Msg: 3542 *Conference*

12-08-92 19:55:21

From: DAVID FIRTH

To : FRANK PERRICONE

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #3471 (FDD2 AND KYOTRONIC 85)

I used a Kyo 85 in college and eventually gave it away.  Let me know if the
disk manager works on it (even though I'm doubtful).  The biggest obstacle in
your way is the organization of the ROM.  Both ROMs were written my Microsoft,
but the Kyo 85 did not require all of the code.  Therefore, portions of the ROM
(I assume modem/bar code reader stuff) were axed.  In typical neanderthal
Microsoft style, they did not preserve the addresses.  Instead, they shifted
the code to fill in the gaps.  This made the Kyo 85's addresses incompatible 
with the M100's addresses.  A back issue (1985?) of Pico reviewed the Kyo 85
and gave offsets for the shiffted addresses.  If you want to spend a bunch of
time, its possible to patch FLOPPY.CO. It would be a bunch-o-work, though.
Personally, I think Tandy may have not wanted competition with the Kyo 85 and
may have had a hand in the decision regarding the ROM (probably depended on who
shelled out the dough to Microsoft).  However, the Kyo 85 was a gray market 
computer; it was never intended for sale in the United States. I have access to
my old Kyo and its service manual.  If you need any technical info, give me a
yell.