Msg: 6163 *Conference*

12-16-95 08:00:23

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : JOHN NEWBOULD

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6162 (BOOSTER PACK RECOVER PROGRAMS)

Hi John... welcome aboard.  Sounds like you have a Booster Pak problem, and, to
tell the truth, I'm not sure about the question or and exact solution but will
explore a few ideas...

 > I hope you can help me with a fatle crash of my booster pack main menu.

Hmmm... I know that from time to time the Model 100/102 will cold start, thus
disconnecting itself, software wise, from the Booster Pak.  It's easy to
reconnect the OS ...

Go into BASIC and key in the following two lines...

 OUT 5,0 <enter>
 CALL 911 <enter>

Of course, the word <enter> is not keyed ... it means to hit the <enter> key.

 > The memory is in tact but un readable without a peek/print utility.

How do you know that the memory is in tact?  If you did the above OS
reconnecting routine then you are up and running.  But, if you do the following
you will wipe out all BP RAM contents, i.e. reformat the Booster Pak ...
something you DO NOT want to do.

 OUT 5,0 <enter>
 CALL 911 ... hold down on the <ctrl> <shift> and <grph> keys and then hit
<enter>

Again, the above will reformat the Booster Pak

As for a utility ... sorry my friend, I do not have such an animal.  I searched
our (4)Library for all the Booster Pak programs and found only two.  Neither
will do what you want.  I also checked the (6)TechRef area for a technical file
on this subject ... nothing.  I even opened the Booster Pak manual and once
again, nothing about a peek routine to recover a crashed Booster Pak.

 > Surely some other member has had such problems.  Can you put me in 
 > touch with them?

I hope so.  I moved your message to me into the public message area of this
service (i.e. (1)Conference) for public attention.  It is common practice for
our online members to read new messages in the conference each time they log
on.  I know that some of these fellows have Booster Paks as well.  Perhaps they
can add to my ramblings.

Another thing you might want to do is call Larry Berg, President, Purple
Computing at 503-479-8087 or 8089 fax.  I believe that it was Larry who
invented the Booster Pak.  At least he "might" know a BP RAM recovery utility.

One last comment ... and I know you know I must say this, as much as it hurts:
Always save important data to "multiple" magnetic media ... or keep a printout.
Do not ever depend on active memory as the sole storge for important
information.

All the best ... -Rick-