Oct 302011
 

This post is mainly to make Stiggy drool a little.
It shows the loading times difference between the standard C64 kernel and JiffyDOS using the SD2IEC.
The videos show Last Ninja 2 loading from the FB64 program on a C64c. Try to ignore all the crack screens etc and take note of the actual loading screens.

Standard C64 kernal

Using JiffyDOS

 Posted by at 2:35 pm

C64c Original/JiffyDOS dual booting

 General, Guides  Comments Off on C64c Original/JiffyDOS dual booting
Oct 292011
 

Sometime back I modified my C64c with a switch to change between the original kernel and the JiffyDOS kernel. I did this because JiffyDOS is incredible for loading games from the SD2IEC but it doesn’t support loading from tape at all.
I needed to make another one up. Turns out I forgot how to! so here it is mainly for my own sanity.

  • Get a 27C256 eprom
  • Get a copy of the original C64c kernel. This should be 16KB in size, if its 8KB then that’s from the older breadbin C64.
  • Get a copy of the original C64 basic ROM. This is number 901226-01. This should be 8KB in size.
  • Get your copy of JiffyDOS for the C64. This should be 8KB in size.

Place all these files in a directory and open a command prompt (assuming your using Windows).

I renamed my files to something a bit more meaningful, “kernel.bin” “basic.bin” and “jiffy.bin”.
Type the following command:
“copy /b kernel.bin+basic.bin+jiffy.bin new.bin”

This creates a new binary file called “new.bin” and it should be 32KB in size.

  • Burn “new.bin” to a blank 27C256 eprom
  • Lift up leg 27 of the eprom so it doesn’t make contact with the socket pin.
  • Solder the common leg of a switch to pin 27
  • Solder one side of the switch to a 4.7k resistor connected to +5v
  • Solder the other side of the switch to GND

This should now give you a fully working switchable C64c.

Note: This only works for the newer C64c version. A 27C256 eprom isn’t pin compatible with a breadbin version without more modifications.
Also, JiffyDOS is still being sold and is not downloadable from my site nor will I provide it to anyone asking.

 Posted by at 4:27 pm

ZX Spectrum repair log #2

 Computer Repair Logs, Repair Logs  Comments Off on ZX Spectrum repair log #2
Oct 222011
 

The second of the ZX Spectrums I got recently, which is motherboard only, gave absolutely nothing on the screen
Replaced the usual ZTX650 for a ZTX651 and the one next to it which is a ZTX213.
This one also had the capacitor above them missing. Replaced this for a 4.7uF 50v one and tested.

All working again

 Posted by at 11:03 am

Operation Wolf PALs added

 PAL Updates  Comments Off on Operation Wolf PALs added
Oct 222011
 

I dumped the 4 PAL16L8s from Op Wolf this morning.
I haven’t yet had this board up and running so these are untested. If someone could verify these for me I would be most grateful.

EDIT: Tested these now and they seem to work fine
They are:
B20-09.IC19
B20-10.IC84
B20-11.IC85
B20-12.IC92

 Posted by at 10:59 am

New C64 game Prince of Persia

 General  Comments Off on New C64 game Prince of Persia
Oct 162011
 

Today sees the release of a new C64 game. A fantastic conversion of Prince of Persia.
The game looks and plays just like the original versions across various other platforms.

This game requires an EasyFlash (or compatible) device to run. Naturally it also runs on VICE and most likely other C64 emulators, it also works on a C128.
Swoop on over to CSDb to download it

 Posted by at 10:13 am