8,732
edits
Changes
→GROM problems?
Have you ever plugged in a cartridge only to have the system "lock up" on you 15 minutes later? Well. the Central Iowa 99/4A Users Group has an idea that doesn't cost anything to implement and may help unlock those keyboards. Assuming that the root of the problem lies in a loose connection between the cartridge and the GROM port, the Iowans suggest you insert a matchbook cover underneath the cartridge to improve the fit. This should be done as you slide the cartridge in.
===3rd party repairs===
This may not be of much help to most TI users, but the NET 99er group out of Hurst, Texas, reports than an electronics shop in Dallas will repair TI consoles and peripherals and cards. Our conclusion is that whatever is happening in Dallas is probably happening elsewhere, too.
===There's a switch?===
Yes, there is. But don't look for it on the outside. It's inside, so to speak. According to the SGV Users Group in West Covina, California, disk drive owners can switch their disk drive off by using a CALL LOAD command from either the Editor/Assembler or Mini-Memory cartridge. Be warned. however, that once you turn it off you won't be able to turn it on without first turning the console off, which means you'll have to save your data to cassette. Also, if you try to access the disk drive after you've switched it off. the system will lock up.
Why would anyone want to turn the drive off? Well, the disk drive uses up about two kilobytes of RAM for its operations memory that isn't available for programming. Thurning the disk drive off frees this memory. The only other way to turn the drive off is to unplug it, which probably isn't worth the trouble. So here's your software switch.
''CALL LOAD (-3188.63.215)''
===Alligator clips===
The Kings 99er Users Group of Hanford, California, has a suggestion that takes the hassle out of hooking up your TI to the TV. They suggest you purchase a pair of "antennae clips" from Radio Shack for about $1 and attach them to the RF modulator, thus eliminating the need to take out a screwdriver to attach or detach the modulator.
===What next?===
The Rocky Mountain 99ers, or Denver, Colorado, know what to do after they've entered OLD CS1 when they really meant to enter SAVE CS1. All is not lost, they say. Before doing something really silly, like turning the console off and losing everything, they suggest you type SHIFT E and press the enter key. You'll get an I/O error, but don't worry. You'll still have the program in memory and get a second chance at saving it.
