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Old 08-19-2009, 07:59 PM
Geoff Harrison Geoff Harrison is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TomL_12953 View Post
When I'm running a BASIC program, the front panel lights hardly change at all
The blinkenlights can be pretty subtle on an 8800, and different memory boards can modify the effect. For example, MITS' 4k board tends to hold all the data lights on when a program is running. It's fairly simple to modify the board to cause the data lights to flicker, but again, it's just a subtle twinkling rather than a distinct flashing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomL_12953 View Post
Also, when I first turn on my system, all the data lights are lit and I can't do anything at all until I hold Stop and Reset. I know it's recommended to do that but nowhere does it say it's mandatory. Is there some kind of power-on reset that's supposed to happen? If so, It isn't happening with my system.
There was a post in the altaircomputerclub list recently about this (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/altair.../message/1771). Bottom line: no one ever clearly stated in a manual that you must hit stop/reset, but yes, you should. There is no power on reset that puts the entire machine in a known state.

Geoff.
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