Getting a Ferguson Big Board to boot

Hello,

I recently came across a Ferguson Big Board with just the board itself. I
attached a 5.25" drive in place of an 8" and have an ASCII keyboard and
monitor attached. Using Dave Dunfield's image and software I've been able to
get CP/M to start to boot. The 2.2 message comes up, the screen clears, then
I get the clock. Next I get an error message bios select error drive not
ready. Anybody know what is going on?

Thanks for any help,

Vince

--
What is the Micro-KIM?
[url]http://www.brielcomputers.com[/url]

On Sun, 4 May 2008 09:31:34 -0400, "Vince Briel"
<vbriel@removethisspamdotohdotrr.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
> I've been able to get CP/M to start to boot.
> The 2.2 message comes up, the screen clears, then I get the clock.[/color]

First hint of 'trouble'.....What Clock?

Bill

False alarm, I got it with a different image file :)

Vince

--
replica 1 the apple 1 clone
[url]http://www.brielcomputers.com[/url]

"Vince Briel" <vbriel@removethisspamdotohdotrr.net> wrote in message
news:481dbabd$0$12956$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...[color=blue]
> Hello,
>
> I recently came across a Ferguson Big Board with just the board itself. I
> attached a 5.25" drive in place of an 8" and have an ASCII keyboard and
> monitor attached. Using Dave Dunfield's image and software I've been able
> to get CP/M to start to boot. The 2.2 message comes up, the screen clears,
> then I get the clock. Next I get an error message bios select error drive
> not ready. Anybody know what is going on?
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Vince
>
> --
> What is the Micro-KIM?
> [url]http://www.brielcomputers.com[/url]
>[/color]

The disk image that I made into an actual disk loaded some sort of
timer/clock then I got the error. A different image was bootable.

Vince
--
What is the Micro-KIM?
[url]http://www.brielcomputers.com[/url]

"Bill" <Bill@sunsouthwest.com> wrote in message
news:sngr14d94ns9j2vm456u1188am1ssc8vpp@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Sun, 4 May 2008 09:31:34 -0400, "Vince Briel"
> <vbriel@removethisspamdotohdotrr.net> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> I've been able to get CP/M to start to boot.
>> The 2.2 message comes up, the screen clears, then I get the clock.[/color]
>
> First hint of 'trouble'.....What Clock?
>
> Bill[/color]

Ok, now that I have my Ferguson running I'm looking for BASIC. Is there a
imd file of basic for 8" SSSD out there?

Vince

--
What is the Micro-KIM?
[url]http://www.brielcomputers.com[/url]

"Vince Briel" <vbriel@removethisspamdotohdotrr.net> wrote in message
news:481dbabd$0$12956$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...[color=blue]
> Hello,
>
> I recently came across a Ferguson Big Board with just the board itself. I
> attached a 5.25" drive in place of an 8" and have an ASCII keyboard and
> monitor attached. Using Dave Dunfield's image and software I've been able
> to get CP/M to start to boot. The 2.2 message comes up, the screen clears,
> then I get the clock. Next I get an error message bios select error drive
> not ready. Anybody know what is going on?
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Vince
>
> --
> What is the Micro-KIM?
> [url]http://www.brielcomputers.com[/url]
>[/color]

Hello, Vince!
[color=blue]
> Ok, now that I have my Ferguson running I'm looking for BASIC. Is there a
> imd file of basic for 8" SSSD out there?[/color]

I know you from the "AltairPC". I think that you are an electronics
engineer. If you have been reading this comp.os.cpm Newsgroup, you
know that I am a programmer, and quite knowledgeable about BASIC. What
kind of BASIC are you looking after? (What do you want to do with it?)
My favorite 8-bit BASIC is, unfortunately, not available on the
Internet (Mallard BASIC), while slowly dying. It is me who found and
uploaded the last version of MBASIC, 5.29.

([url]http://www.retroarchive.org/cpm/lang/lang.htm[/url], at the bottom)

If you are an electronics engineer and like to play with subroutines
accessing directly the hardware, I could have some work for you...
(What about porting "Altair BASIC"?) Too bad you are not living near
Boston, since I need to read an old listing there.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr Emmanuel Roche, France

[color=blue]
> I know you from the "AltairPC". I think that you are an electronics
> engineer. If you have been reading this comp.os.cpm Newsgroup, you
> know that I am a programmer, and quite knowledgeable about BASIC. What
> kind of BASIC are you looking after? (What do you want to do with it?)
> My favorite 8-bit BASIC is, unfortunately, not available on the
> Internet (Mallard BASIC), while slowly dying. It is me who found and
> uploaded the last version of MBASIC, 5.29.[/color]

Sorry, I should have been more clear, I was looking for MBASIC. That is me,
the AltairPC is still a work in progress although Howard Harte has the
ZAltair![color=blue]
>
> ([url]http://www.retroarchive.org/cpm/lang/lang.htm[/url], at the bottom)[/color]

That was what I needed, thank you. Now I have MBASIC on 8" SSSD drive using
22disk.[color=blue]
>
> If you are an electronics engineer and like to play with subroutines
> accessing directly the hardware, I could have some work for you...
> (What about porting "Altair BASIC"?) Too bad you are not living near
> Boston, since I need to read an old listing there.[/color]

Is there a proper disassembled copy of Altair BASIC out there? I haven't
seen it.

Vince

Hello, Vince!
[color=blue]
> Is there a proper disassembled copy of Altair BASIC out there? I haven't
> seen it.[/color]

It is (among other things) on my Hard Disk. There are at least 4
(maybe 5) versions of Altair BASIC. So far, I disassembled only 2.
That's why I need someone in Boston, to finish my work (see my "MITS
8800 Question" message of the 11 April 2008).

Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Emmanuel Roche, France

On Mon, 5 May 2008 07:23:02 -0400, "Vince Briel"
<vbriel@removethisspamdotohdotrr.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>[color=green]
>> I know you from the "AltairPC". I think that you are an electronics
>> engineer. If you have been reading this comp.os.cpm Newsgroup, you
>> know that I am a programmer, and quite knowledgeable about BASIC. What
>> kind of BASIC are you looking after? (What do you want to do with it?)
>> My favorite 8-bit BASIC is, unfortunately, not available on the
>> Internet (Mallard BASIC), while slowly dying. It is me who found and
>> uploaded the last version of MBASIC, 5.29.[/color]
>
>Sorry, I should have been more clear, I was looking for MBASIC. That is me,
>the AltairPC is still a work in progress although Howard Harte has the
>ZAltair![color=green]
>>
>> ([url]http://www.retroarchive.org/cpm/lang/lang.htm[/url], at the bottom)[/color]
>
>That was what I needed, thank you. Now I have MBASIC on 8" SSSD drive using
>22disk.[color=green]
>>
>> If you are an electronics engineer and like to play with subroutines
>> accessing directly the hardware, I could have some work for you...
>> (What about porting "Altair BASIC"?) Too bad you are not living near
>> Boston, since I need to read an old listing there.[/color][/color]

Boston, think 20mi west inland.
[color=blue]
>Is there a proper disassembled copy of Altair BASIC out there? I haven't
>seen it.[/color]

Neither have I.


Allison[color=blue]
>
>Vince[/color]

> >> (...) Too bad you are not living near[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> >> Boston, since I need to read an old listing there.[/color][/color]
>
> Boston, think 20mi west inland.[/color]

Unfortunately, in about 10 years of reading this comp.os.cpm
Newsgroup, I have never seen you helping someone else... All you do
(over and over again) is saying: "30 years ago, I did this...".
[color=blue][color=green]
> >Is there a proper disassembled copy of Altair BASIC out there? I haven't
> >seen it.[/color]
>
> Neither have I.[/color]

[url]http://www.interact-sw.co.uk/altair/index2.html[/url]

(Mine use MAC and SID.) (You may remember that I spoke about
generating BIN files (loading at 0000H) with MAC?) (This is how I re-
created the source code of MINOL and VTL-2 for the MITS 8800.)

Yours Sincerely,
Mr Emmanuel Roche, France

On Tue, 6 May 2008 09:57:46 -0700 (PDT), "Mr Emmanuel Roche, France"
<roche182@laposte.net> wrote:
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>> >> (...) Too bad you are not living near
>> >> Boston, since I need to read an old listing there.[/color]
>>
>> Boston, think 20mi west inland.[/color]
>
>Unfortunately, in about 10 years of reading this comp.os.cpm
>Newsgroup, I have never seen you helping someone else... All you do
>(over and over again) is saying: "30 years ago, I did this...".[/color]

Your jabbering again. There is nothing historic in that. I am 20mi
west of Boston and MBASIC and BASCOM (executables) are
available on the net.

It's up to him to make a request, not you.

[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>> >Is there a proper disassembled copy of Altair BASIC out there? I haven't
>> >seen it.[/color]
>>
>> Neither have I.[/color]
>
>[url]http://www.interact-sw.co.uk/altair/index2.html[/url][/color]

Well it's once Altair BASIC and alwmost a working version
as 3.2 was quite buggy. What about the mroe deisreable and
scarcer 8k MITS BASIC?

Allison
[color=blue]
>(Mine use MAC and SID.) (You may remember that I spoke about
>generating BIN files (loading at 0000H) with MAC?) (This is how I re-
>created the source code of MINOL and VTL-2 for the MITS 8800.)
>
>Yours Sincerely,
>Mr Emmanuel Roche, France[/color]

On May 6, 12:57*pm, "Mr Emmanuel Roche, France" <roche...@laposte.net>
wrote:
[snip][color=blue]
> Unfortunately, in about 10 years of reading this comp.os.cpm
> Newsgroup, I have never seen you helping someone else... All you do
> (over and over again) is saying: "30 years ago, I did this...".
>[/color]
[snip][color=blue]
>
> Yours Sincerely,
> Mr Emmanuel Roche, France[/color]

You can't be serious! Allison has helped me and many others. Many
times.

We may disagree occasionally but I always respect her opinion.

She is a invaluable mentor to many of us in the vintage computer and
is a respected authority on CP/M and electronics of all sort.

That sort of personal attack has no place here. Please stop.

Thank you.

Andrew Lynch

[color=blue]
> You can't be serious! Allison has helped me and many others. Many
> times.
>
> We may disagree occasionally but I always respect her opinion.
>
> She is a invaluable mentor to many of us in the vintage computer and
> is a respected authority on CP/M and electronics of all sort.
>
> That sort of personal attack has no place here. Please stop.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Andrew Lynch[/color]

Ditto that!!! I have benefited from discussions with, and advice
from, Allison, and even lurking on excellent and informative threads
with others. An attack like yours, Mr. Roche, is unwarranted. Please
go away.

Roger

Hi,
i have a lot of stuffs for bigboard.
i could send them. i tried to send to your email address but the email come
me back.
may you tell me your correct email address?
Enrico - Pisa - Italy

"Vince Briel" <vbriel@removethisspamdotohdotrr.net> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:481dbabd$0$12956$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...[color=blue]
> Hello,
>
> I recently came across a Ferguson Big Board with just the board itself. I
> attached a 5.25" drive in place of an 8" and have an ASCII keyboard and
> monitor attached. Using Dave Dunfield's image and software I've been able
> to get CP/M to start to boot. The 2.2 message comes up, the screen clears,
> then I get the clock. Next I get an error message bios select error drive
> not ready. Anybody know what is going on?
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Vince
>
> --
> What is the Micro-KIM?
> [url]http://www.brielcomputers.com[/url]
>[/color]

Sorry, I muck the address up for spam reasons. try vbriel AT oh.rr.com
where AT=@ or vbriel AT yahoo.com

Cheers,

Vince

--
What is the Micro-KIM?
[url]http://www.brielcomputers.com[/url]

"Enrico Lazzerini" <elazzerini@interfree.it> wrote in message
news:482ca206$0$17932$5fc30a8@news.tiscali.it...[color=blue]
> Hi,
> i have a lot of stuffs for bigboard.
> i could send them. i tried to send to your email address but the email
> come me back.
> may you tell me your correct email address?
> Enrico - Pisa - Italy
>
> "Vince Briel" <vbriel@removethisspamdotohdotrr.net> ha scritto nel
> messaggio news:481dbabd$0$12956$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...[color=green]
>> Hello,
>>
>> I recently came across a Ferguson Big Board with just the board itself. I
>> attached a 5.25" drive in place of an 8" and have an ASCII keyboard and
>> monitor attached. Using Dave Dunfield's image and software I've been able
>> to get CP/M to start to boot. The 2.2 message comes up, the screen
>> clears, then I get the clock. Next I get an error message bios select
>> error drive not ready. Anybody know what is going on?
>>
>> Thanks for any help,
>>
>> Vince
>>
>> --
>> What is the Micro-KIM?
>> [url]http://www.brielcomputers.com[/url]
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

On May 6, 8:57 am, "Mr Emmanuel Roche, France" <roche...@laposte.net>
wrote:[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > >> (...) Too bad you are not living near
> > >> Boston, since I need to read an old listing there.[/color][/color]
>[color=green]
> > Boston, think 20mi west inland.[/color]
>
> Unfortunately, in about 10 years of reading this comp.os.cpm
> Newsgroup, I have never seen you helping someone else... All you do
> (over and over again) is saying: "30 years ago, I did this...".
>[color=green][color=darkred]
> > >Is there a proper disassembled copy of Altair BASIC out there? I haven't
> > >seen it.[/color][/color]
>[color=green]
> > Neither have I.[/color]
>
> [url]http://www.interact-sw.co.uk/altair/index2.html[/url]
>
> (Mine use MAC and SID.) (You may remember that I spoke about
> generating BIN files (loading at 0000H) with MAC?) (This is how I re-
> created the source code of MINOL and VTL-2 for the MITS 8800.)
>
> Yours Sincerely,
> Mr Emmanuel Roche, France[/color]

I think there is something wrong with your VTL-2 BIN file. It has 11
more bytes than it is supposed to. I don't remember, but I'm pretty
sure I burnt it to 5 EPROMs and it didn't work. Did you patch it?

Before I had the time to look at your file, Frank e-mailed me a 1024
byte binary file. (he is still interested in it and requests a
license)

I burnt a good copy to 4 EPROMs and it worked fine.