Iron - Opinions about skorpionovskom controller IDE HDD - SMUC.

<b>Iron</b> - Opinions about skorpionovskom controller IDE HDD - SMUC.


        IDE HDD (SMUC)

music by DNK
(C) Yu Kovalevsky
_______________________________



  I then asked for feedback on
product from 'Scorpion' & MOA ', referred to as
SMUC, such as "universal controller
HDD, CMOS, NVRAM, and IBM periphery. "The writer of 
nevazhnetsky me, (who had happy to read my description of the 
programs - Understand!) So sorry if the style

This opus is somewhat reminiscent
description of the "domestic iron, electric."

  Immediately it should be noted that the controller
bought me a long time (early fall 1996
year) and it is likely that the shortcomings
My version has already been eliminated. In this regard,
I beg your pardon for the authors of the development of 
unsubstantiated (per prescription) assaults. As history would

be noted that until recently, I
worked in pathology, where the charge 'Pentagon 2 + +' was 
found 155 km. wire koim fluster: skorpionovskoe ROM

Turbo mode, mouse controllers, and IBM keyboards 512K RAM and a 
bunch of even smaller lotions. The question of how it all 
coexist with each other and the software we do zamnem better. 
I, personally, stoically turning a blind eye. Yes. There. What 
was I mean what? Yeah. Generally, this summer (1996)

I came up with 'fresh' idea:
Spectrum, as it now is, dies.
Yes, and how not to die - PC getting cheaper faster than the 
ruble and entice the user simply eyes. (And do not say that it 
is not so are meant gamers, although probably not the only 
ones). In general, I put his pathology on the rack and started 
dostavaniem Amiga (This story requires a separate exposition as 
possible will be done). Well, as if there was no platform I 
really have changed, but suddenly find out that released HDD 
controller emulation TRDOSa. "It's exciting!" - I said to 
myself, and as I could, went to the market. Controller does not

it was, but with the market, I returned with the card
'Scorpion Turbo +' (as is now not
sorry). Summarizing all this lyric
I will say this: perhaps, if it were not for the emergence of
HDD controller firms 'Scorpion', little
veroyanosti that I ever came back
would be to Spectrum-y. Why? I already had
computer controller IDE - 'TURBO 2 +'
and his example, I'm convinced that without
programmatic support for a complete zero.
Similarly, I am and to the controllers
other firms that require the computer is started
on floppy disk. Why do I so interested in the controller of 
Scorpio. I'll try set out hereafter.



  Hence the case. First TTD. I have currently installed only 
HDD controller (not installed chip CMOS and interrupt 
controller), firmware version 3.98, version of the board 1.00, 
HDD 420 Mb. 

  So. What functions does it
device. Well first - it's relationship with
IDE HDD. With hard-ohm everything is simple - a pair of
ports for bus communication with the controller, hard drive, so 
pay attention to soft, ie the fact that stitched into the ROM. 
Immediately I want to note that unlike

other controllers (I know of) firms,
where work with the HDD is possible only after loading the 
appropriate software from a floppy disc, here we have the 
opportunity START machine with a hard disk, because all the 
minimum required for this is Rom. In addition to the driver in 
the HDD firmware is enabled for working with virtual 
TRDOS-discs to the HDD. About the need is or not, we can argue 
until blue in the face, but I opinion that let it be, and

the user can decide which mode
use access to the HDD. Especially because
controller supports other modes
work with the hard-drive.

  I personally believe that support for the old
format the disk is a must
at first, until the program, "sharpened" under the HDD and the 
opportunities it offers, in contrast on the flop. From personal 
experience I know that the collapse of this software in the 
near future expected, and buy a HDD and continue

to use only floppy disks, you see, it is insulting. Now more 
specifically. Supported ob'em:



  Actually HDD 7,200 Mb

Well, everything is clear, we can say directly -
any IDE HDD.


  Global partition 1800 Mb

Another section is called the HDD. Creating more
one section only makes sense if you intend to use this HDD is 
not for one computer (I wonder who on this

go?), or in the future, when
supported by not one, as now, but
several sections for the Spectrum-a.


  Local partition32 Mb

Also called sub-HDD or priminitelno System Emulation TRDOS-ROM 
drive, collection of discs. These subsections may

be up to 63. If a section of emulated
TRDOS, it can contain 51 virtual disk. If the section set
better iSDOS or MicroDOS or
something else - it is simply a space with ob'emom 32 
megabytes. Thus on the hard disk can be simultaneously

multiple operating systems. If you're a fan, for example, 
iSDOS, then by setting the startup route to the appropriate 
section in 30 seconds. after restarting the computer, get a 
working system (as in a decent "adult" computer).  Same for the 
CD collection. Install a route to konretnomu discs, including 
for him avtoboot and after the power or reset-y you have it 
running. And this happens if you There is no disk in drive A. 
Otherwise, the start is carried out with a floppy disk uniquely.


  What is a virtual disk? To the user it is an imitation of the 
standard (format 2 * 80, Sector 256 bytes) disk TRDOS. Of 
course there can be stored only programs that are loading and 
subsequent work with the disk did not use a direct appeal to 
the firmware TRDOS either SH 93. Read / write speed on the 
virtual disc is virtually identical to the speed of 
conventional TRDOS drives formatted as a 'fast'. (Obviously 
this due to multiple hops sector

memory emulation TRDOS). But the lack of
Error reading / writing to close at
the eyes (a little bit, a little bit and just
YET!).

  I also quite liked the fact that no
need to immediately break the entire section on the collection 
of disks, and can increase their number gradually. 


  Esche on the controller board has the ability to install chip 
CMOS, which give a computer the ability to track

real time. The board also set
ISA-8bit slot and socket under MS interrupt controller that, 
with appropriate software, allows connect IBM - offshoring. 
(But I do not I know, so there is easy now to get such

vintage cards, yes we have a country
any PC stuff nataschili, and now we will use to grandfather the 
Soviet of computer.)


  I, incidentally, tried to insert into
panel CMOS mikruhu - Controller hangs.
Honestly, I did not delve into
question just took it all. Perhaps
This was because I have not hooked back up power supply? I do 
not know. 


  Well, praises over, now about
or bad - I do not like this
controller.

  First, the specific "bugs." Firstly, when trying to read or 
write to the HDD byte at address # 0FFFF all die (this

I naturally about emulation TRDOS).
Because of this, "byaki" does not work, some
program, which theoretically should
would work with the HDD.

  Secondly, in the mode of access to the HDD through
RST 8 can not read or write data from the upper segment of the 
RAM, the address # 0C000-# 0FFFF. More correctly spelled, and, 
accordingly, read pages N 8 (one that belongs to the Shadow 
Monitor) with all the ensuing consequences.

Especially when reading!)

  Third, when dealing with HDD installed regime of the computer 
'Turbo' it is understandable why, but after

read / write the initial regime
restored! This leads to
that work, for example, a modem connection is broken due to the 
transition in Turbo mode for each podgruzku the disc (not all 
the same may be a modem in the turbo!). In manual mode is more 
tolerant (though with the proper case of vocabulary), and when 
working in automatic mode (Program 'MacroModem') quite well

worthless!

  Fourth, for some mysterious
because items recording parameters of the Shadow
Monitor in flash memory sometimes suddenly blocked (then, 
however, all recovered) that gives, say, gently, some 
irritation. 

  Now for the inconvenience. Very uncomfortable
that the route to the ramdisk can only be set from the Shadow 
Monitor (setting outside procedures RST 8 acts only until the 
first reset-a, or initialize the disk (CALL 15635 for C = 1)). 
C this can be tolerated, if rarely "change"

disks or the number of the employed ramdisk
does not exceed three (because both have three routes for B, C, 
D devices, and they can be switched, as regular drives). I 
wanted to authors controller in the future should consider

opportunity to "hard" route pinning means RST 8 (or maybe 
something I do not know and is such an opportunity? Then the 
well-to reflect this as something in description of the 
controller). Anyway I have prepared a layout of the program 
(something like Commandera) for HDD with optional routes easier 
and more affordable way than in the Shadow Monitor), but work 
has stalled because without fixing these routes function is 
meaningless. 

  Very much like a 6-letter names
subsections (well, what kind of name is ridiculous
right. I when partitioning HDD each time for five minutes, 
wrinkling his brow, trying to give the name of the subsection 
is not similar to existing ones, and to me the most is not set 
to a standstill after a month or two.) Do not like it that 
instead of names for appointment ramdisk route shadow 
businesses, I was given a cute spisochek: 'Disk01, Disk02 ... 
Disk24'. Let someone try to remember in what

of 24 discs recorded the desired program.
Have had to return the paper to
memory. Really it would be difficult to quickly
crawl subsection and issue for
Users list the real names of disk drives,
and disk numbers used only within the system?


  Well, actually, and all that I can
to say on this topic. I hope that it
(Theme) in the magazine is exhausted only this article, and 
anyone else share their joy (sad) experience work with the 
controller HDD firms 'Scorpion' (and not necessarily just her). 
Dare also hope to continue sharing

views and in the future.

P.S. Recently bought a PC keyboard to your Scorpiona (old me 
'Omega' - keys so hard and velikovata). Tempted to small sizes, 
up to 15% less than mine, and the wonderful soft buttons. 
Joyful came from the market, which includes NOR FI-HA is not 
working infection! As it turned out Skorpionovsky controller 
does not understand This type of keyboard. So, comrades,

Be careful, do not get caught like me.
Klaviaturka And this small production
China (under license in Canada), ochchchen nice, worth 66.000, 
be marked on the box: BTC 'ENHANCED KEYBOARD'. In the RS

it works perfectly! So gentlemen, manufacturers harda for 
Scorpiona, please accept my congratulations and best wishes to

prompt corrective controller firmware. (May be true, it is 
already fixed?  I have version 'V2.2 D.K. 1996 '.)




This opus is made with the assistance of
text editor MicroEditor V 3.30.

_______________________________