Enhancer 2000 firmware
Ian Colquhoun
years ago but was dead on arrival. It appears to be equipped with a
RAMBoard and a speed control knob on the back.
When I power it on, the red activity light turns on and stays on, the disk
spins, but the amber error light blinks in a non-regular pattern. If I
attempt to read the error channel on the 64 thing BASIC just freezes. It
appears that the drive never finishes initializing. I know the PSU I'm
using is good.
Due to that I figured replacing the drive ROM might be an easy place to
start, however I can't find an image of an Enhancer 2000 ROM anywhere. I
came across one post via a Google search that claims a regular 1541-II
ROM should work. Can anyone confirm that or let me know where I can find
a genuine Enhancer ROM?
Thanks in advance.
--
Ian Colquhoun
Ray Carlsen
> however I can't find an image of an Enhancer 2000 ROM anywhere.
Ian,
I've heard of the Enhancer but have never seen that particular
drive. If you could send me a few photos of it (front, back, inside) and
it looks like something I've seen before, I might be able to help. I
have archived lots of hardware ROMs. Who made that drive? What kind of
disks does it use (1541, 1571, 1581)?
Ray (Carlsen Electronics)
Ray Carlsen
I did a bit of searching and it looks like the DOS in that drive is
different than a Commodore 1541. It doesn't work with some 1541 software
and it has enhancements that a 1541 doesn't have such as faster formats
and disk loading. So, the ROM program must be different. If you're sure
the DOS ROM is the problem, the only way you might get a clone is from
another user that has a drive like that... and a way to burn an EPROM
with that code. I have a burner if someone can provide the binary file
or let me borrow their drive.
Ray
rittwage
I would ask Jim Brain if he has a version of JiffyDOS for that drive.
IMO that would be the best way to rule it out.
-
Peter Rittwage
C64 Preservation Project
http://c64preservation.com
Snogpitch
the drive in case it got toasted?
bluebirdpod
>
> - Show quoted text -
I have both versions of the Enhancer 2000 roms, let me dig those out.
One is a direct copy of 1541-II roms, and the other is Enhancer
labeled dos, prolly after a lawsuit. This is a crappy drive, it does
not work well with many titles, it seems to really hate Rapid-lok
protected titles. the only 100% clone is the Excellerator Plus drive,
that one works with everything.
too bad they didnt work on the weak-bit gcr circuit a little more,
then it would be much more compatible.
Ian Colquhoun
> I have both versions of the Enhancer 2000 roms, let me dig those out.
> One is a direct copy of 1541-II roms, and the other is Enhancer
> labeled dos, prolly after a lawsuit. This is a crappy drive, it does
> not work well with many titles, it seems to really hate Rapid-lok
> protected titles. the only 100% clone is the Excellerator Plus drive,
> that one works with everything.
>
> too bad they didnt work on the weak-bit gcr circuit a little more,
> then it would be much more compatible.
If you could email a copy of those ROMs that would be fantastic. My
actual address is icolquhoun at gmail dot com.
Since my original post I did a little more digging. I checked the ROM
that is installed and it does read properly and is similar to a 1541-II
ROM, so I'm thinking it's probably not the problem. I believe there may
perhaps be one or more cold solder joints on the RAMBOard. When I get a
chance I'm going to touch up all the joints and see if that makes it
go.
Unfortunately it isn't installed in a socket, nor is the 6502 on the
RAMBOard socketed - likely due to space, so I'm hoping I don't have to
resort to removing the whole darn thing.
--
Ian Colquhoun
Ian Colquhoun
Thanks for the follow-up Ray. It's a 1541 clone and apparently not a
particularly good one. I believe it uses a Chinon drive mech with a
rather odd pinch type latch.
I've done a little more checking as you'll see from my other follow-up,
but if worse comes to worse I'll definitely engage you through email if
that's okay. I'm not desperate to get the drive working, but since it's
not entirely common it'd be nice to see it go.
--
Ian Colquhoun
ZappedC64
wrote:
>I've done a little more checking as you'll see from my other follow-up,
>but if worse comes to worse I'll definitely engage you through email if
>that's okay. I'm not desperate to get the drive working, but since it's
>not entirely common it'd be nice to see it go.
Ian,
Did you get the drive working? I found one of my Enhancer 2000 drives
this weekend. I also found.... the manual. :)
Let me know if you need anything.
/Zapped/
jeffob2008
Can you open it? Are the main ROM's removable on yours?
ZappedC64
<jeffob...@gmail.com> wrote:
>Can you open it? Are the main ROM's removable on yours?
Yes, The ROM is removeable. The ROM, EEPROM actually... appears to be
a 27128. Do you guys need for me to pull it and dump it?
/Zapped/
ZappedC64
Well... dumping it might be a minor issue. I did find my old EEPROM
programmer. Unfortunately... I can't find the software, and it appears
that the company is now out of business. :( RIP Needham's
Electronics.
But there is hope! I just happen to have a "Promenade Model C1" that
might be capable of reading the 27128. Kinda funny if you think about
it. I think I have the software for the 28-year old EEPROM programer,
but I don't have the software for my much newer EEPROM programer
(sigh).
/Zapped/
Pheuque
Ian Colquhoun
> On Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 9:11:08 PM UTC-4, Ian Colquhoun wrote:
>> Due to that I figured replacing the drive ROM might be an easy place to
>> start, however I can't find an image of an Enhancer 2000 ROM anywhere. I
>> came across one post via a Google search that claims a regular 1541-II
>> ROM should work. Can anyone confirm that or let me know where I can find
>> a genuine Enhancer ROM?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> --
>> Ian Colquhoun
>
> I don't know if you ever got more compatible ROMS, but if you did Jim
> Brain and I are looking for them.
got the drive and it still doesn't work.
--
Ian Colquhoun