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1500 questions
22
votes
6 answers
Sound driver for DOS or Windows 3.x that used the PC speaker?
Long ago in a galaxy far far away, back in the early 90's, I worked for a crappy clone company as a phone technician. At the time, 386SX/25's were common for in-house technical support / customer service computers. Obviously our jobs did not…
Geo...
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22
votes
2 answers
What are the differences between the Japanese Famicom and American NES?
In Japan, Nintendo's first home console was sold as the Family Computer (Famicom), while in the US it was later sold as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
Other than the region lock out for game cartridges and the slight naming variation, what…
wcarhart
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22
votes
1 answer
How is memory allocated in Super Mario World?
Super Mario World (SMW) is known to have several bugs relating to re-use of memory for multiple purposes. For example some memory items are used for more than one type of item, and the designers are supposed to ensure that they never exist on screen…
user
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22
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3 answers
What makes slot 7 of the Apple ][ unique from 1-6 and how was this used?
In the Apple II, there are three unique slots (depending on model):
Slot 0 (on the ][ / ][+) which is typically used for language cards.
"Aux" slots in the //e and IIgs, typically used for memory expansion.
Slot 7 on all of them.
Slot 0 was…
bjb
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22
votes
8 answers
Do the holes in Jacquard loom punched cards represent input data or program code?
I think they represent data because I feel it is a mechanical machine which is fully configured and the holes decide only that the thread related to each hole must be moved or not. Thus the holes represent whether the mechanical energy should be…
user42757
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22
votes
1 answer
How does the C64 get an accurate TOD clock on both 60 Hz and 50 Hz power?
The C64 has two Time of Day (TOD) clocks, one in each of its 6526 CIA
chips U1 and U2. These calculate time based on a 60 Hz or 50 Hz
input to the TOD pin (pin 19); the clock input frequency assumed by
the CIA is selected via programming bit 7…
cjs
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22
votes
3 answers
What makes MOVEQ quicker than a normal MOVE in 68000 assembly?
I'm "re-learning" 68000 assembly language and came across the "MOVEQ" command that is labeled "MOVE QUICK".
According to the NXP Programmers Reference Manual (reference below), the command MOVEQ (MOVE QUICK) is described as:
Moves a byte of…
cbmeeks
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22
votes
2 answers
When did the Linux kernel become libre software?
In this video, Richard Stallman claimed that Linus Torvalds created Linux kernel as a proprietary software and then liberated it ('liberated' is the term Stallman used).
Assuming so, when was the Linux kernel made libre by Linus Torvalds?
The Linux…
user13751
22
votes
1 answer
Why was it possible to cause an Apple //e to shut down with SHIFT and paddle button 2?
Looking at the MAME driver for the Apple //e, I noticed an interesting comment:
NOTE: On real IIe and IIe enhanced h/w, pressing SHIFT and paddle button 2 will short out the power supply and cause a safety shutdown. (We don't emulate this…
bjb
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21
votes
7 answers
What does the "x" in "x86" represent?
I have read the following in the x86 Wikipedia page:
The term "x86" came into being because the names of several successors to Intel's 8086 processor end in "86", including the 80186, 80286, 80386 and 80486 processors.
But what does the "x" in…
user12302
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21
votes
5 answers
Did Xerox really develop the first LAN?
Did the computer scientist at Xerox really develop the first LAN, but had no backing from the company to further develop these technologies, later showing this to both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates?
Just for reference, it is in reference to this story.
Neil Meyer
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21
votes
6 answers
What was the first Unix version to run on a microcomputer?
I have read that the first version of Unix was created for the PDP-7, and later versions were created for the PDP-11.
But I am wondering, what was the first Unix version to run on a microcomputer?
user12162
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21
votes
3 answers
Did arcade monitors have same pixel aspect ratio as TV sets?
It is well known that when emulating classic games on modern displays, you need to be careful not to distort the aspect ratio. Generally speaking, CRT screens were 4:3, and specific pixel aspect ratios of many classic arcade games, consoles and…
rwallace
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21
votes
5 answers
Will PC-DOS run faster on 4 or 8 core modern machines?
When I run PC-DOS on my 4 core AMD Phenom chip, does it take advantage of the extra parallel CPU's? If not, is there a way to coax DOS to use all available CPU's or does this require specific developer programming at the assembly or C compilation…
jwzumwalt
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21
votes
3 answers
What init system was used in early Linux distributions?
Nowadays there is quite some debate and controversy over whether Linux distributions should use systemd, GNU Shepherd etc. But all these systems are relatively new - for these examples dating back to 2010 and 2003 respectively.
Since the whole point…
Kidburla
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