| From: | Audie A. Smith |
| Date: | 25 Oct 2000 at 11:00:01 |
| Subject: | Re: ROM types (apparently-was: Re: AOS35: Re: Amiga CD Format) |
I understand that an A2000 thousand has 1 - 3.1 ROM chip. However, I attempted
a clean format with 1 - 3.1 ROM chip in my system, tried to reinstall the OS,
the system indicated that I needed to a 3.1 ROM chip in my system. Being that I
did already have a 3.1 ROM chip in my system (for over 5 years), I continued
with the install and then rebooted. The insert kickstart image appeared the
first time. The second time, all I would just get a black screen. I obtained
a second ROM chip which I used to replace the first, everthing was fine until I
improperly installed an incorrect library which I then attempted to correct with
another reformat. Then the problem with the kickstart image re-surfaced with
the second chip. I am aware that under normal circumstances, the ROM chip
should not be affected. I have reformatted under 3.1 over a thousand times
before without this strange situation ever happening. That is why I find this
perplexing.
Peter Wagner wrote:
> >From: "Xavier Messersmith"
>
> >ROM = Read Only Memory. These may not be EPROM =
> >Erasable Programmable ROM. be to run a specific flashROM update that erases
> >the ROM's memory or to pull them out of their sockets, insert them into a
> >EPROM programmer, and flash them there.
>
> Hi,
>
> just to speak exactly:
>
> EPROM *is not* Flash, and EEPROM *maybe* Flash.
>
> ..and BTW, Amiga m/b's have never seen flash circuitry :)
> So I am curious to know whether the new Amiga hardware
> will have Flash Kickstart (or BIOS?).
>
> Now for the enerving acronyms:
>
> ROM = mask programmable Read Only Memory
> PROM = programmable ROM (aka OTP)
> EPROM = erasable PROM
> EEPROM = electrically EPROM
>
> EPROM:
> Electrically programmable, but the chip must be exposed
> to ultra-violet light in order to clear the memory.
> Commonly packaged in Ceramic DIP with glass window.
>
> OTP:
> EPROM w/o window, so it cannot be erased.
> Commonly packaged in Plastic DIP.
>
> EEPROM:
> Electrically programmable and erasable, AFAIK with the
> first ones only erasing the whole chip was possible.
> Commonly packaged in Platic DIP.
>
> FLASH EEPROM:
> EEPROM utilizing Intel technology, AFAIK to provide support
> for high-speed programming and/or block erase modes.
> Some chips also provide regions which can be locked to act
> like ROM (used e.g. for bootstrap loader, flash programming
> routines or emergency fall-back code).
>
> Best regards,
>
> Peter Wagner
> (Amiga User Since 1990)
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