Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Last week, we tried to get EMM386 to run on the OAsys iPAD, which you might know better as the restaurant bump bar that can play DOOM, so that we could try to get SoftMPU running. But we kept running into the brick wall of DOS disk errors with EMM386 running.
After all, part of the experience of playing DOOM is its sound track. And while we can't install a sound card into the iPAD, as the SoC in the device doesn't have ISA support, we can do the next best thing: try a Serial-to-MIDI device with an external wavetable module. But that module requires SoftMPU, which requires EMM386 or QEMM.
The issue might be an incompatibility between the USB boot code present in the BIOS and DOS 6.22/EMM386. Since I had trouble trying to create a bootable SD card with my modern PC and pre-built boot images last week, I have ordered an SD to IDE adapter in order to create a boot SD card from a vintage computer.
Will the SD card show the same issues after loading EMM386? Will I figure out the serial port pinout? Will we get the serial MIDI DOS driver working? Will I run out of time? You'll have to watch to find out!
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Last week, we tried to get EMM386 to run on the OAsys iPAD, which you might know better as the restaurant bump bar that can play DOOM, so that we could try to get SoftMPU running. But we kept running into the brick wall of DOS disk errors with EMM386 running.
After all, part of the experience of playing DOOM is its sound track. And while we can't install a sound card into the iPAD, as the SoC in the device doesn't have ISA support, we can do the next best thing: try a Serial-to-MIDI device with an external wavetable module. But that module requires SoftMPU, which requires EMM386 or QEMM.
The issue might be an incompatibility between the USB boot code present in the BIOS and DOS 6.22/EMM386. Since I had trouble trying to create a bootable SD card with my modern PC and pre-built boot images last week, I have ordered an SD to IDE adapter in order to create a boot SD card from a vintage computer.
Will the SD card show the same issues after loading EMM386? Will I figure out the serial port pinout? Will we get the serial MIDI DOS driver working? Will I run out of time? You'll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: jdmcs.net/mytwitter
![This Apple ][ Plus Clone Seems SUS... #vintagecomputing](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FYu2PFcMUts/mqdefault.jpg "This Apple ][ Plus Clone Seems SUS... #vintagecomputing
I have @adriansdigitalbasements Dead Test and a Character ROM installed, and something still seems SUS with the Apple ][ Plus clone motherboard I bought on eBay.")
![Its COMPUTER Week: Replacing All the Sockets in My MCA Apple ][+ Clone (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FhiYmRam4-I/mqdefault.jpg "Its COMPUTER Week: Replacing All the Sockets in My MCA Apple ][+ Clone (Computerized Start™ Live)
Last time I had COMPUTER on the bench, I had trouble with the IC sockets that I had bought for the job. Specifically, those sockets have a tendency to let solder wick up into the contacts (especially when using extra flux), rendering the socket useless. I believe that is because some of those sockets dont have sealed bottoms.
COMPUTER has been waiting patiently for another day in the spotlight. That time is this week, as I now have a supply of name-brand sockets for COMPUTER. And the data sheets for all the sockets I bought specifically mention sealed bottom construction. Hopefully this means I can use extra flux when needed.
Will the name-brand sockets work as described, or will I get solder in the contacts? Will I cause even more trace damage? Will Clarus the Desoldering Station hold out? Youll have to watch to find out!
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Use discount code JUSTINTIME for for 5% off all Computerized Start™ merchandise at https://shop.jdmcs.com.
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: https://jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: https://jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: https://jdmcs.net/myinstagram
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![COMPUTER Mission: Possible... My MCA Apple ][+ Clone is Close to Working! (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GS9Z20oby5Q/mqdefault.jpg "COMPUTER Mission: Possible... My MCA Apple ][+ Clone is Close to Working! (Computerized Start™ Live)
Last week, I finished installing new sockets into COMPUTER, my MCA Apple ][+ Clone, and then put all the logic chips back into place. I thought it would just power up, and it did, but it looked like the processor was not running code.
I put a modified Applesoft ROM Card into the system, which is hard-wired to boot Adrian Blacks memory test ROM, and the memory test did start to run. However, it would always crash soon thereafter. Seems like theres a problem in the memory section of the motherboard...
Thanks to having a second clone motherboard which is in working condition, I have a motherboard to test the RAM chips in to make sure they are all good. I can also check the chips responsible for addressing and accessing memory - one or more may be bad. But most importantly, this feels like Mission: Possible at this point!
Will COMPUTER boot? How many more bad chips will I add to the collection of bad chips from COMPUTER? Will I get to play a game? Youll have to watch to find out!
*
Use discount code JUSTINTIME for for 5% off all Computerized Start™ merchandise at https://shop.jdmcs.com.
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: https://jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: https://jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: https://jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: https://jdmcs.net/mytwitter")
