retroputing

[Ze_ro]

Using a VIC-20

Here's a bit of information I typed up about the VIC-20. This is meant to be a quick guide for new users, NOT an exhaustive FAQ. If anyone has any corrections or additions they feel would help a new user, please share them!

• Models - All VIC-20's are functionally identical.
  
• Recommended Hardware
  
  • VIC-20 computer (motherboard and keyboard combined into a single unit)
    
  • Power Supply (There are two different models of VIC-20 with the only major difference being their power supply. One uses a two-prong plug and the other uses a round plug compatible with the C64. You can't mix them up, so don't worry.)
    
  • External RF Modulator (See note #1) + TV/Game Switch + Television.
    
  • OR Composite video cable (proprietary) + Television/Monitor with composite inputs.
    
  • 1530/C2N Datasette (tape drive, uses standard audio tapes)
    
  • Atari 2600 compatible Joystick (The VIC only has one joystick port)
    
  • Commodore Paddles (There is a decent amount of games that require paddles instead of a joystick. Atari 2600 paddles might not work)
  
  
• Optional Hardware
  
  • Ram Expander (many programs required extra memory. Available in 3K, 8K, and 16K. Get a 16K if possible. These expanders fit in the cartridge slot)
    
  • 1541 Disk Drive + Serial Cable + Power Cable for Disk Drive (99% of VIC software came on cartridge or tape, so a disk drive is not a neccessity)
  
  
• Running Programs
  
  • Cartridges - Turn off the system, insert cartridge into slot in rear (label side up), turn system on. Note that the VIC's cartridge slot is notoriously picky, so if the game doesn't start, try again.
    
  • Tapes - Turn system on, insert tape in tape drive (rewind if necessary). Type "LOAD" (and hit enter) and press play on the tape drive when told. While loading, the screen may flash. Tape will stop automatically when loading is finished (This will take a while). Type "RUN" (and hit enter).
  
  
• Keyboard
  
  • Quotation Mode - If you type a quotation mark, the machine switches into "quotation mode". While in this mode, many of the "special" keys on the keyboard will act differently. The idea is that this allows you to enter special characters into PRINT statements when writing BASIC programs, but it can be confusing for first-time users. If you type a 2nd quotation mark, the computer will switch out of quotation mode.
    
  • Upper/Lower Case - The VIC-20 normally will only display uppercase letters. Holding Shift while pressing letters will produce graphics rather than lower case characters. You can switch into "lower case mode" by holding Shift and hitting the Commodore key (bottom left corner of the keyboard). Note that in most all situations, the VIC-20 is NOT case-sensitive.
    
  • Cursor Keys - The VIC-20 has only two cursor keys in the bottom right of the keyboard, which correspond to "Down" and "Right". If you hold Shift while hitting them, you will get "Up" and "Left" respectively.
    
  • RUN/STOP + RESTORE - Hitting these two keys simultaneously will function as a warm reset, and in most cases, giving you a "READY" prompt. This is most useful if a BASIC program has gone into an infinite loop or is otherwise misbehaving. This warm reset usually does not work to exit a game.
    
  • SHIFT + RUN/STOP - This will automatically enter the "LOAD" and "RUN" commands to load a program from a tape, allowing you to start a tape with a single keystroke (plus hitting play on the tape).
    
  
  
• Notes
  
  1. The VIC-20 does not have a built-in RF modulator, so you will NEED either a composite cable, or the external RF modulator that came with the system (this is usually a silver box that says "COMMODORE" and has a cord sticking out one end). You then must plug a TV/Game switch into this modulator, and then plug the switch into the TV.
     
  2. I have had a lot of trouble with external RF modulators in the past. If you're using one and can't get a video signal, then try another RF modulator, or try a composite cable (I had a number of VIC's that I thought were dead until I found a better RF modulator!)
     
  3. The memory expanders are somewhat incompatible with each other, in that a program written for a 3K memory expander may fail to work with an 8K expander due to the strange way the VIC reorganizes it's memory. Some of the larger expanders had switches in them to artificially limit themselves to these other sizes. Note that when you turn on the system, it will say "3583 BYTES FREE" if unexpanded. If a ram expander is installed (and seated properly in the finnicky cartridge port), this number will change to show that the computer sees the extra memory.
     
  4. The VIC is compatible with all C64 disk drives (1541, 1571, 1581), tape drives, printers, and joysticks. The C64 and VIC also use the same disk/tape format, however, you can NOT run C64 software on a VIC, nor can you run VIC software on a C64.
     
  5. The VIC is not compatible whatsoever with the Commodore Plus/4 or Commodore 16.

--Zero

[Ze_ro]

Using a Commodore 64

Since the VIC-20 is quite similar to the C64 and C128, I figured I'd expand on this a bit:

• Models - All C64's are functionally equivalent. There are cosmetic differences between some models, but the internal hardware is essentially the same.
  
• Recommended Hardware
  
  • C64 computer (motherboard and keyboard combined into a single unit)
    
  • Power Supply
    
  • Male-Male RCA cable + TV/Game Switch + Television.
    OR Composite video cable (proprietary) + Television/Monitor with composite inputs.
    OR Seperated Luma/Chroma video cable (proprietary) + Television/Monitor with seperated luma/chroma inputs (ie, most Commodore monitors)
    
  • 1541 (or equivalent) 5 1/4" disk drive + Serial Cable + Power Cable for drive (Uses standard single-sided double-density 5 1/4" disks. You must flip the disk to use the other side.)
    
  • Atari 2600 compatible Joystick(s) (The C64 has two joystick ports).
  
  
• Optional Hardware
  
  • 1530/C2N Tape Drive (while most C64 software was available on 5 1/4" disk, there was a decent amount of software released on tape, especially in Europe).
    
  • Ram Expansion Unit (REU) (Commodore released three different REU's, the 1700 (128k), 1764 (256k) and the 1750 (512k). Due to the manner in which the C64 accesses this RAM, few programs make use of them. Their main use is for running GEOS)
    
  • Commodore Paddle (A small number of C64 programs (most of them cartridges) require paddles instead of a joystick. Atari 2600 paddles may not work.)
  
  
• Running Programs
  
  • Cartridges - Turn off the system, insert cartridge into slot in rear (label side up), turn system on. Many cartridge games require the use of the F-keys to set game modes and start the game.
    
  • Tapes - Turn system on, insert tape in tape drive (rewind if necessary). Type "LOAD" (and hit enter) and press play on the tape drive when told. While loading, the screen may flash. Tape will stop automatically when loading is finished (This will take a while). Type "RUN" (and hit enter).
    
  • Disks - Turn system and disk drive on, insert disk. Type "LOAD"*",8,1" and hit enter. You should see a "SEARCHING" and then "LOADING" message, followed by the "READY" prompt. Type "RUN" and hit enter. (Some programs will automatically RUN after being loaded. Some programs do not require the ",1" at the end of the LOAD command, so if that didn't work, try it without that)
    
  • GEOS Software - Run GEOS as if it were a regular program. Once it's started, you can use your joystick (or 1351 Mouse) to move your pointer. Things generally work as they do in Windows. Insert the disk with your program on it, click on the disk icon, and then double-click on the programs icon (If the folder has many programs in it, click on the folded edge at the bottom left of a window to change "pages").
  
  
• Keyboard - All the notes about the VIC-20 keyboard apply here.
  
• Notes
  
  1. For some reason, C64 games are inconsistent with their use of the joystick ports. If a game does not seem to respond to your joystick, try putting it in the other joystick port.
     
  2. The C64 is compatible with all VIC-20 disk drives (1541, 1571, 1581), tape drives, printers, and joysticks. The C64 and VIC also use the same disk/tape format, however, you can NOT run C64 software on a VIC, nor can you run VIC software on a C64.
     
  3. The C64 is not compatible whatsoever with the Commodore Plus/4 or Commodore 16.

--Zero

[Ze_ro]

Using a Commodore 128

When using a C128 in C64 mode, please refer to the previous post regarding the C64. When in C64 mode, the C128 can use 99% of C64 hardware and software. This post primarily covers C128 mode and CP/M (For more info on using the C128 in CP/M mode, see this guide).

• Models - There are two primary models of C128. The "regular" C128 is a single unit, while the C128D is a desktop case with a detachable keyboard and built-in 1571 disk drive. Later models of the C128D had 64k of VDC RAM instead of 16k in the original models (although very very few programs will make use of this extra RAM, so it should be considered unneccesary). If possible, the C128D is the better option, but is harder to find and more expensive.
  
• Recommended Hardware
  
  • C128 computer
    
  • Power Supply (The C64 power supply is NOT compatible. However, Amiga 500, 600 and 1200 power supplies seem to be compatible)
    
  • Male-Male RCA cable + TV/Game Switch + Television.
    OR Composite video cable (proprietary) + Television/Monitor with composite inputs.
    OR Seperated Luma/Chroma video cable (proprietary) + Television/Monitor with seperated luma/chroma inputs (ie, most Commodore monitors)
    
  • 1571 5-1/4" disk drive + Serial Cable + Power Cable for drive (A 1541 is also acceptable, but the 1571 has a number of advanced features that are only usable when connected to a C128, including using double-sided disks. A 1571 is also REQUIRED for using CP/M, as a 1541 cannot read CP/M disks.)
    
  • Atari 2600 compatible Joystick(s) (The C128 has two joystick ports).
  
  
• Optional Hardware
  
  • 9-pin RGB cable + Digital RGBI monitor (Required for 80-column mode. I recommend a Commodore dual-mode monitor (ie, the 1902 or 1084S) that will accept both seperated video and RGB)
    
  • C128 CP/M Boot Disk (Required for CP/M mode)
    
  • 1530/C2N Tape Drive (As far as I know, no C128 software was ever released on tape, but a tape drive might be useful in C64 mode)
    
  • Ram Expansion Unit (REU) (Commodore released three different REU's, the 1700 (128k), 1764 (256k) and the 1750 (512k). Due to the manner in which the C64 accesses this RAM, few programs make use of them. Their main use is for running GEOS. CP/M can also use an REU as a RAM Disk)
  
  
• Running Programs
  
  • Cartridges - The C128 will accept standard C64 cartridges. If there is a C64 cartridge installed when the machine boots, it will automatically boot into C64 mode.
    
  • Tapes - Turn system on, insert tape in tape drive (rewind if necessary). Type "LOAD" (and hit enter) and press play on the tape drive when told. While loading, the screen may flash. Tape will stop automatically when loading is finished (This will take a while). Type "RUN" (and hit enter).
    
  • Disks - Turn system and disk drive on, insert disk. Type "LOAD"*",8,1" and hit enter. You should see a "SEARCHING" and then "LOADING" message, followed by the "READY" prompt. Type "RUN" and hit enter. (Some programs will automatically RUN after being loaded. Some programs do not require the ",1" at the end of the LOAD command, so if that didn't work, try it without that).
    
  • Autoboot Disks - If a 1571 disk drive is used with a C128, then the computer can autoboot from an appropriate disk. Insert the disk into the 1571, turn on the drive, and then turn on the computer. The software should automatically start. If it does not, then the disk may not have the appropriate autoboot information on it. In this case, load and run the program as normal.
    
  • GEOS Software - Run GEOS as if it were a regular program. Once it's started, you can use your joystick (or 1351 Mouse) to move your pointer. Things generally work as they do in Windows. Insert the disk with your program on it, click on the disk icon, and then double-click on the programs icon (If the folder has many programs in it, click on the folded edge at the bottom left of a window to change "pages").
    
  • CP/M Software - Autoboot from the CP/M boot disk. Once CP/M is running, insert the disk with your program on it. Change devices to the appropriate disk drive (Type "A:" for the first drive, or "B:" for the second drive). Type the name of the program and hit enter.
    
  
  
• Keyboard - All the notes about the VIC-20 keyboard apply here, but the C128 has some additional abilities.
  
  • 40/80 Switch - If this key is up when the machine is turned on, the machine will start in 40-column mode. If this key is down when the machine is turned on, the machine will start in 80-column mode. Pressing this key will have no effect while the machine is running, although resetting the machine with RUN/STOP + RESTORE will change modes according to the position of the 40/80 key.
    
  • C= Key - Hold the Commodore key (in the bottom left corner of the keyboard) while turning the system on, and the machine will start in C64 mode (In this case, the 40/80 key is ignored).
    
  • ESC, X - Hit Escape, let go, and then hit X. This will switch between 40 and 80 column mode on the fly. Note that this will not display any messages, so you'll have to look for the blinking cursor to know which mode you are in.
    
  • SHIFT + RUN/STOP - This combination works differently on the C128. Instead of loading from tape, a DLOAD command is used instead. This means that this combination will automatically load and run the first program on the disk.
    
  • The F-Keys - In 128 mode, the F-keys (And Shift+F#) will automatically enter a number of different commands (ie, "LIST" or "CATALOG"). Try them all to see what they do.
    
  • GO64 - While in 128 mode, type "GO64" and hit enter. You will be asked if you are sure. Hit Y, and the machine will reset in C64 mode (and revert to 40 column mode).
    
  
  
• Notes
  
  1. All notes on the C64 apply to the C128 as well.
     
  2. Although you can run CP/M in 40 column mode, many CP/M programs are written for 80 column mode, and may not behave properly with only 40 columns.

--Zero