura by Fairlight.
• 4 – The Empress Awakens by Lft.

Mixed Graphics:

• 4 – Battle of Ilona by Made.
• 6 – This world is so fucked, let’s end it tonight by Panda Design.
• 7 – Dude – Got Your Dosage? by Elko, Tristar & Red Sector Incorporated.

Mixed Music:

• 4 – Space Cheddar by Genesis Project.
• 5 – New Sids on the Block by Panda Design.
• 7 – Loose Teeth – Crisp Bacon by Darklite.

Mixed Demo:

• 3 – GoatLight by Fairlight, Noice, Offence.
• 5 – $777 by Razor 1911.
• 9 – Timeline by Scandinavian Allstars.

Download: Revision 2015 Party stuff (1439)

source: 2015.revision-party.net

Photo of cleaning (before and after):

To clean the power supply i have used compressed air and a media bristle brush.

Click to view original size

I have repaired the Commodore Amiga 2000 with a Black Screen for a dear friend.

Defect:

• Black Screen.

Diagnosis:

• The Battery Acid has corroded some pcb tracks (not visible to the naked eye) connected to the pin of the resistor packs RP900.

Repair:

• I have made three small bridges between the points on the solder side of the pcb and the problem was fixed in a short time.

I have repaired the Sharp Twin Famicom AN-500R for a dear friend.

Sharp Twin Famicom AN-500R Repair.

Defects:

• Black screen.
• Distorted sound.

Fix:

• Cold solder joints.
• Cleaning the volume slider on the second Joypad.

The microphone is mixed into the output signal, if the contacts of the volume slider are dirty you hear a background noise which disturbs the in game audio.

Gallery:

This is the official demo party results from Gubbdata 2015 (Top 3 Entries only). See also the CSDB GUBBDATA 2015 section for more informations.

 C64 Demo:

• 1 – Requiem by Vision.
• 2 – Stereophonik [2sid] by Mahoney.
• 3 – The Butterfly Effect by Offence.

C64 Music:

• 1 – Amen, Bigbeat Brother! by Jammer.
• 2 – Northern Star by Dane.
• 3 – Obsession by Flex.

C64 Graphics:

• 1 – Disconnect by Joe.
• 2 – Dragonslayer by Mermaid.
• 3 – Beetlephant by redcrab.

Download: Gubbdata 2015 Party stuff (1408)

source: gubbdata.se

CBM prg Studio Version 3.2.2 is released. There are a lot of new features in this version. I’d really appreciate it if you report any bugs you find or have any suggestions/comments.

CBM prg Studio allows you to type a BASIC or Machine Code program in using a nice Windows environment and convert it to a ‘.prg’ file which you can run on an emulator, or even a real C64 / VIC20 or PET if you’re feeling brave and have the right kit.

CBM prg Studio is the result of merging C64PrgGen and VIC20PrgGen. Adding new features and fixing bugs in two apps which were 95% similar was a bit of a nightmare so merging them made sense.

It was also a good opportunity for a face lift and to add some new features, such as:

• Programs are project based, meaning all related source files, sprite files etc. are kept in one place and multiple source files can be linked more easily.
• Tabbed MDI.
• Syntax highlighting.

What CBM prg Studio isn’t is a front-end for tok64, cbmcnvrt, bastext or any other tokeniser / detokeniser / assembler. It’s all been written completely from scratch.

Improvements:

• Import binary file as disassembly.
• Set sprite scratch pad background colour.
• Keyboard short cuts for collapsing/expanding regions.

Bug Fixed:

• Assembler:
  • Generate to disk image.

• Basic:
  • Improved syntax highlighting.
  • Wrong case used when commenting certain lines.
  • Commenting blank lines.

• General:
  • Menu and/or tool bar was hidden occasionally.
  • Saving to network drives.
  • Source overview settings not retained.
  • Display problems with medium and large fonts.
  • Better file handling with network drives.

Download: CBM prg Studio v3.2.2 (1378)

source: ajordison.co.uk

Repair Apple II EuroPlus.

This computer has taken a lot of moisture and temperature changes, it can be seen because the connectors (Apple BUS) have dried up and the plastic tends to break. In addition, some pins of the ICs are rusty, fortunately few.

The main problem of this computer, as well the removal of the usual filter capacitor inside the power supply, was that don’t accepts some basic commands (see photo)

The problem was caused by the malfunction of the PROM 341-0014. (E8)

The owner will have to decide whether to purchase the original PROM (current price €13,90 + Shipping) or use a horrible adapter to insert an EPROM 27C16 (2716) in place of a PROM.

This adapter in addition to changing the aesthetics of the original motherboard brings with it some problems.

• 16k language card don’t work.
• Long cards which extend to the part of the circuit board cannot be used.

Gallery of the repair:

source: willegal.net classic-computers.org.nz

This Floppy Drive, but probably also other models, suffer of a quite annoying problem.

The little box in aluminum placed over the head of the Floppy Drive comes off, this happens because the bioadhesive foam rubber that was used to fix the “box” on the head will dry.

This piece of aluminum that at first thing can seem absolutely useless, however it is not, because it is a balancer, without this little piece of aluminum the floppy drive head vibrates and consequently don’t read / write properly.

The replacement of the bioadhesive foam rubber is very simple.

• Remove the top of the Floppy Drive (3 screws)
• Look for the little box that are detached and wanders inside the Floppy Drive.
• Thoroughly clean the remains of the bioadhesive foam rubber inside the box and on the upper side of the head (see photo). Don’t make much pressure on the head.
• Use another piece of foam rubber with the same thickness (see photo). For this purpose you can use a thousand of way to fix this box, the important thing is that must remain raised and  don’t touch the Floppy Disk (see photo)
• Fix the foam on both sides with a glue, i suggest a small amount of Bostik or Loctite – Super Attak.
• Wait for it to dry.
• Close everything.

This is the official demo party results from Forever 2015 (Top 3 Entries only). See also the CSDB FOREVER 2015 section for more informations.

C64 Demo:

• 1  -  Rainy Days by Singular.
• 2  -  Shadows of the Cyberspace [party version] by Nah-Kolor.
• 3  -  GXAdvert by Atlantis, Fantastic 4 Cracking Group.

C64 Music:

• 1  -  Hexadragon by Factor6.
• 2  -  Preludium by Sad.
• 3  -  2xperiment by Gaetano Chiummo.

C64 Graphics:

• 1  -  Fish & Wish by Leon.
• 2  -  Walking on the Moon by Mermaid.
• 3  -  Voima Laulaa by Reekol.

C64 1K Intro:

• 1  -  Rotzom01 by Busy, Noro.
• 2  -  Last Place by Coine.
• 3  -  1k Forever by Atlantis, Fantastic 4 Cracking Group.

Download: Forever 2015 Party stuff (1394)

source: forever-party.net party photo #1 party photo #2