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Author Topic: Memory problem with EP128 (Read 5843 times)

Offline Nullinger

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Memory problem with EP128
« on: 2014.October.16. 19:44:57 »
Hello all,

my Name is Robert from Germay and i'm a new User of this Forum.

I have trouble with my Enterprise 128. Only the 64KB (Video-RAM) is working. The internal 64KB expansion is not working. :(
When i start the EP, the Memory-Test shows FF-FC and then comes the ENTERPRISE Picture. In Basic shows 65535 Bytes.
In the Schematic is a 74ALS158 and in my EP is a 74F157 -> it's a little bit Mystic for me.

Can anybody help me to resolve this issue? Is there a easy way to find out the damages components?

Thanks for Help.

Robert

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #1 on: 2014.October.16. 20:41:49 »
Welcome here!

My advice: throw out the old 64K expansion and order new 512K or 1M expansion from Saint!

Anyway if you want to repair the original:
The original EXOS RAM test will test the first byte of the RAM segment, if this byte failed then the RAM not detected. If the first byte good the start testing, and if failed marked as bad. And you will see xxxxx bytes not working.
If one or more RAM IC totaly dead then the RAM expansion will be invisible for the original EXOS.
I wrote new RAM test routine for updated EXOS (2.2+, 2.4 beta 5 the most recent), it is will detect the faulty expansion if least one bit (=least one RAM IC) working.

For the first step need to run my test on your cumputer. Upgrade the onboard ROM (most recommended, because other EXOS bugs fixed), or also availeble cartridge version of the RAM test, or there is a loadable version (it is start with the Advanced RAM test mode).

If the missing 64K detected as faulty memory, then the problem will be one or more faulty RAM ICs. If this test also not detect it then the problem with the address decoding circuit.

If the problem with the RAM ICs then try to write/read bytes of the faulty segments, and identify which bits not working. It is possible from BASIC with SPOKE/SPEEK instructions, but more comfortable from a Monitor program, for example from ASMON.

I suggest check the wires and solders of the expansion connection for a contact problems.

74xxx158 and 74xxx157 are compatible in this situation. The 158 have a inverted outputs, so when accessing 0000h of the 64K expansion, the FFFFh accessed with 158 ICs, and 0000h with 157 ICs. But at this situation don't care. Both type used in Enterprise machines, in a different production batch.

Offline Nullinger

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #2 on: 2014.October.17. 16:14:42 »
Hello Zozosoft,

many thanks for the fast responce and the help.

I have the EP testet with your tool "MT.COM" and the Result was "BAD 64KB".
I have made two Pictures during the test. The 2nd Picture was made after pressing the
the "A" Key for Advanced test -> Coputer makes a reboot and shows the Picture.

In my opinion one or more RAM's defective, or?
You wrote, it's possible to find out the defective RAM?

Thank you.

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #3 on: 2014.October.17. 18:39:48 »
Do you have a EXDOS card? I guess from the number of unused bytes, it is looks a German configuration with EXDOS 1.0 ROM.
From disk you can easy load ASMON, then start it with :ASMON command.
Then page in one of the faulty segments, press O, port B1, value F8.
Press V for verify paging, now need to see Page1=F8

Next step fill the faulty segment with test bytes:
Press F, start 4000, end 7FFF, value 0
Then check the memory contains: press M, start 4000
If you see anything than 00 00 00... then see the problem. If 01 instead 00 then bit 0 RAM IC are the defective, at 02 the bit 1 and etc.
If the 00 bytes are ok, then repeat the fill step now with FF and check again the contains. If FE instead FF the bit 0 defective, at FD the bit 1, etc.

Offline Nullinger

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #4 on: 2014.October.18. 15:28:57 »
Hello Zozosoft,
thanks for your help...

Yes you are right. I have a EXDOS Card with EXDOS 1.0 and German settings.
It was easy to load and starting ASMON.

I have made the steps as you wrote and ASMON shows from 4000-7FFF all Bytes with 40.
When i filling with FF all Bytes shows FF. But at the moment i'm not clear what is the
defective component? Do you know it? Excuse me, but i'm not a computer specialist....

Robert

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #5 on: 2014.October.18. 16:32:43 »
Then the RAM IC which are store the bit 6 are the defective, always outputting 1.
From the schematic this is the U106.

Offline Nullinger

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #6 on: 2014.October.18. 17:39:24 »
Hello Zozosoft,

many, many Thanks for your Help and Support. :bow:
I have replayced the RAM-IC U106 and the EP works now perfectly!

Please can you send me the best or newest EXOS and also the EXDOS ROM Binary-File.
I'd like update my Enterprise with this ROM's.

Thank you and best regards,
Robert

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #7 on: 2014.October.19. 11:08:16 »
I have replayced the RAM-IC U106 and the EP works now perfectly!
Great news!

Quote
Please can you send me the best or newest EXOS and also the EXDOS ROM Binary-File.
I'd like update my Enterprise with this ROM's.
There is the latest EXOS.
For use need a 64K EPROM (27C512), and add A15 address line to pin 1.

EXDOS will coming soon, some bug found in the latest compilation :oops:
Anyway: for use it will need a 32K EPROM (27C256). Do you have a original EXDOS card? It is have a jumper points for the EPROM, which is need to set to A14. (The 1.0 ROM are only 16K, jumper set to +5V as default.)

Offline Nullinger

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #8 on: 2014.October.19. 18:46:43 »
Hello,

thanks for the EXOS-File. It works good...

Yes i have a original EXDOS Card and i see the "Jumper". There are three solerding Holes named with A14 and +5V and the middle without Name.
At the moment the middle and +5V are connected. When i use the new EXDOS i must cut the Path between middle and +5V and connect the
middle to A14?

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #9 on: 2014.October.19. 18:57:18 »
At the moment the middle and +5V are connected. When i use the new EXDOS i must cut the Path between middle and +5V and connect the
middle to A14?
Yes.

There is the German/English version. It is only the EXDOS, shortly I add the German/English ISDOS to the ROM.

Offline Nullinger

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #10 on: 2014.October.21. 18:45:17 »
Hello Zozosoft,

now i have made the EPROM with your EXDOS 1.4 and it's works great :)
Thank you for all Help... :smt041

Offline Wolfgang

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #11 on: 2020.October.08. 19:02:13 »
Sorry for reviving this old topic, but I have a similar problem. EP128 and EXOS2.4 reports upper 64KB BAD.

I have a EXDOS card with Gotek and Flashfloppy connected. I would like to use ASMON to find the bad RAM chip, but I don't know how to get ASMON.EXT into an IMG file for FlashFloppy?

Offline geco

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #12 on: 2020.October.08. 19:49:32 »
as i remember, i use winimage:
www.winimage.com/download.htm

Offline gflorez

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #13 on: 2020.October.08. 20:53:18 »
With upper you mean video Ram...?

I use EPDOS1.7.EXT to know what are the good Ram segments and the found Roms, commands LRAM and HROM.

To put a file in a image-disk, you can install IMDISK. It will allow you to mount your images on your PC and write them as real disks. On the emulator you can find some images that Flashfloppy will accept. Then, un-mount the images and put them on the pen-drive you want to use in your Gotek.

The Gotek and HxC have 2 modes of use, one that maintain the names of the disk image and other like numbered files. On the Enterprise we use the real name of the image. This is important because there is a manager for the HxC that also works on the Gotek, but it needs that name mode.



Offline Wolfgang

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Re: Memory problem with EP128
« Reply #14 on: 2020.October.08. 20:57:08 »
I found an image containing ASMON here and was able to identify bit 3 (U103) as the culprit. Thanks for the great explanation!

as i remember, i use winimage:
www.winimage.com/download.htm
Thanks! I will look at this anyway, since I need to find a way to get individual files into an image file.