TATUNG EINSTEIN SITE CREATING A BOOT DISK ON THE EINSTEIN TC01 FROM A PC

CREATING A BOOT DISK ON THE EINSTEIN TC01 FROM A PC

By Chris Coxall

For those that have come by an Einstein TC01 without a BOOT DISK and have a working drive "0" or "A" this page shows how XTAL DOS 2.05 and Eintrans.com can be downloaded into the Einstien's memory then used to Format a DOS Boot Disk.

Note: Unlike many 8bit computers the Einstein TC01 does not boot up into its own version of home basic. Basic like any other program has to be loaded from disk and the disk also needs to have a DOS to boot into the Einstein. Without a boot disk the Einstein powers up into a machine operating system (MOS). The only way to enter programing using MOS is to use its modify command and type in hexadecimal code. With this page I assume that those that have come by a TC01 without a boot disk have little knowledge of the Einstein. Therefore this method of loading DOS and PC-Einstein coms software from a PC (via a serial connection) is illustrated with a number of screen shots, the quality of some are not very good. The necessity of creating a null modem cable (which will probably need self build improvisation) and typing in a hex listing with the MOS editor can mean miss wiring or the miss typing of one character can make the process unworkable. Worse an incorrect installation of the hardware handshaking connections or mistyped characters might appear to run something that is incorrect. The poor quality of the Einstein screen shots have been added to give some idea of what should be displayed with a correct transfer. If the screen display is not similar the serial port connections should be checked and the hex dump will need to be retyped in. The reward for a successful transfer is that the procedure will not have to be repeated. An XTAL DOS 2.05 boot disk with EINTRANS.COM in the directory will enable all future file transfer to and from the PC.

Disclaimer

I do not consider myself a competent or experienced programer. I see myself as tinkerer and dabbler with some ability and an idea of what needs to be done to which I target myself to. I know little of Xtal DOS (a CP/M clone) except that it needs to be in the Einstein's Memory to be able load programs from disk. The program that is typed in with the MOS editor for the purpose of getting DOS and eintrans.com into the Einstein was developed by me. Some of the memory loading from downdos.txt may not be necessary. I copied the memory of what I believed to be the working areas of installed DOS 2.05 into a hex dump, then added a hex dump of eintrans.com and a poke to a scratch pad address. I have tested successfully the procedure below with out any harm to my PC or Einstein, software or hardware. I can not say this will be the case with other computers therefor other users must do so at their own risk and I disclaim any responsibility any damage that might be done.

The Einstein programs I used to develop the programing are in an Einstein disk image in a zip archive along with a text file description. DOWNLOAD

REQUIREMENTS

A PC-Einstein nullmodem. Wiring configuration.View and Download

Eintrans200.zip.DOWNLOAD EinTrans.zip

Downdos.txt VIEW and Save

A configured HEX Dump to be typed into the Einstein with the MOS Editor. View and Download.VIEW and Print

A window's terminal program running the PC With Einstein default settings. setup ,settings ,ascii setup
Close the window

INSTALLING

1: Ensure a PC-Einstein nullmodem cable has been connected between the two computers.

2: Create a folder Ein200 on a hard drive, download eintrans2000.zip and extract all files to the folder. Read the help file to set the com port used for the command line version of Eintrans. Later the window's MS-DOS PROMPT window and command line operation will have to be used.

3: Power up the Einstein without a disk in the boot drive to get into MOS MOS SCREEN

4: Type "M 9010" <ENTER> then type in the lines of HEX in the "loaddos.txt " file. MOS EDITOR SAMPLE. Terminate the MOS editor by typing a full stop then <ENTER>.

4:Type "G 9018" at the MOS prompt ">" to run the program.

5: On the PC open the Hyper terminal with the Einstein's default settings. From the toolbar click transfer then click "Send Text File". In the window's file box select the saved "downdos.txt" file and open.

6: If all goes well the Einstein screen should display some text and an address load indicater Einstein Screen

7: The Einstein screen should stop displaying the "Eintrans program by Ste Ruddy" introduction with "Waiting" as A prompt.Einstein Screen

8: Close down the Window's terminal program. Put a floppy a blank or a disk that can be over written into the Einstein's drive 0 or A. Open the window's MS-DOS Prompt window from the start menu and go into the Ein200 directory. At the Dos Prompt ">" Type "eintrans format 0: <ENTER>" after the formating has been verified and the DOS Promt ">" has returned Type "eintrans exit <ENTER>" DOS Prompt Windowj

9:On the Einstein's screen the XTAL DOS prompt "0:" should appear. From the Einstein keyboard type "SAVE 8 E.COM <ENTER>"Einstein Screen this will save eintrans.com to disk. Switch off then switch the Einstein on again. Xtal DOS 2.05 should now be running. Type "DIR <ENTER>" and E.COM should be in the directory. Type "E <E <ENTER>" to run EinTrans on Einy. From the PC either the EinTrans command line or the windows GUI version can be used to up or download files and disk images.

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