| The CoCo Hut The most (legal) fun you can have in 8-bits. For collectors, gamers and hobbyists of the TRS-80 and Tandy Color Computer. |
| Identifying Color Computer ROMs |
Color Disk BASIC ROMs
Tandy only did two versions of it's Disk, or "DOS," ROM: 1.0 and 1.1. If you plug in a controller you should get a
version reference of x.0 or x.1, where x is the version of BASIC you've got. The .0 or .1 is the DOS version.
(Remember, this ONLY applies with the disk controller plugged in. Sans controller is a whole other can of wiggly
biscuits.)
An x of 1 is a CoCo 1 or 2 with BASIC ROM 1.0, 1.1, or 1.2 (unplug the controller and power on to see which). An x of 2
is a CoCo 3 with "hi res" or "super" BASIC.
So, for example: Disk Extended Color BASIC 2.1 would be a CoCo 3 with a controller plugged in that has a 1.1 ROM on
board. Disk Extended Color BASIC 2.0 would be a CoCo 3 with a controller that has the 1.0 ROM. In this manner, you
can plug any Tandy disk controller into a CoCo 3 and determine what ROM is on board.
The 1.0 ROM lacks the DOS command and requires a BASIC loader program to run some programs that require OS-9,
or any program that uses the DOS cammand to load. If available, the loader program is usually in the program's
documentation, or in a BASIC file on the disk, usually named *.BAS and is executed by typing the command RUN "*"
at the OK prompt.
The 1.1 ROM includes the DOS command. OS-9 and OS-9 bootable programs are executed by typing the command
DOS at the OK prompt.
Collector's note: Inquire before purchasing of disk controllers. Have the seller plug in the controller, when possible,
and report what the start up screen says. DOS version 1.0 is older and probably rarer in working condition. DOS 1.1
is more desirable from a technical standpoint.
To Do: Locate PEEKs to identify CoCo ROMs.
To Do: Identify and list ROMs for each controller by Cat. No.
To Do: Identify and list ROMs for each CoCo by Cat. No.
Tandy only did two versions of it's Disk, or "DOS," ROM: 1.0 and 1.1. If you plug in a controller you should get a
version reference of x.0 or x.1, where x is the version of BASIC you've got. The .0 or .1 is the DOS version.
(Remember, this ONLY applies with the disk controller plugged in. Sans controller is a whole other can of wiggly
biscuits.)
An x of 1 is a CoCo 1 or 2 with BASIC ROM 1.0, 1.1, or 1.2 (unplug the controller and power on to see which). An x of 2
is a CoCo 3 with "hi res" or "super" BASIC.
So, for example: Disk Extended Color BASIC 2.1 would be a CoCo 3 with a controller plugged in that has a 1.1 ROM on
board. Disk Extended Color BASIC 2.0 would be a CoCo 3 with a controller that has the 1.0 ROM. In this manner, you
can plug any Tandy disk controller into a CoCo 3 and determine what ROM is on board.
The 1.0 ROM lacks the DOS command and requires a BASIC loader program to run some programs that require OS-9,
or any program that uses the DOS cammand to load. If available, the loader program is usually in the program's
documentation, or in a BASIC file on the disk, usually named *.BAS and is executed by typing the command RUN "*"
at the OK prompt.
The 1.1 ROM includes the DOS command. OS-9 and OS-9 bootable programs are executed by typing the command
DOS at the OK prompt.
Collector's note: Inquire before purchasing of disk controllers. Have the seller plug in the controller, when possible,
and report what the start up screen says. DOS version 1.0 is older and probably rarer in working condition. DOS 1.1
is more desirable from a technical standpoint.
To Do: Locate PEEKs to identify CoCo ROMs.
To Do: Identify and list ROMs for each controller by Cat. No.
To Do: Identify and list ROMs for each CoCo by Cat. No.
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