The Color Computer DriveWire4 HDBDOS NitrOS9 Starter Kit

The Tandy Color Computer

DriveWire4, HDBDOS, NitrOS-9

Complete Starter Kits

For the Color Computer 1, 2, 3,

and theVCC 1.4.3b, MESS 0.152b, & XRoar Emulators

(Download Links at Bottom of Page)

As an avid member of the Color Computer mailing list, the Coco FaceBook page, and several Color Computer forums, I've seen a lot of questions on the use and maintinance of the Color Computer over the years, but the questions I see most often are:

"How do I set up DriveWire?"

"How do I run HDBDOS and how does it work with DriveWire?"

"How do I get the Color Computer Emulators to work with DriveWire?"

and most of all...

"How do I get NitrOS-9 running and how do I get it to work with DriveWire?"

After some "lengthy" and sometimes "heated" disscussion with other Coco users, I volunteered to create a set of "Color Computer Starter Kits" consisting of several packages of basic setups of various Color Computer systems that are "ready to run". These packages will include all that is needed in software and documantation, to get a Color computer system running in HDBDOS or NitrOS-9, both with DriveWire4. That is, with the exception of providing the actual computer itself. When using the Emulators, the emulator program will be provided and set up (Vcc, XRoar, & Mess).

This project actually started back in the summer of 2013 but was delayed by the discovery that the NitrOS-9 repository was not producing proper NitrOS-9 bootdisks, so I waited until I felt the boot disks being produced by the repository were once again stable. I wanted to provide the latest possible versions of all software in it's most stable state. I think NitrOS-9 has now reached a plataue above any previous build and could possibly be the best build we've had to date.

After recently helping yet anothor "old time" Coco user get up and running with one of the emulators and DriveWire4, I realized it was time to get this project finished. The goal of this project is to provide downloadable packages of complete "turnkey" setups of the most popular Color Computer systems with minimal setup as possible. At the least, a complete beginner should be able to download and run these packages with very little knowledge and a small amount of effort.

These packages are as follows:

(for the real Color Computer)

• Color Computer 1 64k HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• Color Computer 2 64k HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• Color Computer 2b 64k HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• Color Computer 3 6809 128k-2meg HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• Color Computer 3 6309 128k-2meg HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit

(for Color Computer emulators)

• XRoar Color Computer 2 64k w/Becker Port HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• XRoar Color Computer 2b 64k w/Becker Port HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• MESS 0.152b Color Computer 1 64k w/Becker Port HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• MESS 0.152b Color Computer 2 64k w/Becker Port HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• MESS 0.152b Color Computer 2b 64k w/Becker Port HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• MESS 0.152b Color Computer 3 6809 128k-2meg w/Becker Port HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• MESS 0.152b Color Computer 3 6309 128k-2meg w/Becker Port HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• VCC 1.4.3b Color Computer 3 6809 128k-2meg w/Becker Port HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit
• VCC 1.4.3b Color Computer 3 6309 128k-2meg w/Becker Port HDBDOS/DW4 with NitrOS-9 Starter Kit

Each package will include:

• Complete emulator setup package w/Documentation (where applicable)
• All needed ROMS (for the emulators)
• HDBDOS 1.4 DW3 w/Documentation
• Complete DriveWire4 4.4.3o setup w/Documentation
• Virtual Hard Drive images with both RSDOS/NitrOS-9 partitions and stocked with useful HDBDOS/NitrOS-9 software
• Installation Documentation and Tutorial
• All compressed into a "one click" single download setup package.

As you can see, this is no small undertaking.

The only things not included in these packages are:

Real Color Computers - for the "real" systems

DriveWire4 serial cables - for the "real" systems

Java VM - for DriveWire4 (due to Oracle's Copyrights, but Drivewire4 will prompt you for the download on first run)

All documentation will include links to update any software (DW4, HDBDOS etc) and their respective developer's sites and online documentation.

The XRoar & VCC packages are ready and uploaded to my DropBox, the others will follow shortly thereafter.

Keep watching this site as all the downloads will be posted soon.

Ooops... just got the Vcc & XRoar packages uploaded so here they are :-)

NOTE: At the moment, the XRoar Starter Kits are a little out of date. The XRoar Coco 2/Dragon emulators have newer versions out as well as there being an updated version of NitrOS9.

I am currently working on getting them updated and should be posting new versions soon.

The "Real" Coco Starter Kits are on hold at the moment until I get time to set up all my Coco systems again. My Coco 3 suffers from a "coffee filled" keyboard (Eagle AT Keyboard & Interface) and needs a serious cleaning. I took all the Cocos down to make room in my studio for band rehersals for my new band. I should have them back up soon.

Thank you for your support!!!

B.P.

Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3 Complete Starter Kits

The XRoar Coco 2 w/Becker Port, HDBDOS, DW4, & NitrOS9 L1 (121 meg)

The XRoar Coco 2b (6847T1 VDG) w/Becker Port, HDBDOS, DW4, & NitrOS9 L1 (121 meg)

The Vcc 2.0.1b Coco 3 6309 w/Becker Port, HDBDOS, DW4, & NitrOS9 L2 (73.9 meg)

The Vcc 2.0.1b Coco 3 6809 w/Becker Port, HDBDOS, DW4, & NitrOS9 L2 (73.9 meg)

Enjoy... and,

Keep on Cocoing.... :-)

Bill Pierce