*-----------------------------------------------------------------------* * Falcon MC68040 CPU ToolKit v5.00 * *-----------------------------------------------------------------------* AB40.TOS -------- Description: ------------ This program generates a floppy disk bootsector which cures all sorts of problems usually encountered when the Afterburner attempts to boot from harddisk - and before it gets as far as running the MC68040 ToolKit driver from the auto folder. If you DON'T know what the MC68040 ToolKit is, then you should make an effort to locate it. Your Afterburner needs software support to function properly! The bootsector acts as a sort of tiny 68040 driver, initialising the CPU and allowing autobooting software like harddisk drivers or games to run more reliably. If your machine manages to get as far as the auto folder on your harddisk every time you boot, then you probably don't need this bootsector! Installation: ------------- Using the patch is simple: 1) Format a new floppy disk and label it 'Afterburner boot disk'. 2) Copy the AB40BOOT.TOS file to the newly formatted disk. 3) Ensuring the disk is not write-protected, run AB40BOOT.TOS and follow on-screen instructions. Notes: It is wise to create the boot disk on a cleanly-booted machine! Your boot disk is now ready to use. Simply write-protect your disk, place it in the floppy drive and reboot the machine. Your problems with stuff like HDDriver <= v6.22 should disappear, along with several other known booting problems associated with TOS running a 68040. If the bootsector detects either itself, or another 68040 driver's presence in RAM, it will abort installation to prevent clashes. This makes it perfectly compatible with the MC68040 ToolKit auto-folder driver when it has been installed as a reset-resident ROM image. Extra information: ------------------ All Afterburner users (and any other MC68040 based Atari users) are strongly encouraged to join the falcon040 mailing list for online 3rd party support. Lots of Afterburner users can be found here, and it is the place where such problems are resolved. Software such as the MC68040 ToolKit (and this bootsector patch) are frequently uploaded to this mailing list, making it the internet focal point for all Atari+MC68040 activity. The falcon040 mailing list can be 'joined' by sending an email to the following address: ...with 'subscribe' as the subject line. All subsequent mail traffic from users of the mailing list will be forwarded automatically to your own address. Your replies and any other contributions you wish to make to the mailing list should be sent to: ..which is the actualy mailing list address, and which will forward your messages to all other members of the list. * The bootsector creator was produced by Petr Stehlik. * The bootsector code itself was produced by Doug Little. Have fun!