zx-diagnostics v0.36 - beta testers wanted!

For experts to discuss very technical stuff and newbies to ask why the Spectrum they bought off ebay doesn't work.
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balford
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zx-diagnostics v0.36 - beta testers wanted!

Post by balford »

Hi everyone,

I'm in the final stages of preparing a new zx-diagnostics release, so I'm looking for beta testers :)

You'll need to have a Diagnostic board, Retroleum SMART card, ZXC3/ZXC4 cartridge, Dandanator! Mini or a good old fashioned EPROM blower.

Oh, and preferably one or more broken machines :D

Standard disclaimer applies, i.e. no responsibility is taken for making your machine more broken :D

Changelog so far for this release is as follows:

New features:

- New ROM sets: Derby 4.02, TK90x/TK95
- If ROM is not recognised and the user doesn't make a machine selection, after 20 seconds the diagnostics assume 48K mode.
- Beeps to indicate test start are accompanied by cycling through all colours in the border.

Deprecated features:

None

Enhancements:

- Space saving: string compression using tokenisation

Bugfixes:

- Fix broken 48K multiplexer test that treated any addressing failure in any upper memory IC as a failure of the IC25 and IC26 chips (thanks to Paul Monaghan)

Grab it from here: http://www.brendanalford.com/testrom.bin.
Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century
https://github.com/brendanalford/zx-diagnostics
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1024MAK
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Re: zx-diagnostics v0.36 - beta testers wanted!

Post by 1024MAK »

You'll need to have a
Diagnostic board - yep, check!
Retroleum SMART card - yep, check!
ZXC3/ZXC4 cartridge - yep, check!
Dandanator! Mini - yep, check (although I have no idea where I have put it :roll: )
a good old fashioned EPROM blower - yep, check!

Oh, and preferably one or more broken machines - yep, check {although the two "broken" machines have either parts missing (CPU, ROM) or the status is not known (but I think the DC-DC inverter/converter is toast)}.

What I currently don't have, is time... Maybe in a week or two...

Mark
:!: Standby alert :!:
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :dance
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
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balford
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Location: Ireland

Re: zx-diagnostics v0.36 - beta testers wanted!

Post by balford »

Well if the ROM's missing, it'll confirm that fact for you :D

Thanks Mark :)
Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century
https://github.com/brendanalford/zx-diagnostics
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PeterJ
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Re: zx-diagnostics v0.36 - beta testers wanted!

Post by PeterJ »

I have a Dandanator! Mini and a problematic +3
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RMartins
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Re: zx-diagnostics v0.36 - beta testers wanted!

Post by RMartins »

I have a Retroleum SMART card
My own Cartridge, which would be nice to be supported too.
An Universal EEPROM programmer.

Several broken ZX Spectrums, in queue to be fixed :)

Wouldn't mind testing a new version of ZX-Diagnostics
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balford
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Location: Ireland

Re: zx-diagnostics v0.36 - beta testers wanted!

Post by balford »

Go for it guys, firmware link is in the initial post, and there are instructions on the wiki (link in my sig).
Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century
https://github.com/brendanalford/zx-diagnostics
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