Path: ns-mx!uunet!nevada.edu!jimi!sknkwrks From: sknkwrks@unlv.edu (Scott Alfter) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: Aux slot RAM Message-ID: <1992Mar23.234256.7601@unlv.edu> Date: 23 Mar 92 23:42:56 GMT References: Sender: news@unlv.edu (News User) Organization: Skunk Works Software Co. Lines: 44 In article paulb@pro-applebcs.UUCP (Paul Bauer) writes: > I am looking for help with a problem using Publish It4 on an >Apple IIe. I have installed a Super Expander 1 meg memory card which >Publish It does not recognize. The problem is that the Super Expander IIe works a lot like the RamWorks in all but one critical aspect--the bank-select address. On a real RamWorks, different banks of auxiliary memory are selected by stuffing a bank number into $C073. The Super Expander, on the other hand, looks for the bank number in $C071. This causes no end of problems when trying to use AppleWorks 3.0, Publish-It!, ProTERM, or any other program that tries to use RamWorks memory. There are three possible solutions to your problem: 1) Edit the Publish-It! executables so that each reference to $C073 points to $C071 instead. In the short time I had a Super Expander, I tried doing this with AppleWorks 3.0. The only problem is that I was never able to get AppleWorks to execute reliably; you may run into the same problem if you try to edit Publish-It!. 2) Hack your Super Expander to respond to $C073 instead of $C071. Auxiliary-slot RAM cards are fairly simple--at least the old 64K cards are simple. If I recall right, the Super Expander is just a bunch of 41256s with some 74LSxxx chips to glue it to the IIe. After reverse-engineering a schematic, it ought to be fairly easy to hack the card into responding to $C073. The advantage of this approach is that your card would look exactly like a RamWorks; you wouldn't have to use those patch programs to get AppleWorks 3.0 to work. 3) Throw out your Super Expander and buy a RamWorks. I wouldn't buy a new RamWorks (I don't particularly care to give "AE with an attitude" my money), but you should be able to find a used one for a reasonable price. This is what I ended up doing; after finding that the Super Expander didn't work as I liked, I sent it back and applied the money toward a RamWorks III (which I like very much). I tried option 1, with little success. I thought a little at the time about option 2, but didn't want to hack a new RAM card, fry RAM chips, or do something else like that--I justed wanted a RAM card that worked properly. _/_ Scott Alfter Internet: sknkwrks@cs.unlv.edu / v \ Call the Skunk Works BBS today! Fidonet: 1:209/765 or 1:209/211 (IIe ( (702) 896-2676 300-2400 (v.32bis soon) Apple II/IBM GEnie: S.ALFTER \_^_/ Ask me about SoftDAC--digital audio for your IIe/IIc! Apple II Forever!