Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!lll-tis!ames!ptsfa!varian!kinetics!zehntel!zehntel.uucp!dave
From: dave@zehntel.uucp (Dave Funk)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: 1581 and GEOS 128
Message-ID: <391@zehntel.UUCP>
Date: 14 Jan 88 23:29:37 GMT
Sender: usenet@zehntel.UUCP
Reply-To: dave@zehntel.uucp (Dave Funk)
Organization: Zehntel, Inc. Walnut Creek, CA
Lines: 26

A couple of months ago, I tried using GEOS 128 with my 1581 drive.  I had all
kinds of strange problems.  Often, GEOS would crash just after an attempted
write to the 1581 forcing a reboot.  Yuck.

I thought I would share my experience for those of you in the same boat.

The manual asks you to boot up with the 1541 (device 8), run a configure
program, and then turn on the other drive when asked.  The second drive
is supposed to be powered up as device 8 (apparently, the configure 
program then changes it to device 9 via software).  [They also state
that you can power up the second drive as device 9, but I never tried
that -- until later].

I wrote a letter to Berkeley Softworks outlining my problem.  After *five
weeks* (so much for their promise of prompt replies via mail), I got a form
letter reply.  They now suggest that you turn on both drives before booting
GEOS (the 1541 as device 8, the 1581 as device 9).  Both drives then appear
as icons after booting.  That seemed to solve my problems.

Their letter goes on to say that they are planning to make GEOS 64 compatible
with the 1581 (I guess it presently isn't).  They also are NOT planning on 
releasing GEOS on a 3.5" diskette (rats!).

Dave Funk			 ....!ucbvax!zehntel!dave
Zehntel, Inc.			 ....!decvax!sytek!zehntel!dave
2625 Shadelands Drive		 ...."zehntel!dave"@BERKELEY
Walnut Creek, CA  94598		 (415) 932-6900 x309