Date   : Sat, 29 Jan 2000 10:11:44 +0000
From   : Stuart William McConnachie <stuart@...>
Subject: Re: Original Microprimer software question

In message <38918F0D.6C88A7B2@...>, Nick Battle
<nick.battle@...> writes
>I gather there are excellent BBC emulators available for PCs these days?
>I found this mail list from a site that lists several different
>emulators (http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/bbc/emulators.shtml). 
Of course I shall be recommending pcBBC ;-)
http://www.bburne.demon.co.uk/bbc.html
If you need any help setting it up, then mail me.

>I would like to
>try to get an emulator running under Windows (NT and/or 95) and find the
>CRASH source (IIRC it was one file of pure BASIC).
Sorry, never heard of it.  Perhaps someone else on the list can help?

>Also, I think I have some 5.25" BBC floppys somewhere which I would love
>to be able to read. Is there any way to get at them without a BBC
>machine or disk drive?
In my experience it's very unlikely that you'll find a PC that can read
them, but if you want to try you'll need a program called FDC and some
instructions.  Try the following site:
http://www.retrobbc.co.uk/
If they are standard format disks (no protection) then I've found it
easiest to use a real BBC to transfer stuff via the serial port.  Slow,
but workable.  Of course, like you said, you don't have a BBC.

>Lastly, I did some work in BCPL on the beeb. Is it possible to emulate
>ROMs other than BASIC under Windows?
Yep, pcBBC will happily emulate any ROM based language you care to stick
in it.  Remember that the default language is defined as the one in the
highest numbered ROM socket, so if you put BCPL in a higher socket than
BASIC your machine will boot to BCPL.  Control the socket number for
your ROMs in pcBBC by using the file extension:
        .ROF    Highest priority ROM socket 15
        .ROE    Socket 14
        .ROD    Socket 13
        .ROC    Socket 12
If you have the registered version you can also specify the other 12
ROM/RAM banks with appropriate extensions: .RO0 - .RO9 etc.
Note you can specify RAM, instead of ROM, by using .RA? instead of .RO?

If you have a ROM that doesn't work, send me a copy and I'll
investigate.  Usually it's a problem with the ROM or the way it's
configured, not pcBBC.

Regards,
-- 
Stuart McConnachie (stuart@...              )
43 The Hollows, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 2ES, UK
Mobile: 07966 224307