[BBC-Micro] Arthur on 5.25" media...

[Pete Turnbull]

Rob wrote:
> On 01/05/07, Pete Turnbull <pete at dunnington.plus.com> wrote:
>>
>> The Arm second processor (aka Arm Evaluation System) didn't run Arthur.
>>   It used the BBC MOS like any normal second processor, and had a very
>> simple Executive program; a sort of monitor which could set/clear
>> breakpoints, dump/fill memory, load, save and run programs, and not much
>> more.
> 
> The question begs ... Is it possible to write another executive for
> the ARM 2P (Eval system or Sprow's) that WILL allow such things as
> Arthur or RISC OS to run with little or no modification??

Not very likely.  No MMU, no VIDC (so all the low-level video would need 
rewritten, and no mode 12, 15 or any others that Arthur would expect), 
ADFS would need rewritten (hardware on the wrong side of the Tube!), and 
many other things would need work.

But if you could create a suitable video mode you might be able to run 
the Arthur desktop, albeit in monochrome, because it's just a BASIC 
program.  It would be almost impossible to use, though, because it 
relies on multiples shades/colours (it will run in monochrome, but even 
then it does require several shades of grey).

-- 
Pete						Peter Turnbull
						Network Manager
						University of York