RayNA wrote:
So please correct me if I am wrong with the following:
- I will either need to purchase the flash programmer with the cart and use Maxflash Studio the way you described it, or use SDX445_maxflash8.atr through SIO2PC to program the cart.
Yes, you will need to either use the USB programmer to program the cart, or program it in-system via SIO2PC.
RayNA wrote:
- I will not be able to load anything else on that cart.
Spartados X is a large bank-switched program that uses all the resources of the cart. If you use a program designed to use the whole space of the bank switched cart, then no, you will not be able to fit other things on it.
RayNA wrote:
- I will need to remove the 8Mb SDX Maxflash cart to be able to use BASIC XE or MAC/65 on a 800XL or 65/130XE.
Since it does not have a pass-thru connector, yes.
RayNA wrote:
One thing I am not too clear about is the fact that Maxflash Studio also rejects a 1Mb image of SDX as "Unknown or unsupported". Is that because a SDX445_maxflash1.rom file is not compatible with a 8Mb Maxflash cart, and is also too big (128KB) for 1Mb Maxflash cart.
Spartados X is not an Atari executable or disk image. It is a bank switched cartridge that was designed to run on its own cartridge with its own bank switching hardware. More recent adaptations have modified it to run on other bank switching hardware, but it still expects to be in control of the cart.
The 1mbit version is similar to the 8mbit version in that it expects to occupy a whole 1mbit flash cartridge, you can't just place it somewhere within a larger cartridge with alien bank switching hardware and have it work. For that image, you need a dedicated 1mbit flash cartridge.
I have a hacked version of the 1mbit image that is combined with various other bank switched carts into one 8mbit image, but again, its a 'whole cart' image, you would have to dedicate a whole 8mbit flash cart to running it. If you would like a copy of that I can attach it to this post.
Thanks,
Steve