[Coco] newb: Can I use DriveWire with my CoCo 2?

Sun Sep 22 00:21:42 EDT 2013

Chad,
I'll try to work on that tomorrow morning. Half of it is already done and I have to gather all the required files
I think the best way to package it is as a starter kit for DW4 and NOT include the actual DW4 download but keep it on the same page as the DW4 download. That way if Aaron updates DW4, then the download will not be outdated. That is if it's OK with Aaron...

There will have to be separate setups for Coco 1, 2, & 3 as they all use different builds of HDBDOS as well as different drivers for NitrOS-9. This can still all go in one nice neat package with a PDF of installation and operation of each setup ie.. Coco 1 chapter, Coco 2 chapter & Coco 3 chapter And a chapter for special setups like the Becker port & Turbo mode.
Directions for disk loading and cassette loading as well as how to set it up as a Rom.
Also detailed instructions for setting up NitrOS-9 to boot from the DW vhd. This seems to be something that's been a problem as well but I won't go into that again :-)

Am I forgetting anything? Looking for suggestions here before I start on the package.

And Aaron... My instruction PDF will start as a Word doc that I can send to you to update the wiki as well.
Any thoughts?

Bill Pierce
My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Chad H <chadbh74 at hotmail.com>
To: 'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts' <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Sat, Sep 21, 2013 11:57 pm
Subject: Re: [Coco] newb: Can I use DriveWire with my CoCo 2?

Now that sounds like a plan my friend :)  I acknowledge the 'tinkering'
behavior of CoCo'ists  (word?)  and most certainly there would have
developed customized versions of the softwares and ROM's.  But a good
'starting point', if you will, should contain Aaron's official install
package and a good stable 'standard' ROM set for the supported hardwares
(CoCo's in particular).  OF course users may want to experiment and tinker
later on at their pleasure after becoming acquainted and proficient with the
standard stuff.  Then they could perform their own mods or utilize those
provided by others on the net.  I agree with Aaron's point that a COMPLETE
repository of all DriveWire related files would be difficult and probably
impractical to manage, though he has done a good job with what he has there
on the DriveWire 4 site already, just needs a very few but critical items
included for new users to help get them going.

-----Original Message-----
From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On
Behalf Of Bill Pierce
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 10:41 PM
To: coco at maltedmedia.com
Subject: Re: [Coco] newb: Can I use DriveWire with my CoCo 2?

Chad,
I agree, there is a real need for a complete package. The HDBDOS roms have
gone through very little change in the past couple of years so I would say
they're "stable" and need a home. I too have searched high and low to find a
complte set of roms.
I understand Aaron not offering the roms or other stuff, but DW4 is his only
software. HDBDOS is actually Boisy's though he's released it to open source.
And that's where it sits.... as source in the toolshed repository, not even
built when you build toolshed.
There needs to be a files download section for the toolshed repo for current
builds of the various utilities there... not just toolshed itself.

I was actually putting together a DriveWire Installation package at one time
but that's about when things went haywire with the NitrOS-9 repo and I got
sidetracked on other projects. This now needs to be finished.

My message was not aimed at you in particular but to everyone as this has
become a problem. The past 4 or 5 versions of DriveWire in just about as
many months have an "Update" feature where you no longer have to go to the
website. As long as a download would include a version with that feature, it
could be immediately updated after installation with a click of the mouse.
No one seems to notice Aaron's posts on this, but it's under the "Tools" tab
in the DW4 GUI and down at the bottom of that menu. "Check For Updates".

BTW... The version of DW3 that Cloud9 distributes with SuperIDE is very
undesirable. Lots of new features in DW4. I hope Mark plans to update this
in his new controller he's raving about. 

I'll see if I can work on an intuitive DW4 installation guide and package,
then Aaron could host it on the DW4 site so it would be official. Then I
will also link it on my site.

And there should be no problem running the latest DW4 on an XP machine.
Matter of fact, I think there's a few people here doing just that.

Bill Pierce
My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Chad H <chadbh74 at hotmail.com>
To: 'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts' <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Sat, Sep 21, 2013 10:49 pm
Subject: Re: [Coco] newb: Can I use DriveWire with my CoCo 2?

Good call Bill.  However nowhere on that site, including the "Downloads"
page is there to be found a "ROMS package".  I believe my original files
came from Cloud-9.  The point is, they are scattered abouts on the web from
site to site, with no single site containing ALL needed DriveWire documents
and files.  Nor is there a mention on the Drivewire 4 site of Disks or ROM
images at all, only the PC side server stuff.  This is not a complaint but
an observation and, if taken with the appropriate pinch of salt, a
suggestion for improvement to the entire project.  I haven't taken the time
to toy around with version 4 yet, not even sure if it will run on my Win'98
box I've dedicated for this, or if my existing DW3 ROM will support it.
Until someone comes up with a consolidated and COMPLETE walkthrough for
setting up DriveWire 4 on the PC AND on the CoCo as well as where to get the
appropriate ROMS and/or disk-tape images....I doubt that I ever will.

P.S.  I did reference in my original post to this thread that the files were
related to "DriveWire 3", which to my knowledge that may be in error, hasn't
been updated for quiet some time.

-----Original Message-----
From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On
Behalf Of Bill Pierce
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 9:12 PM
To: coco at maltedmedia.com
Subject: Re: [Coco] newb: Can I use DriveWire with my CoCo 2?

Chris,
Also, I don't know how old your version of DW4 is, but you need to download
the latest version as very few "downloads" are up to date.
Everyone needs to "Link" Aarons Cococoding  site instead of posting out of
date downloads. There has been some trouble getting DW4 to work because of
this. Aaron updates DriveWire quite often and a download older than 2 months
is too old.
Here's the proper link:

https://sites.google.com/site/drivewire4/

Bill Pierce
My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3

https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Pierce <ooogalapasooo at aol.com>
To: coco <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Sat, Sep 21, 2013 10:02 pm
Subject: Re: [Coco] newb: Can I use DriveWire with my CoCo 2?

Chris,
You are using the wrong file. You are using the dw3rom.wav or somthing like
that. You MUST use HDBDOSdw3CC2.wav or hdbdw3cc2.wav as I've seen it named
both ways

The logo should read

HDBDOS 1.4 DW3 Coco 2

Now,... once you get the rom running. Goto cloud9tech<dot>com and click the
SUPPOT tab. Scroll down till you find the HDBDOS PDF manual.
 READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY from beginning to end. If nessessary, over and
over until you understand the concept of the "offsets".

To use "dsk" images, you will need no offsets, but to use most VHD images
that have an NitrOS-9 partition, you will need to know the offsets to
understand how to use the RSDOS partition.

If you try to read a vhd that has an OS9 parttion while in HDBDOS, you will
see nothing but garbage.
As I said, "dsk" images shoud be fine.

Bill Pierce
My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Osborn <fozztexx at fozztexx.com>
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Sat, Sep 21, 2013 9:16 pm
Subject: Re: [Coco] newb: Can I use DriveWire with my CoCo 2?

On Sep 21, 2013, at 5:24 PM, Chad H wrote:

> Actually I just checked the "drivewire.zip" file and the .WAV audio 
> file for the ROM is already there.  That should get you in business, 
> just PLAY that file from your laptop while the CoCo CLOADM's it.

Ok if I play the wav and then execute it, I get "DW3 CC2 BOOT FAILED"

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