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#kickstart-eliminator

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#65968From: Patrick AnnetteMay 2, 1987 8:11 PM
Hello Ed, Last Monday I installed the 'Kickstart Eliminator and RAM Expansion Kit from Creative Microsystems Incorporated. It took about three hours, although it could probably be done in one now that I know how. It works exactly as described in their instruction booklet, which is quite good. Anyone who is able to repair computer circuit boards could easily handle the modification, but it certainly is NOT for the inexperienced! When completed the Amiga no longer needs the kickstart disk, since it is in ROM; and using the software CMI provides, you can use the 256k of RAM formerly used for the WCS. Slick! There IS a caveat: anyone having the aMEGA ram expansion from C Ltd should be aware of the following quote from the last page of the CMI booklet: "The only expansion port peripheral we have found that doesn't function properly on the modified Amiga is C Ltd's aMEGA Card. However, the friendly folks at C Ltd. provided us with a simple fix that is described below." I have the aMEGA card, which has worked well in the past; but indeed the Amiga would not boot after the conversion with the aMEGA attached. Then I discovered that it worked fine with the TFB (three finger boot). It's a minor nuisance at worst, but today I tried to implement the 'simple fix' from the friendly folks and found that the Amiga would then no longer boot at all with aMEGA attached! I restored the original aMEGA components and all is well, but now I have to do a TFB every time I start the computer. No big deal, but had I known what I know now when buying the memory expansion I would probably not have chosen aMEGA. Is there a fix that will correct the timing problem on power-on boot? Will I be able to find a hard disk system that works with kickstart in ROM and aMEGA? Is it true that all other peripherals work with the Kickstart Eliminator, or has CMI given C Ltd a bum rap? Patrick Annette
#66223From: E. J. Lippert IIMay 4, 1987 1:21 AM
For you and everyone who doesn't already know – Creative Micro- systems Inc. (aka CMI) who markets the `KickStart Eliminator' was also the design firm who developed the aMEGA Board for CARDCO, Inc. (ultimately licensed by C Ltd.) So, if they are bad rapping any body, it is themselves. We manufacture the aMEGA Board under license from CMI. It is their design, so if anybody would know how to fix it, it should be CMI. I agree with you that the `kludge' fix is kind of tackey and have brought this to their attention. We hope that there will be a better solution forthcoming. If there is, I will post that information here and in DL-11. If there isn't, we will withdraw the aMEGA from the market.
#66293From: Perry S. Kivolowitz/ASDMay 4, 1987 3:03 PM
Ed, Maybe you should investigate different design houses. I know of one with an unimpeachable reputation. <ear to ear grin> Perry S. Kivolowitz – ASDG Incorporated – (608) 873 – 5604
#66293From: Perry S. Kivolowitz/ASDMay 4, 1987 3:03 PM
Ed, Maybe you should investigate different design houses. I know of one with an unimpeachable reputation. <ear to ear grin> Perry S. Kivolowitz – ASDG Incorporated – (608) 873 – 5604
#66303From: RALPH LANDRYMay 4, 1987 5:50 PM
E.J. Dean Brown suggests that you change the size of that capacitor to a smaller value than what it currently is. When you install the 1.2 ROMS in a machine the power up cycles are radically changed. With the large cap that you use it is possible that it is s l o w to charge and misses the boat when the 1.2 is ready to see who's home on the buss. Now taking the cap out completly may work on some machines, but may also make other ones really flaky, why? well the 4502 would not get reset and no refresh would happen which would make memory very hard to use. This is just a theory and possible fix to the problem. -Ralph Michigan Software
#66354From: John DraperMay 5, 1987 12:12 AM
On the other hand, a 555 would do the trick. A board looks naked without a 555. <grin>
#66354From: John DraperMay 5, 1987 12:12 AM
On the other hand, a 555 would do the trick. A board looks naked without a 555. <grin>
#66303From: RALPH LANDRYMay 4, 1987 5:50 PM
E.J. Dean Brown suggests that you change the size of that capacitor to a smaller value than what it currently is. When you install the 1.2 ROMS in a machine the power up cycles are radically changed. With the large cap that you use it is possible that it is s l o w to charge and misses the boat when the 1.2 is ready to see who's home on the buss. Now taking the cap out completly may work on some machines, but may also make other ones really flaky, why? well the 4502 would not get reset and no refresh would happen which would make memory very hard to use. This is just a theory and possible fix to the problem. -Ralph Michigan Software
#66223From: E. J. Lippert IIMay 4, 1987 1:21 AM
For you and everyone who doesn't already know – Creative Micro- systems Inc. (aka CMI) who markets the `KickStart Eliminator' was also the design firm who developed the aMEGA Board for CARDCO, Inc. (ultimately licensed by C Ltd.) So, if they are bad rapping any body, it is themselves. We manufacture the aMEGA Board under license from CMI. It is their design, so if anybody would know how to fix it, it should be CMI. I agree with you that the `kludge' fix is kind of tackey and have brought this to their attention. We hope that there will be a better solution forthcoming. If there is, I will post that information here and in DL-11. If there isn't, we will withdraw the aMEGA from the market.