Difference between revisions of "Plus System Cartridge"
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
| − | The Plus system cartridge is essential to the 464 Plus and 6128 Plus systems because it contains the Operating System, BASIC and AMSDOS. Without this cartridge, you cannot use the Plus as none of the system ROMs are contained within the machine (unlike the classic CPCs). This method was used as it meant that it would be very difficult to copy other cartridges (such as games) because the operating system is not present when another cartridge is inserted. | + | The Plus system cartridge is essential to the 464 Plus and 6128 Plus systems because it contains the Operating System, [[Locomotive BASIC]] and [[AMSDOS]]. Without this cartridge, you cannot use the Plus as none of the system ROMs are contained within the machine (unlike the classic CPCs). This method was used as it meant that it would be very difficult to copy other cartridges (such as games) because the operating system is not present when another cartridge is inserted. |
| + | |||
| + | The cartridge also included the game [[Burnin' Rubber]] to showcase the Plus range's extra hardware capabilities and to ensure that every user had something to play when they purchased the computer. | ||
== English System Cartridge == | == English System Cartridge == | ||
| − | Contains the Plus Operating System (v4), Locomotive BASIC v1.1, AMSDOS and Burnin' Rubber game. This cartridge is for use with the English keyboard of the 464 Plus or 6128 Plus. The | + | Contains the Plus Operating System (v4), [[Locomotive BASIC]] v1.1, [[AMSDOS]] and [[Burnin' Rubber]] game. This cartridge is for use with the English keyboard version of the 464 Plus or 6128 Plus. The colour of the label of the cartridge is Yellow. |
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| Line 14: | Line 16: | ||
== French System Cartridge == | == French System Cartridge == | ||
| − | Contains the Plus Operating System (v4), Locomotive BASIC v1.1, AMSDOS and Burnin' Rubber game. This cartridge is for use with the French keyboard of the 464 Plus or 6128 Plus. The | + | Contains the Plus Operating System (v4), [[Locomotive BASIC]] v1.1, [[AMSDOS]] and [[Burnin' Rubber]] game. This cartridge is for use with the French keyboard version of the 464 Plus or 6128 Plus. The colour of the label of the cartridge is Green. On the back of the cartridge on the right-hand lower corner you can see the letter "F" for French. |
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| Line 23: | Line 25: | ||
== Spanish System Cartridge == | == Spanish System Cartridge == | ||
| − | Contains the Plus Operating System (v4), Locomotive BASIC v1.1, AMSDOS and Burnin' Rubber game. This cartridge is for use with the Spanish keyboard of the 464 Plus or 6128 Plus. The | + | Contains the Plus Operating System (v4), [[Locomotive BASIC]] v1.1, [[AMSDOS]] and [[Burnin' Rubber]] game. This cartridge is for use with the Spanish keyboard version of the 464 Plus or 6128 Plus. The colour of the label of the cartridge is Blue. On the back of the cartridge on the right-hand lower corner you can see the letter "S" for Spanish. |
| + | |||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Image:SpanishPlusCartFront.jpg|Front | ||
| + | Image:SpanishPlusCartBack.jpg|Front | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
== 'Downgrade' System Cartridge == | == 'Downgrade' System Cartridge == | ||
| − | A French cartridge was made which contained the classic CPC Operating System (v3), Locomotive BASIC v1.1 and AMSDOS. This cartridge was made to address the Plus range incompatibilities with some software designed for the classic CPC range. | + | A French cartridge was made which contained the classic CPC Operating System (v3), [[Locomotive BASIC]] v1.1 and [[AMSDOS]]. This cartridge was made to address the Plus range incompatibilities with some software designed for the classic CPC range. |
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| Line 40: | Line 47: | ||
Due to the annoying 'f1/f2' menu presented on the Plus range, programmers have patched the Plus system cartridges in several ways to remove the menu. | Due to the annoying 'f1/f2' menu presented on the Plus range, programmers have patched the Plus system cartridges in several ways to remove the menu. | ||
| − | One method was to replace AMSDOS with ParaDOS. This had the benefit of having the ParaDOS disk ROM available without a ROMboard, but it also disabled access to the Burnin' Rubber game. | + | One method was to replace [[AMSDOS]] with [[ParaDOS]]. This had the benefit of having the [[ParaDOS]] disk ROM available without a ROMboard, but it also disabled access to the [[Burnin' Rubber]] game. |
| − | Another method was to patch the Operating System ROM to skip the menu meaning the Plus went directly to BASIC, much the same as with the classic CPCs. Users can still access the Burnin' Rubber game by using a RSX command (either |GAME, |JEUX, |SPIEL or |JUEGO) as this feature was included in the original Plus system cartridge. | + | Another method was to patch the Operating System ROM to skip the menu meaning the Plus went directly to BASIC, much the same as with the classic CPCs. Users can still access the [[Burnin' Rubber]] game by using a RSX command (either |GAME, |JEUX, |SPIEL or |JUEGO) as this feature was included in the original Plus system cartridge. |
| + | |||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Image:plus_en_screenshot.png|Original Plus System Cartridge | ||
| + | Image:plus_en_patched_screenshot.png|Patched System Cartridge with menu removed | ||
| + | Image:plus_en_parados_screenshot.png|Patched System Cartridge with ParaDOS | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Amstrad CSD== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Amstrad CSD was a system containing a 464PLUS motherboad and an additionnal Mainboard enabling to switch beteween 12 different game (or whatever) cartridges. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The System was supplied with some sort of JukeBox OS cartridge. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Amstrad CSD| Check the Amstrad CSD page for more details.]] | ||
== Downloads == | == Downloads == | ||
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* [[Media:Spanish System + Parados.rar|Amstrad Plus (ES) with ParaDOS]] | * [[Media:Spanish System + Parados.rar|Amstrad Plus (ES) with ParaDOS]] | ||
| − | * [[Media:Basic_(F)_(White_Label).zip|Amstrad Plus (FR) 'Downgrade' with v3 OS]] | + | * [[Media:Basic_(F)_(White_Label).zip|Amstrad Plus (FR) 'Downgrade' with classic CPC v3 OS]] |
| + | |||
| + | * [[Media:Plus_en_patched_v1.3.zip|Amstrad Plus (EN) System Cartridge Patch v1.3]] by [[User:Redbox|redbox]] | ||
| + | * [[Media:plus_fr_patched.zip|Amstrad Plus (FR) System Cartridge Patch v1.0]] by [[User:Redbox|redbox]] | ||
| − | * [[Media: | + | * [[Media:FR_FW315ParaDOS.cpr.zip|Amstrad Plus (FR) with Firmware 3.15 & ParaDOS]] |
| − | + | ||
| − | [[Category:CPC Plus]] | + | [[Category:CPC Plus]][[Category:Cartridges]][[Category:Operating System]] |
| + | [[Category:CPC Plus Games]][[Category:BASIC|*]] | ||
Latest revision as of 04:36, 19 January 2018
Contents
Introduction
The Plus system cartridge is essential to the 464 Plus and 6128 Plus systems because it contains the Operating System, Locomotive BASIC and AMSDOS. Without this cartridge, you cannot use the Plus as none of the system ROMs are contained within the machine (unlike the classic CPCs). This method was used as it meant that it would be very difficult to copy other cartridges (such as games) because the operating system is not present when another cartridge is inserted.
The cartridge also included the game Burnin' Rubber to showcase the Plus range's extra hardware capabilities and to ensure that every user had something to play when they purchased the computer.
English System Cartridge
Contains the Plus Operating System (v4), Locomotive BASIC v1.1, AMSDOS and Burnin' Rubber game. This cartridge is for use with the English keyboard version of the 464 Plus or 6128 Plus. The colour of the label of the cartridge is Yellow.
Front
Back
_-_cara_A.jpg)
_-_cara_B.jpg)
French System Cartridge
Contains the Plus Operating System (v4), Locomotive BASIC v1.1, AMSDOS and Burnin' Rubber game. This cartridge is for use with the French keyboard version of the 464 Plus or 6128 Plus. The colour of the label of the cartridge is Green. On the back of the cartridge on the right-hand lower corner you can see the letter "F" for French.
Front
Back
_-_cara_A.jpg)
_-_cara_B.jpg)
Spanish System Cartridge
Contains the Plus Operating System (v4), Locomotive BASIC v1.1, AMSDOS and Burnin' Rubber game. This cartridge is for use with the Spanish keyboard version of the 464 Plus or 6128 Plus. The colour of the label of the cartridge is Blue. On the back of the cartridge on the right-hand lower corner you can see the letter "S" for Spanish.
Front
Front
'Downgrade' System Cartridge
A French cartridge was made which contained the classic CPC Operating System (v3), Locomotive BASIC v1.1 and AMSDOS. This cartridge was made to address the Plus range incompatibilities with some software designed for the classic CPC range.
Front
Back
PCB Front
PCB Back
Patched Cartridges
Due to the annoying 'f1/f2' menu presented on the Plus range, programmers have patched the Plus system cartridges in several ways to remove the menu.
One method was to replace AMSDOS with ParaDOS. This had the benefit of having the ParaDOS disk ROM available without a ROMboard, but it also disabled access to the Burnin' Rubber game.
Another method was to patch the Operating System ROM to skip the menu meaning the Plus went directly to BASIC, much the same as with the classic CPCs. Users can still access the Burnin' Rubber game by using a RSX command (either |GAME, |JEUX, |SPIEL or |JUEGO) as this feature was included in the original Plus system cartridge.
Original Plus System Cartridge
Patched System Cartridge with menu removed
Patched System Cartridge with ParaDOS
Amstrad CSD
The Amstrad CSD was a system containing a 464PLUS motherboad and an additionnal Mainboard enabling to switch beteween 12 different game (or whatever) cartridges.
The System was supplied with some sort of JukeBox OS cartridge.
Check the Amstrad CSD page for more details.
Downloads
Downloads of the system cartridges are available here. Where applicable, the CPR file is for use in emulators (such as WinApe) and the BIN file is the actual ROM image which can be used with EPROM programmers to make your own cartridges.
