Unlike many 8bit computers the Einstein TC01 does not boot up into its own version of home basic. Basic like any other program has to be loaded from disk and the disk also needs to have a DOS to boot into the Einstein. Without a boot disk the Einstein powers up into a machine operating system (MOS). The only way to enter programing using MOS is to use its modify command and type in hexadecimal code.
For those that have come by an Einstein TC01 without a BOOT DISK and have a working drive "0" or "A" this page shows how a system disk can be made on the Einstein from the PC. The program "Einsys.exe" which runs from the "MS DOS Prompt" on the PC has been developed by Ste Ruddy. Only a minimum of Hex has to be typed in on the Einstein.Ste has put all the instructions for creating the system disk into "einsys.exe" when run:-
Below I have assumed that those that have come by a TC01 without a boot disk have little knowledge of the Einstein. Therefore I have added more instructions and screen shots. |
The essential hardware requirement is a null modem serial link between the PC and Einstein. As yet I do not know where these can be bought ready made up so some type of improvisation will be needed. The wiring configuration View and Download . The program EinSys.exe needs to be put on a PC drive. It will be needed only once to create a boot system disk. The system disk it creates in the Einstein will hold the Einstein component of the PC-Einstein transfer software "EinTrans.com" in its directory. When EinTrans is later installed on the PC all future file and disk image transfer can be managed by this software. The program EinSys.exe might be best saved to and run from a floppy so it can later be safely kept with other Einstein utilities. Download EinSys.exe onto a floppy. Switch on the Einstein and put an unformatted or non Einstein formatted disk in drive "0" or "A".
The EinSys.exe needs to be run from the MS-DOS Prompt on the program menu. view desktop Double click for the MS-DOS Prompt to get the DOS window. By typing "C:\WINDOWS>a:einsys 1" at the dos prompt to use com1 serial connection or "a:einsys 2" to use com2 then <ENTER> will start einsys running displaying instructions and the Hex that has to be typed into Einstein. Screen Shot einsys running If the Einstein is next to the PC this is ok but for those that are not a text file of the hex dump. can be downloaded and printed out. On the Einstein type "M1000 <ENTER>" as instructed then the lines of hexadecimal digits using <ENTER> at each lines end. After typing the full stop on the last line press the <ENTER> key to end the modify command and return to MOS. At the MOS prompt type "G1000 <ENTER>. A shot of the Einstein Screen With the Einstein now ready to receive data from the serial port on the PC continue with einsys typing "Y" when prompted. Or if you wish to do so press <Ctrl> and "C" keys together on the PC keyboard to exit EinSys.exe then start it a fresh. During transfer information will be displayed on the Einstein and PC screens. When the Einstein returns to the MOS prompt transfer will be complete and a boot disk will have been created on the floppy in drive "0". Reset the Einstein or switch it off then on again to reboot into DOS. |
The system disk created by EinSys.exe will have "EINTRANS.COM" in its directory. This is the Einstein TC01's component of the PC-Einstein transfer software. EinTrans will have to be installed onto a PC drive for file and disk image transfer to be possible. Download EinTrans200.zip. Open the archive. It will hold four files. WinEinTrans.exe the windows GUI version does not integrate itself into the windows interface so it will not be installed into the Windows start up program menu. This means it can be extracted to and run from removal media. The extracted four files are just too big to fit on a 1.44 m. floppy but WinEinTrans.exe can be put on a floppy by its self and run. With the PC-Einstein null modem link connected and "EINTRANS.COM running ( on the Einstein type ">EINTRANS" and then the <ENTER> key) WinEinTrans.exe can be tested by double left clicking the mouse on it. This can also be done while it is still in the opened Zipped archive. To keep the package tidy and together it is best to create a "EinTrans200" folder on a larger drive and extract the four files to it. The "EinTrans.chm" windows help file will be needed more for the command line version of Eintrans.exe than the Windows version. The command line version has additional features that are more technical in nature i.e. the "eintrans drive" command which will show the parameter tables of floppies in the Einstein drives. The GUI version is more or less self explicit except for that of right clicking the mouse pointer on files displayed in the Einy directory to get a drop down menu. Check the right serial port is used bottom right hand corner. |
| Before receiving EinSys from Ste Ruddy I was creating a page for my own method of making a boot disk for the TC01. This is more complex and needs a lot more HEX to be typed in using the MOS modify command. I have kept the page on site. The method I used downloaded Xtal DOS from the PC into the Einstein's memory before Downloading EINTRANS.COM and calling it to run; this so the Eintrans software could then be used to formmat a disk from the PC. The programing used hex dump transfer of code into different areas of the Einstein memory without the need for DOS to be present. The page holds a link for downloading an Einstein disk image which holds the programs I used to develop the transfer method. The information could be of use to others who want to put programing into the Einstein without DOS being installed. Veiw Page. |
Page created by Chris Coxall
