[Oberon] Re: Strange morse code?

[eas-lab at absamail.co.za]

Johan Capraro wrote:
> > I've downloaded the Oberon System 3 files from the FTP and made the
> > installation disk as told in install.txt.
> >  
> > I want to install in on my old Compaq Conture 4/25CX. That a old laptod
> > based on a i486SX 25 with 4Mbytes RAM.
> > The pc can boot with the disc, but when I press 'c' to install, the
> > screen goes blank and my laptop starts making beeps that look like morse
> > code.
> > I don't know morse, so I can't tell you what it says, assuming it's
> > morse.
> >  
> > That beeping doesn't stop and there's no disk activity: not on the
> > 1.44mb disk drive, nor on the 200Mb harddisk.
> > Because it's the first time I ever hear of Oberon, I'm afraid to ruin my
> > desktop pc by installing it.
> >  
> > Do you've any idea of what's wrong with it? I suppose it's my hardware.

Pieter wrote:
> Older versions of Native Oberon generate the morse code when an 
> unrecoverable error occurs during booting.  The morse can actually 
> provide useful information on the location of the error, but in later
> versions I removed this again, since very few people can decypher
> the code, and most people seem to be startled by it.
> 
> The problem on the i486SX might be related to the lack of a coprocessor.
> Some versions of Native do not include the floating point emulator in
> the boot file.  Please try with the latest Alpha version downloadable
> at: ftp://ftp.inf.ethz.ch/pub/ETHOberon/Native/Update/Alpha/
> 

My Compaq Conture Aero 4/33C (4Mbytes RAM) with no diskette
drive had no problem accepting native oberon DOSbased Ver 2.3.6.

It has many strange, undocumented facility as perhaps laptops do.
Also a 'compacted virtual disk'. For this reason I would not want to
repartition.  Also the post v236 versions' main benefit of multiple
partition is applicable for a 'work horse computer' not a laptop.

I loaded via the parallel port, via IOMEGA ZIP.
I made to batch files, to use either one of 2 'parameter' files at
start time: for either external mouse or internal 'thing', when the
external serial port was needed for the modem.

When I went on line, it crashed.
I initially though this was due to 4Mb RAM, until I realised that
the moden allocation is in Oberon.Text file, and when the modem is
called, a contention with the mouse occurs.

After patching this (apparently by making a separate 'virtual disk file'
with a suitable Oberon.Text ?) internet access was possible, using the
awkward built in mouse-thing.

As I remember the laptop has its own 'morse code repetoire'.

-- Chris Glur.