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Fitting & Using the ROM

Fitting & Using the ROM

Feb 28, 2015

Background

All applications for the Z88 are stored on ROMs. These can be of several sizes, (32K, 128K, 256K and now 1M) depending on the size of the program(s) supplied. This means that it is on a comparatively stable medium and less vulnerable to corruption than say a floppy disk. However, care should still be taken not to pour coffee into the ROM cartridge.

Not enough of a particular program was ever made to justify a special ROM (Read-Only-Memory) to be manufactured, so EPROMs (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) were used instead.

Although EPROMs were used, as far as the Z88 is concerned they are ROMs so the words EPROM and ROM in the different manuals may be interchanged. The ROM should not be placed in the EPROM eraser unless the loss of the program is the desired outcome.

Which Slot to Use?

Slot 1

 Slot 2

 Slot 3

 RAM

Applications ROM

 EPROM

Some applications, RangerDisk2, RangerLink2, zBASE and SqueeZ~88, need at least 128K of memory in slot 1 to run.

 

Slot 3 - Warning

Do not leave ROMs or EPROMs in slot 3 Any ROM or EPROM can be accidentally overwritten by the Z88 when the batteries go flat or if the Z88 goes into an unstable condition (when it just stops working).

Further information about the use of slots is contained in Appendix 2.

Moving your RAM Card

If you need to move your RAM card, make sure that you back up any files that you have in it before. You can either use an EPROM pack or use another computer to store the files. Refer to your Z88 user guide or Z88 Magic for help with this.

Installing the ROM

It is very important that the following steps are taken when Installing or Removing ROMs. See CARD.

Installation instructions usually start with a warning telling you to switch off and disconnect all power. Quite the opposite is true in this case... To install the ROM, take the following steps:

  1. Switch on the Z88 pressing both 

     keys in the usual way.

  2. Get to the INDEX page by pressing the 

    key.

  3. Ensure the INDEX is on screen.

  4. Open the card flap which is the clear perspex cover labelled 1,2,3.. (The Z88 bleeps and switches off automatically).

  5. Insert the ROM into Slot 2 or an empty slot.

  6. Close the card flap. The INDEX page should now reappear.

  7. If there are any errors at this stage will cause a message to be printed at the extreme right of the screen. See CARD.

Checking the ROM

It is a good idea to check whether the Z88 has installed the software correctly. To do this do the following:

  1. Get to the INDEX page by pressing the 

    key.

  2. Select

    CARD. This should display the ROM size in the correct slot.

  3. Press the

    key, this should bring you back to the INDEX page again.

  4. Move the cursor to the left-hand side of the screen (Applications) and move it down to the bottom of the list to see the program name(s) you have just installed.

  5. If your Z88 doesn't recognise the application, get back to Index, open the flap again and check that the cartridge is fully inserted.

Running an Application

You are now ready to start running an application.

To do this you can either do the following

  1. Switch on the Z88

  2. Get to the INDEX page by pressing the 

    key.

  3. Move the cursor to the left-hand side of the screen (Applications) and move it down the list until you reach the program you wish to run.

  4. Press the 

     key

or
You can start it quicker by using the short form 

 key as shown next to each application's name.

List of Short form keys for applications (in this manual)

PC Link

L
PC Link with RangerLink2
ZL
RangerLink2
L
RangerDisk2
ZD
Z-Tape
J.
THINKz
O.
Vision/L
ZV.
WordFinder
W.
QuickEdit
Q
Stopwatch
Q

The added applications will appear at the bottom of the list that are already there. In the event of an application short form letter is already used, that letter will be prefixed with a Z. The next time that letter letter is used, it is prefixed with ZZ. Should the letter be used yet again, OZ gives up. The only way the application can be selected is from the INDEX screen moving the cursor over the application name and Press the 

 key.

Removing the Application

Before removing an application you should first check that it is still not being used. To do this:

  1. Get to the INDEX page by pressing the 

    key.

  2. Look at the Suspended Activities section on the right-hand side of the screen.

  3. If you can see an application running that you wish to remove (it also has a number 1, 2 or 3 in the card column as well) move the cursor over it and select

    KILL.

  4. Open the card flap. (The Z88 bleeps and switches off automatically).

  5. Remove the ROM from the slot.This can be a little awkward. Using the edge of a coin or something similar, carefully prize the cartridge from its slot

  6. Close the card flap. The INDEX page should now reappear

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