BBC Model B Econet Help
Discussion
Argh..
Am trying to sort out a piece of software at work that only runs on a model B
Have turned the B on, only to discover that it's not starting to boot from the floppy, instead coming up with an error that says:
Econet Station 003 - No clock
I presume this means that this machine was once on a network, but can't find out how to switch it back to stand alone mode - anyone got any ideas?
Am trying to sort out a piece of software at work that only runs on a model B
Have turned the B on, only to discover that it's not starting to boot from the floppy, instead coming up with an error that says:
Econet Station 003 - No clock
I presume this means that this machine was once on a network, but can't find out how to switch it back to stand alone mode - anyone got any ideas?
My God this brought back memories. I've seen and fixed that error before but for the life of me I can't remember how - sorry.
Your post did bring back memories of probably the best piece of software I ever wrote (in terms of being pioneering at the time) - a background process (yes, a background process was possible!) written in 6502 assembler that did transparent real-time on-the-fly encryption and decryption of the file system (256 bytes at a time no less!). So, if you did '*.' the catalogue was encrypted, so even if someone got your account password it was no use. You had to execute my program, satisfy its security (which was much tighter) and then '*.', 'Load', '*Run', *Load', etc. would all work transparently. These days programs like PGPDisk do the same thing, but my program was fully-functional 12 years ago. Why didn't I sell it?!
I was 15 when I wrote that. If I'd continued programming from then I'd be a monster now!
Your post did bring back memories of probably the best piece of software I ever wrote (in terms of being pioneering at the time) - a background process (yes, a background process was possible!) written in 6502 assembler that did transparent real-time on-the-fly encryption and decryption of the file system (256 bytes at a time no less!). So, if you did '*.' the catalogue was encrypted, so even if someone got your account password it was no use. You had to execute my program, satisfy its security (which was much tighter) and then '*.', 'Load', '*Run', *Load', etc. would all work transparently. These days programs like PGPDisk do the same thing, but my program was fully-functional 12 years ago. Why didn't I sell it?!
I was 15 when I wrote that. If I'd continued programming from then I'd be a monster now!
What about trying an emulator ?
google "bbc emulator"
I used a BBC occasionally at primary school, only when the teachers had a problem. Enjoyed missing P.E. when the teachers needed me to solve a problem .
I started on a Vic 20 in 1983 and stayed with Commodore Machines (Occasionally tinkering with a friend's Sinclair).
R
google "bbc emulator"
I used a BBC occasionally at primary school, only when the teachers had a problem. Enjoyed missing P.E. when the teachers needed me to solve a problem .
I started on a Vic 20 in 1983 and stayed with Commodore Machines (Occasionally tinkering with a friend's Sinclair).
R
ThatPhilBrettGuy said:
...
N3rd!
Says the man who answers PHP questions and alike! Sad the things you remember isn't it
You're up early Mr B, or haven't you gone to bed yet?
I pass those onto my Development Monkies 
PCP what?
Bed.. heheh.. They're building some new sky scrapers around here.. jack hammers ;(
I need to move.
J
k50 del said:
Argh..
Am trying to sort out a piece of software at work that only runs on a model B
Have turned the B on, only to discover that it's not starting to boot from the floppy, instead coming up with an error that says:
Econet Station 003 - No clock
I presume this means that this machine was once on a network, but can't find out how to switch it back to stand alone mode - anyone got any ideas?
If I remember right, isn't that a rom option (boot from network or straight into Basic).
Can't you break out of it on boot (holding down a key on startup. '*' on the numeric pad rings a bell, but it has been a looooooong time!)
edited to add: the reason the machine has forgotten it's config settings is because the onboard battery will be flat. Chances are you'll have to replace the battery too...
You also mentioned you weren't using Econet. A dodgy old web site said
"If you're not on an Econet, take off the lid and remove the chip labelled 'ANFS' or 'NFS'. If there is no such chip remove the 68B54 and keep it somewhere safe"
May be worth trying?
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Wednesday 28th September 16:18
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Wednesday 28th September 16:23
_DeeJay_ said:
If I remember right, isn't that a rom option (boot from network or straight into Basic).
From the reading around that I have done, this is my understanding as well.
Can't you break out of it on boot (holding down a key on startup. '*' on the numeric pad rings a bell, but it has been a looooooong time!)
There is no numeric pad on a B (this was a feature on the BBC Master though!!)
I did find the keyboard shortcut for this - press control + D + Break - alas that doesn't allow my disc to boot either.
edited to add: the reason the machine has forgotten it's config settings is because the onboard battery will be flat. Chances are you'll have to replace the battery too...
Apparently no on board battery in a model B either
You also mentioned you weren't using Econet. A dodgy old web site said
"If you're not on an Econet, take off the lid and remove the chip labelled 'ANFS' or 'NFS'. If there is no such chip remove the 68B54 and keep it somewhere safe"
This would make sense, as NFS from memory stands for Network File System (ANFS would be the advanced version found on the BBC Master range)
May be worth trying?
I shall try this when I am next in front of the BBC
>> Edited by K50 DEL on Wednesday 28th September 17:19
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