QUAD

Supported Models

• Model 100 only

Features

QUAD is a hardware add-on for the Model 100 that provides the user with 4 banks of 32kB, similar to the multiple banks in a T200 or PC-8201.

• fully compatible with REX - enables mult-bank operation of REX on M100
• plugs directly into the system bus with no additional modifications
• uses the internal NiCd RAM backup battery for reliable operation
• simple software for manual bank switching
• OR - use 0QUAD.BA - a menu enhancement for M100 (see description below)

Overview

Quick Menu Features

For commonly used functions, now some shortcut keys are available in MENU. This avoids the need to start REXMGR to perform simple operations like ROM switching and backing up your RAM.

Summary of commands:

• <CNTL-O>: Switch Option ROM - REX will display available Option ROMs, and the user can use arrow keys to move the cursor to the desired selection. <ENTER> to activate the new selection and start that ROM. <ESC> to exit. The Active Option ROM is indicated with a *.
• <CNTL-B>: Back up RAM - REX will prompt the user to confirm, and if confirmed will copy RAM to the active RAM image, performing a backup.
• <CNTL-R>: Restore RAM - REX will prompt the user to confirm, and if confirmed will copy the active RAM image to RAM, performing a restore.
• <CNTL-H>: Hooks removal - REX will prompt the user to confirm, and if confirmed will remove all hooks relating to REXMGR from the laptop operating system, effectively disabling REX. REXMGR remains in the MENU, so REX can be easily reinstalled. Also, the Active Option ROM is accessible using the usual ROM start procedures. This feature is useful when it is desired to run the Option ROM without REX active.

Installation

QUAD installed in an M100 -

If you are the owner of a REX which is operating with software of Release 4.8 vintage or earlier, then it is not possible to upgrade to Release 4.9 while maintaining the contents of the FLASH and the image NAME DIRECTORY.

Step 1

So then, the first thing to do is for you to 'Save' all your existing RAM and OPTROM images 
(the ones that you both want to keep and are not already stored on a PC somewhere) out of REX 
and onto your favorite TPDD device.  Please go through your saved images, decide what you want 
to save and use again, and get them out of REX.  After we install R4.9, all those images will 
be wiped.  You will have to reload anything you need.

Step 2

Load the upgrader tool:  Load into RAM the RFx49.CO file using the TPDD device.  
You will need to CLEAR0,55000 to run the program.  But, don't run it yet.

Step 3

Remove REX software from the laptop.   This is an easy step - just go into REXMGR and press F7 
(or SHIFT-F4 in PC-8201/8300)to DEINstall REX software.  
You should find yourself at MENU with RFx49.CO in the directory of the laptop.

Step 4

Issue the BASIC command CLEAR0,55000.  Exit BASIC and run RFx49.CO from Menu.  
RFx49.CO will do the necessary steps of erasing blocks, loading the REX software, 
copying it to backup block 1, and then loading TS-DOS into block 8.

Step 5

Once RFx49.CO completes, you should be able to start REXMGR.  Power cycle the laptop.  
Cold restart the machine to clean out any funny memory stuff.  Enter BASIC and type either

CALL63012 (M100/T102)
CALL61167,2 (T200)
EXEC62394 (PC-8201/8300)

Voila! You should see REXMGR in the MENU, and you should see the fancy new OPTROM indicator in the top right corner. You are now running release 4.9!!!!

Simple Bank Switching Program

The following program can be quickly typed into BASIC and run. It allows manual bank switching. In each bank, you could save this program and call it BANK1.BA, BANK2.BA etc. (the number relating to bank number), so that you know what bank you are in.

 10 INPUT"INPUT BANK ";X:IF X<1 OR X>4 THEN 10
 20 A#=0:B=VARPTR(A#)
 30 POKE B,249 :POKE B+1,195 :POKE B+2,241 :POKE B+3,118
 40 CALL B,X-1,30481

OQUAD.BA : Advanced MENU add-on for QUAD

Status

Release

Model

Description

File

Revision

Submitter / Date

OQUAD.BA Source Code

The following files are ZIP files containing the source code for QUAD by Revision.

Status

Source Files

Revision

Submitter / Date

QUAD Trouble Reports

Status

Model(s)

Description

Impact

Work Around

User/ Date

QUAD Enhancement Requests

Status

Description

Requester / Date

nb: to put a username+datestamp just type 4 tildes ~~~~