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| Table of Contents |
|---|
Backing up Files
When things start going wrong, you begin to wish that you had a copy of ALL your important files. The trick here is ALWAYS make sure that you have a copy of your IMPORTANT FILES always. You never know when your Z88 may go wrong (if at all) or even if you may make the occasional deliberate mistake.
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The important thing is that you have a copy of your files. See 'Using two Flash cards.'
The original EPROM Packs - no longer recommended.
Then there are several ways you can store the data as well as or instead of EPROMS. You could just use EPROMS while you are out and then one of the backups when you get home or back to the office.
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Eazylink2 is the version supported on this site.
Cassette Tape - no longer recommended.
If you are on a tight budget and haven't got another computer then Z-Tape is the next `best thing' to use. Using this program you can store your files onto your cassette tape recorder. It is SLOW and depending on which Tape Recorder you use, it can be unreliable. Cassette tapes have been used on several computers in the past. It was a cheap way to store data when there were cassette tape recorders around, but they were not the most reliable.
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Instructions for installing and using cartridges
RAM and EPROM
(Cambridge Computer leaflet)
There are two types of cartridges RAM and EPROM.
EPROMS are designed to function in slot 3, and RAM cartridges Preferably in slots 1 and 2. They will work in slot 3 but they will take more power from the batteries and you will not be able to use EPROMs.
The perspex cover on the front edge of the Z88 is hinged and if gently pulled from the top, will open enough space to allow you to insert your card(s). When you have inserted a card, with the label on the card facing the underside of the keyboard, then push the perspex flap back into position, i.e. fully closed.
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ONCE THE FLAP IS OPENED AND A RAM CARTRIDGE IS REMOVED, THEN YOU NEED TO RESET THE MACHINE, SEE PAGE 8 OF THE USER GUIDE. THIS WILL CLEAR ALL YOUR DATA IN THE Z88, i.e. 'RESET CLEARS MEMORY. THEREFORE, ONCE YOU INSTALL YOUR RAM CARTRIDGE, DO NOT REMOVE IT.
SIMILARLY, IF YOU PURCHASE A RAM PACK AND INSTALL IT AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN USING THE Z88 FOR A WHILE, YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO BACKUP ALL YOUR FILES ONTO AN EPROM CARTRIDGE FIRST. THE REASON IS THAT IN ORDER TO RECOGNISE THE EXISTANCE OF NEW MEMORY THE COMPUTER HAS TO BE RESET, THUS ERASING EXISTING MEMORY.
One other thing to remember is that RAM cartridges draw their power from the Z88 While the Z88 is on or in a sleep mode, your data is safe. If the Z88 is deprived of power (see pages 6 and 7 of USER GUIDE) then your RAM is also deprived of power, and will lose its contents.
REMEMBER that your EPROM Cartridge is the best method of archiving your valuable data files or programs, but once the EPROM is full, the recommended way to erase it (if required) is to me the UV EPROM ERASER from Cambridge Computer Ltd.
Now refer to page 74 of your User Guide at The Filer section on how to use your EPROM
Using RAM Packs
When you put a RAM pack into the Z88, it good practice to give your Z88 a HARD RESET.
If you are using a 1M RAM pack it is imperative that you do this as when the Z88 was designed, there were no 1M RAM packs to test it, so OZ (the Z88's operating system), sometimes doesn't recognize it correctly.
To check whether the Z88 has recognized it, you need to select the INDEX and then CARD.
The correct amount of RAM should be properly displayed, i.e. 1024K for the 1M RAM pack.
If it doesn't show this, you should do another HARD RESET until the Z88 recognises the right size!
EPROMs
The Header on EPROMs
After Erasing an EPROM, all information on it is removed including what is called the Header.
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There is another reference on Dennis's site. See Excessive Battery Drain
Power Consumption Table
The following table gives rough times with various functions. By finding out the Ampere Hour of your batteries you can calculate how long they will last. This can be used to check if your Z88 is really getting `hungry' on battery power or not.
Typical Battery makes are:-
Duracell Copper Top 2,250 mAh There is no advantage using the Ultra range due to the low current the Z88 uses.
Ever Ready Gold Seal 2,200 mAh
Ever Ready Silver Seal 1,100 mAh
AA size Rechargeable 500 mAh (which is why you should not use them).
Since I've taken these readings there have been two changes. One is that improvements have been made to the current consumption of the Z88 and the new 128K RAM packs use less power than the old ones. I don't know when they changed and they don't look any different. This means that these figures should be a guide, not cast in concrete.
| Battery Size (mAh) | 2,250 | 1,100 | 500 | ||
| Function | Current (mA) | RAM Pack | Days (assuming 24 hours in a day) | ||
| Standby before RESET | 0.6 | None | 156 | 76.39 | 34.72 |
| Standby after RESET | 0.4 | None | 234 | 114 | 52 |
0.85 | 128K | 110 | 54 | 24 | |
0.65 | 128K | 144 | 70 | 32 | |
1.2 | 512K | 78 | 38 | 17 | |
0.75 | 1M | 125 | 61 | 28 | |
| Z88 Running | 88.5 | None | 1.05 | 0.52 | 0.24 |
97.6 | 128K | 0.96 | 0.47 | 0.21 | |
75 | 128K | 1.25 | 0.61 | 0.28 | |
97 | 512K | 0.97 | 0.47 | 0.21 | |
95.5 | 1M | 0.98 | 0.48 | 0.22 | |
| Z88 Running - Key pressed | 85 | None | 1.1 | 0.54 | 0.25 |
110 | 128K | 0.85 | 0.42 | 0.19 | |
97 | 128K | 0.97 | 0.47 | 0.21 | |
102 | 1M | 0.92 | 0.45 | 0.2 | |
| Program running | 97 | None | 0.97 | 0.47 | 0.21 |
105 | 128K | 0.98 | 0.44 | 0.2 | |
| 128K | |||||
140 | 512K | 0.67 | 0.33 | 0.15 | |
135 | 1M | 0.69 | 0.34 | 0.15 | |
| Prog. Eprom | 85 | 128K | 1.1 | 0.54 | 0.25 |
| Printer Plugged In | 80 | 128K | 1.17 | 0.57 | 0.26 |
| Sending to Printer | 110 | 128K | 0.85 | 0.42 | 0.19 |
Current consumption of RAMs ROMs & EPROMs
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