Acorn Risc PC Release note Contents Page number Introduction 2 Returning your computer under warranty 2 Software issues 3 Purchasing additional memory modules 11 Correcting your system configuration 13 Updates to the !Products database 15 Report form 19 1
Introduction Introduction This Release note describes • features of the operating system which have not been covered in the manuals • operational aspects which allow users to make the best use of their system • known problem areas within the hardware and software. The applications on this computer have not been tested for use on any earlier versions of the operating system. RISC OS 3 version 3.5 has not been tested for use in safety critical applications.
Acorn Risc PC Release note Software issues ! Draw Saving files for loading by other applications The Drawfile format has been extended (since !Draw version 0.88) to include a new 'type 11' object which records details about the page size and orientation of the file. Some applications may fail to load Drawfiles containing this new object. To overcome this problem, load the Drawfile into Draw, choose Select all and save the selection; this saves a Drawfile without a type 11 object.
Software issues Do not use an old type !Fonts application You must not use a !Fonts application designed for use with RISC OS 2.00 or 2.01. They are not compatible with the fonts in the ROM and the hard disc. If you accidentally use one of these old type ! Fonts, you will no longer be able to use any of the ROM fonts. The only way to cure this problem is to reboot the computer. To use the fonts contained in an old type !Fonts application, they must be moved over into a new type !Fonts application.
Acorn Risc PC Release note DOS-formatted floppy discs Dismounting DOS floppy discs Mounting many DOS format floppy discs at once can generate the error Too many discs'. If you encounter this, click on the error box OK button, press F12 to go to the command line, then type *Shut and press Return twice (this enters the command and returns to the desktop). Note that *Shut should be avoided in normal use, as it closes files that applications may expect to be left open.
Software issues Acorn PC Soft - locked hard disc If you run PC Soft on a computer with a locked hard disc you cannot write to the hard disc DOS partition. If you want to write to the hard disc, you must quit PC Soft, unlock the hard disc, and then start PC Soft again. Pinboard Quitting Pinboard with iconised windows You should not normally quit the Pinboard using the Tasks display. However if you do, make sure that any iconised windows are opened before you quit the Pinboard application.
Acorn Risc PC Release note • When a monitor type is configured using *Configure MonitorType, many of the facilities of the Acorn Risc PC display selection interface are not available. In particular the Display manager window will not be able to present a list of available resolutions and colours. However, you can still select the 'old-style' modes by mode number from the icon bar menu.
Software issues Using PostScript printers on a locked disc Although you can print to a PostScript printer with no problems whilst the hard disc is locked, you cannot add a new PostScript printer. You also cannot use the Save choices option.
Acorn Risc PC Release note !Paint — Sprite files If you create a sprite file (by using !Paint) on your Acorn Risc PC which has a sprite in it which doesn't have a mode number, then be careful if you use it with an earlier Acorn computer that uses RISC OS 3.1 or earlier. Switching to the brush tool in !Paint on RISC OS 3.1 or earlier whilst editing the sprite file causes !Paint to crash.
Software issues Printing by appending to a file You must have !Printers loaded for 'appending to file' to operate properly. If !Printers is quit after setting this then printing will overwrite the file rather than append to it. Refer to Setting up for printing in the RISC OS 3 User Guide for more information. Using HForm The large file allocation unit that HForm presents to you can be initially too small for large discs.
Acorn Risc PC Release note Purchasing additional memory modules The Acorn Risc PC uses standard Single In-line Memory Modules ( SIMMs). There are two SIMM sockets; each socket can hold an industry-standard 32-bit wide 72-way SIMM with gold or tin solder contact pads. If you wish to add more memory to your computer, you can obtain SIMMs from reputable memory suppliers. The following table describes the criteria which SIMMs must adhere to.
Purchasing additional memory modules SIMM Technical Specification Signal Loading Data Address Bus max 128 pF WE RAS / CAS Data Bus I/0 max 140 pF max 59 pF max 29 pF Maximum Physical Dimensions Height no greater than 36.2 mm Width no greater than 108 mm Thickness no greater than 9.4 mm Dynamic Memory (DRAM) Devices Suitable SIMMs must use square array memory technology, i.e. Dynamic RAM devices with the same number of rows and columns.
Acorn Risc PC Release note Correcting your system configuration It is possible to corrupt the computer configuration settings in such a way that the computer can no longer be used. This section describes how to restore your computer to a working state. You'll also find information about the system configuration in the RISC OS 3 User Guide.
Correcting your system configuration Step 2: Restoring the !Boot Settings Once the desktop is displayed you can use the !ResetBoot application to restore the initialisation choices that !Boot uses. To do this click on the hard disc icon — this opens a directory display with several directories in it. There is a directory labelled Diversions; double-click on the Diversions directory. In the Diversions directory there is a directory called Tools; double-click on this directory.
Acorn Risc PC Release note Updates to the !Products database The !Products database contains information about most of the applications available for the Acorn Risc PC. Use the database to check the compatibility of any applications that you have. You will find !Products in the Utilities directory. Late additions to the !Products database This section contains additions and amendments that arrived too late to be included in the !Products database.
Updates to the !Products database Rheingold Enterprises Rheingold Enterprises report no problems with the following products: Vigil version 1.07, Textaid version 1.33. Contact Rheingold Enterprises if you have any problems with earlier versions. Rheingold Enterprises, 7 Waterbridge Court, Appleton, Warrington WA4 3BJ. Tel. 0925 210657. ANT Ltd The phone and fax numbers given in !Products for ANT Ltd are incorrect. The correct numbers are: Tel. 0223 567808, Fax 0223 567801.
Acorn Risc PC Release note Uniqueway Uniqueway: Empire: Version tested 0.81. Empire does not work in screen modes with more than 256 colours and cannot import new format sprites. An upgrade to version 1.50 is available for £15 + VAT that provides full compatibility and greatly extended functionality. Return your master disc, a stamped-addressed envelope and a cheque for £17. 63 (£15 + VAT) to Uniqueway for an upgrade. TextPlus: Version tested 0.70 — no problems. CDSampler: Version tested 1.
Updates to the !Products database 18
Acorn Risc PC Release note Report form A c o r n Risc PC R e l e a s e N o t e 0497,540 Use this form to report any problems that you find in the software. Your comments will be taken into account in future products.
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