X-MEM - SymbOS - PlayCity

[Jungsi]

I'am not sure if this is the correct section, but I try to explain my problem :-)
I have the X-MEM an the PlayCity - SymbOS is installed in the X-MEM ROM (Slot 10-13) - also I'am working with the PS/ mouse adapter.
The configuration (symbos.ini) is on disk A.
When I start symbos out of the rom - the configuration isn't loaded from A (desktop-background) - also I cant start any app.
The apps are not reacting on any klick from the mouse. (PlayCity Installed)
When I'am booting without the PlayCity installed it works without a problem...
When I'am booting from floppy with PlayCity installed it's also working


I installed the X-MEM new (init/install - without ramdisk and CP/M extra ROMs)


Now I'am really confused where the problem is, because in the video about symbos and play city there seems to be no problem :-)

[TotO]

Have you tested without the PS/ mouse adapter?
Do you use a 3"1/2 floppy drive or something like on the +5V CPC power supply?

I confirm that I have no problem to use SymbOS from a X-MEM with PlayCity. (and X-MASS too )
So, may be your power supply is not enough for all your expansions?

[Jungsi]

Yes - I've tried it without the mouse adapter - same thing ;-)
I've only a HXc with it's own power supply - when i remove the PlayCity it's working in all combinations
With the PlayCity installed it only works when SmbOS is not started from ROM.....

[CraigsBar]

I sounds like q power supply issue. Are you using a mother 4x, and does it have an external power supply? I have a similar issue but only when I plug in my xmass. All is good without the xmass, but with it I also have to remove the play city and minibooster. I was thinking it may be a xmass issue, especially since my reset buttons also fail to function as soon as the xmass is connected. Even the internal one as well as the mother 4x one.

I've contacted TotO and he is thinking about it. I have every confidence that a fix is not too far away.

[Bryce]

How can a reset button fail? What happens when you press the button?

Bryce.

[TotO]

I have only see 2 times the CPC reset button fail, when I done tests:

1- I forgot to solder the button. 
2- The PlayCity's NMI signal produced by the CTC was configured in a wrong way[nb]reset occure, but as the RAM is not empty and the NMI routine start at &0066, the firmware code is mainly ignored and all continue like no reset was done.[/nb] and took control over all.

[Bryce]

I have only see 2 times the CPC reset button fail, when I done tests:

1- I forgot to solder the button. 
2- The PlayCity's NMI signal was configured in a wrong way[nb]reset occure, but as the RAM is not empty and the NMI routine start at &0066, the firmware code is mainly ignored and all continue like no reset was done.[/nb] and took control over all.

Doesn't pulling /BUSRESET to ground override absolutely everything? It shouldn't matter what state the NMI is in.

Bryce.

[TotO]

As explained on the NB, you reset... But the firmware don't take control of the CPC to init all things.
So, the program continue to run properly, as the RAM content is not erased.

[Bryce]

Ah, didn't notice the NB. What happens the program counter in that situation, isn't it reset? A running basic program wouldn't continue to run would it?

Bryce.

[CraigsBar]

When I have my xmass plugged in then the reset will cause screen corruption but yes sometimes everything keeps running.

[Bryce]

Interesting. I hope a solution is found soon (so that I can order mine ).

Bryce.

[TotO]

Ah, didn't notice the NB. What happens the program counter in that situation, isn't it reset? A running basic program wouldn't continue to run would it?

On PlayCity, all the circuits reset when the firmware write the &F8FF port.
So, for a standard usage, there is no problem at all. If you configure NMI for a special usage, you have to know what you are doing to take the hand over it.


---

About the X-MASS reset problem on the Craigsbar board, I have not noticed this issue when I have made the individual and integration tests.
But, I'm afraid that his CPC configuration got a power supply problem, because I have already exchanged the MiniBooster and its BT module few weeks ago. After testing them back, the BT module is HS and the MiniBooster is defective. (that was not when I have shipped them)

So, better to stop to plug your expansions boards now and check you CPC and PSU alone to detect the real problem!!!

[Bryce]

What failed on the Mini-booster? It might indicate what's wrong with Craigs CPC?

Bryce.

[TotO]

The BT module is dead. Because it's a 5V to 3.3V I/O, I suggest that it received too much voltage.

The MiniBooster look to work during few minutes, but after that the CPC start to display stranges chars to the screen.
This problem is probably due to a defective 74HCT541 chip that drive the address bus to avoid problem between the ATMega and the CPC itself.
I have not tried to repair it now, as I have replaced it and I'm actually building the X-MASS.

[CraigsBar]

On PlayCity, all the circuits reset when the firmware write the &F8FF port.
So, for a standard usage, there is no problem at all. If you configure NMI for a special usage, you have to know what you are doing to take the hand over it.


---

About the X-MASS reset problem on the Craigsbar board, I have not noticed this issue when I have made the individual and integration tests.
But, I'm afraid that his CPC configuration got a power supply problem, because I have already exchanged the MiniBooster and its BT module few weeks ago. After testing them back, the BT module is HS and the MiniBooster is defective. (that was not when I have shipped them)

So, better to stop to plug your expansions boards now and check you CPC and PSU alone to detect the real problem!!!

I cannot explain the minibooster. As I only swapped the BT module. The minibooster I sent back was the replacement which never even got plugged into any of my machines, as soon as I swapped the BT my original minibooster worked fine again, so I sent back the replacement as it was no longer needed.

I have tested with multiple cpcs and multiple supplies. The result is always the same. As soon as the xmass is connected no reset switch works. This certainly seems odd. But I am sure you can work it out.

When I just have the xmass and xmem then symbos works fine, but no reset button. When I add either the minibooster or play city then the xmass fails to work. Like I said it is odd. I have tested my power supplies and they are both fine. The CPC itself is my 4128 which Bryce gave a clean bill of health to. And the Symbiface works fine with.

It seems that something is fishy with the xmass I have. But no worries, I am probably gonna post it back to TotO for a fix. As I am sure he will have the same issues as me. I can replicate them with or without the mother 4x on 3 plus machines and 2 CPC 6128s.

[CraigsBar]

What failed on the Mini-booster? It might indicate what's wrong with Craigs CPC?

Bryce.

nothing, only the BT module.

[TotO]

Thank you for your new feedback Craigs. So, I really don't understand!!! 
Please, send me back the X-MASS. It's own reset line is probably defective.
I will refund you the postage and will send you a new board.

[CraigsBar]

Thank you for your new feedback Craigs. So, I really don't understand!!! 
Please, send me back the X-MASS. It's own reset line is probably defective.
I will refund you the postage and will send you a new board.

no need to refund the postage. I am not gonna leave you out of pocket. You prices are too low already IMHO.☺

[TotO]

Sorry, but my website system don't allow peoples to chose their wished prices about each board. 

[TFM]

Last two posts just made my day!!! 




@Jungsi : Does your setup work now? Was it the power supply?

[Jungsi]

@Jungsi : Does your setup work now? Was it the power supply?

It's the Mother X4 and I've tried it also with a 5V power supply for it - nothing changed in the result :-)
When the PlayCity is connected and loading SymbOS by Xmem, the configuration from drive a isn't loading.
Drive A is spinning a little moment but not loading anything - I can do a short video if it's helping you.....

[TotO]

I have to make some tests for trying to reproduce your problem.
Please, can you let me know the ROM (and the ID for each of them) that you are using to make the same configuration?


Thank you.

[Jungsi]

Do you need more infos?
After loading from ROM the configuraton file should be loaded from Diskdrive A....

[TFM]

It's the Mother X4 and I've tried it also with a 5V power supply for it - nothing changed in the result :-)
When the PlayCity is connected and loading SymbOS by Xmem, the configuration from drive a isn't loading.
Drive A is spinning a little moment but not loading anything - I can do a short video if it's helping you.....

Vid could help. But do you have problems in general or is it only symbos. Any problems with CyberChicken when using PlayCity? It's hard to understand what's going on. 


EDIT: Your ROM setup is probably not the problem.

[Jungsi]

Vid could help. But do you have problems in general or is it only symbos. Any problems with CyberChicken when using PlayCity? It's hard to understand what's going on. 

EDIT: Your ROM setup is probably not the problem.

I think CyberChicken is working the correct way - music from the internal speaker - sounds from the play city....