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California Computer Systems model 2422 FDC for Exidy Sorcerer

dutchacorn

Experienced Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2015
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Netherlands
With a recent purchase of an Exidy Sorcerer with an S-100 Expansion Unit came an S-100 FDC: the CCS 2422. Regrettably it does not work in the current configuration, I believe it may need (Sorcerer specific?) firmware in a 2716 eprom that is missing. Also there are two 27S287 logic chips missing but I'm not sure those are needed?

The same card is mentioned on vintagecomputer.ca but it is unclear if the so called mystery is solved. In a follow-up post it is pictured with an eprom fitted, but with little more clarification.

I have tried to contact the site admin but am not getting a reply there.

If there is anyone here that has this card working in an S-100 expansion unit for an Exidy Sorcerer, or has more pointers on how to get it working, please let me know!


 
The missing bipolar proms don't appear to be needed. one controls bank select, the other ROM address.
The ROM socket wont work.

joe
 
Thanks for the links and suggestions, very helpful!

Looking at the manual the card should have 2K ROM with firmware. My card only has one 1K PROM fitted so one 1K of ROM seems to be missing.
The manual also states that the firmware can be modified for specific configurations:
“modifying the firmware so far described involves programming a user-supplied 2716 EPROM”


So it would seem that programming the 74S287 PROM can be avoided by fitting an EPROM. It does not mention if this needs any other modification.

The s100 site (thanks Dave!) actually has a the image for a 2716 EPROM. What I believe to be looking for is a 2716 EPROM image with the firmware modified to work on an Exidy Sorcerer. The default firmware is located at 0000H, which can’t be accessed from the Sorcerer because it overlaps with it’s internal memory. If I understand the Exidy documentation correctly, it needs to be at C000H or higher.
 
Sorry, I have been super busy lately. Here's a picture of my CCS 2422 floppy controller. http://vintagecomputer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/CCS-Model-2422-FDD-Front.jpg

I can dig it out and read the EPROM but I'm not sure if I have the equipment to read U22 and U23. I do have some documentation scattered in the SCSUG newletters in this directory: http://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Exidy Sorcerer/Southern California Sorcerer User Group Meetings/ Have a look through them as there are tidbits here and there of my specific set up including the custom enclosure. One particular newletter covers the modified 2422 BIOS for Exidy Sorcerer specifically here: http://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Exi...er User Group Meetings/SCSUG October 1986.pdf

I'll have to check if I have the equipment and can read the U22 and U23 22V10 GALs.

Hope this helps and I am sorry for the delay.
 
I have an original CCS2422 that came in a system I purchased. I have never used it.

U21 is not installed, I have read U22 and U23 (74S287 PROM) but can't seem to append a .bin or .hex file

Happy to email them along.

I can also burn 74S287's (as well as 2716's) if you need them.

- Gary
 
If there is anyone here that has this card working in an S-100 expansion unit for an Exidy Sorcerer, or has more pointers on how to get it working, please let me know!

A custom version of the Sorcerer Computer User Australia SCUAMON64 Power on Monitor ROM for 64 column Sorcerers is known to exist (undumped) and is configured to autoboot a CCS controller.
When that Sorcerer boots it says:

Code:
SCUAMON 64 v3.4 : BFFF Hex.
C. C. S.   @ B600H
So that might be a clue to the boot address.
 
It’s been a busy week so far, no retro time yet. I did find an envelope from 1985 with a monitor upgrade from the Gebr. van Montfoort, never installed. It is marked version 1.3C. According to the documentation version 1.3B has support for the Exidy FDC, including the bootstrap rom. Not sure what changes 1.3C has.

I’ll install the upgrade this weekend and see where it gets me.
 
Sorry, I have been super busy lately. Here's a picture of my CCS 2422 floppy controller. http://vintagecomputer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/CCS-Model-2422-FDD-Front.jpg

I can dig it out and read the EPROM but I'm not sure if I have the equipment to read U22 and U23. I do have some documentation scattered in the SCSUG newletters in this directory: http://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Exidy Sorcerer/Southern California Sorcerer User Group Meetings/ Have a look through them as there are tidbits here and there of my specific set up including the custom enclosure. One particular newletter covers the modified 2422 BIOS for Exidy Sorcerer specifically here: http://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Exi...er User Group Meetings/SCSUG October 1986.pdf

I'll have to check if I have the equipment and can read the U22 and U23 22V10 GALs.

Hope this helps and I am sorry for the delay.

So far I did not get anywhere with the card (tried monitor 1.3C and tried several boot addresses). Does it actually work in your system? If so I'd appreciate it if you could dump the eprom. I don't think believe U22 and U23 are specific to the sorcerer, but the rom may well be.
 
Dutchacorn,

Here is the 2716 at u24 of the CCS 2422 floppy board: http://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Exidy Sorcerer/CCS-2422-Exidy-ROMs.zip
I don't know if it works presently as I haven't gotten to it yet but the computer I have is from the president of the Southern California Sorcerer User Group (who wrote the newsletter) so I don't have any doubts that this once worked.

Note: Added the two 74S287s at U22 and U23

Good luck.
 
Last edited:
Dutchacorn,

Here is the 2716 at u24 of the CCS 2422 floppy board: http://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Exidy Sorcerer/CCS-2422-Exidy-ROMs.zip
I don't know if it works presently as I haven't gotten to it yet but the computer I have is from the president of the Southern California Sorcerer User Group (who wrote the newsletter) so I don't have any doubts that this once worked.

Note: Added the two 74S287s at U22 and U23

Good luck.

Thanks Snuci! Gary very kindly sent me U22, U23 and the 2716 that is on his card. The 2716 is the same as the one that you attached, so that seems to be the default MOSS.

Regrettably I have not managed to get the card to work yet, with U23 and U22 installed it behaves the same as without; boot and bank lights are on. The boot led is sometimes off. Seems random, it does not matter if I have the auto boot jumper on or off.

The bios changes are only relevant (?) if CP/M actually boots, so my first priority is to be able to access the FDC at all. The boot address 0000H as described in the manual can't be accessed (?) from the Sorcerer because that is a local memory address in the Sorcerer. Still very new to the S-100 and S-100 expansion stuff, so there are probably a lot of errors and lapses in my assumptions and understanding. :confused:
 
A few months on and I have not found a way to use the CCS2422. :(

Exidyboy noted that there was a specific CCS-published Sorcerer Monitor version 1.2 as referenced here on page 6. Apparently it has lost the TEST function, which was replaced by a BOOT function specifically to boot the CCS2422.

Retrettably, the monitor in my Sorcerer is version 1.2 but does not support the BOOT function (TEST function works).

If anyone has a version 1.2 monitor in their Sorcerer (especially anyone with a working CCS2422-Sorcerer combo): I would really appreciate a ROM dump!
 
Dutchacorn,

Here is the 2716 at u24 of the CCS 2422 floppy board: http://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Exidy Sorcerer/CCS-2422-Exidy-ROMs.zip
I don't know if it works presently as I haven't gotten to it yet but the computer I have is from the president of the Southern California Sorcerer User Group (who wrote the newsletter) so I don't have any doubts that this once worked.

Note: Added the two 74S287s at U22 and U23

Good luck.
I can't see how this 2716 would be for a Sorcerer, the code is intended to run at F000-F7FF, so would conflict with video RAM.
A few months on and I have not found a way to use the CCS2422. :(

Exidyboy noted that there was a specific CCS-published Sorcerer Monitor version 1.2 as referenced here on page 6. Apparently it has lost the TEST function, which was replaced by a BOOT function specifically to boot the CCS2422.

Retrettably, the monitor in my Sorcerer is version 1.2 but does not support the BOOT function (TEST function works).

If anyone has a version 1.2 monitor in their Sorcerer (especially anyone with a working CCS2422-Sorcerer combo): I would really appreciate a ROM dump!
Did you ever get the CCS2432 working? I'm not aware of that specific version of Monitor 1.2 being found.
 
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