Tandy 2000HD
Welcome to the page for the Tandy TRS-80 Model 2000 and 2000HD. Below is content gathered over several acquisitions with the most important point a recovered hard disk image, and software. In this featured page, we take a deep look at the hardware on the Tandy 2000 and what made it so special. We also take a look at things that hurt and helped the Tandy 2000. We wrap up with a look at some of the software found regarding the early development of the first Entertainment Packs by Microsoft, including an early version of Solitaire and Taipei for Windows, Chess for Tandy 2000 DOS as circulated via the Tandy Orphans "Whimper", and Digital Research Draw and Graph for the Tandy 2000.
We hope you enjoy this, If you are an owner or collector of Tandy 2000 software or hardware or have information or software to contribute to the archival process please get in touch! Many of the titles discovered were lost to time and aging hardware, so we are always on the lookout for lost inventory.
The Hardware
The CPU 80186 (8MHz)
The Math Coprocessor 8087-1 (10MHz) (#26-5143)
The Math Coprocessor 8087-1 (10MHz) (#26-5143)
To gain the speed advantage over the IBM monarchy, Tandy opted for the Intel 80186 Processor, introduced in 1982 aimed at more embedded applications. The processor, unlike the 8088, was not a fully pc-compatible chip, while based on the 8086 design (8086-2) the 80186 chip contained its own Clock Generator, Interrupt controller, wait-state generator, and other logic; typically separate ICs on the PC-compatibles. New instructions were added, improving the efficiency and speed without increasing its frequency; these instructions were included in the 80286 and subsequent designs.
The advantages of this processor resulted in a computer running at 8MHz when the IBM PC only ran 4.77MHz. The software ran almost twice as fast on the Tandy 2000, and true multi-tasking could be accomplished with the right operating system. Oddly, the 8088 is a 16bit processor, and based on the 8086, Intel reduced the operation of the chip to 8-bit to target more economical packages and designs. Intel even offered the 80188 version with this processor line but again targeted only embedded applications, and itself even less common.
The Math Coprocessor 8087-1 (10MHz) (#26-5143)
The Math Coprocessor 8087-1 (10MHz) (#26-5143)
The Math Coprocessor 8087-1 (10MHz) (#26-5143)
The original 8087 coprocessor was envisioned by an Engineering Manager at Intel that oversaw the development of the 8086 CPU, the predecessor to the 8088 and 80186 CPUs. The math coprocessor worked in tandem with the CPU to handle complex or large mathematical operations and could speed up the computer by as much as 20-40 % with additional instructions designed to handle more mathematically complex processing tasks. The 8087 set the standard for the design going forward and the creators credit a majority of the influence to William Kahan’s writings on floating-point math.
Those with a PC know of the 8087 math coprocessor upgrade that could be added to PCs usually via an easily accessed socket. On the Tandy 2000, the upgrade is an 8087-1 mounted to a daughterboard attached directly to the main logic board of the computer, close to the CPU. The coprocessor on this system is the 8087-1 operating at 10MHz and was not very common even on Tandy 2000s, usually only shipping on systems destined for CAD or related engineering/scientific installations.
Internal Memory (# 26-5160)
Internal Memory (# 26-5160)
Internal Memory (# 26-5160)
The system has two places for memory, internal and external. On the main logic board are two “decks” or small cards of 128K (2 rows of 18 150ns 64K DRAM) (# 26-5160) sandwiched together on end forming the base 256K. The front or back lower tray would usually have one or two stickers with this catalog number indicating the upgrade.
The system required this memory, 128K minimum, to boot and could not run without it. Memory is attached close to the processor on the main logic board, towards the front of the computer tray. It used a non-standard 40 pin bottom-entry connector and plastic tabs to lock the memory boards in place. The user must remove the main logic board for access.
External Memory (#26-5161)
Internal Memory (# 26-5160)
Internal Memory (# 26-5160)
Additional memory was added by using external expansion cards of 128K or 256K increments, added to the back four horizontal expansion slots of the system. The maximum the system could hold would be 896K, using up to 3 (256K+256K+128K) trays and the 256K internal memory boards. Each tray contains 18 ICs and additional circuitry for an independent onboard DRAM refresh, delay-line timing control, and byte-wide single-bit error detection.
Expansion boards connected to the back of the system using a 96 pin euro-style connector, interfacing with a 4 slot motherboard. The bottom and top slots are reserved for the graphics and hard disk controller respectively but could be populated with memory if not used.
640K Memory Modification
Later in the abandoned life of the Tandy 2000, users began modifying the system memory boards to hold 640K on a single tray, freeing up slots for other hardware. Envision Designs and Microlink Technology were two independent operations supporting hardware and software upgrades and fixes for the Tandy 2000 for a short period.
Bob Spencer of Microlink Technology produced software for the Model 2000 and distributed it in the Whimper newsletter. Among his contributions were updates made to the ROM chips on the Main Logic Board that included bug fixes and would allow the system to show the full complement of memory if the operator had installed one of Envisions modified memory boards.
Users at this time could mail in a standard memory card populated with the original memory to Microlink. They would receive a modified board holding 640K ready to roll in trade. If users didn’t have the ROM fixes/modifications, the boot screen would not show the correct amount installed. We believe the unaltered ROM can only allow the display of 896K, but we are not sure the exact reason or if it prevents the use above the limit.
The single tray of memory contains two rows of (10) Samsung (KM4164B) DRAM ICs, and two rows are populated with (10) Motorola 256K NMOS DRAM (MCM6256BP10) ICs. The board also sports a floating modification with additional chips and jumpers; we hope to document the changes made here and present them later for other 2000 users to upgrade their systems.
The computer uses the internal 256K on the MLB, combined with the modified 640K board bringing it up to 896K. Combining the memory to one expansion board leaves three expansion bays for the HDC, Mouse/Clock, and Video Graphics Expansion. This upgrade allows a whopping ~570K of memory free after Windows and drivers load.
Modifications were also made that modified the internal memory board to hold a complete 896K. The upgrade is not present, documentation hasn’t been seen, and is beyond the scope of this writing, though it deserves mention.
Reference:
https://github.com/Tandy2K/Tandy2000/blob/master/Documentation/t2kfaq.txt
720K Double-Sided Quad Density Diskette (DSQD)
The Tandy 2000 used the Mitsubishi (M4853) quad-density floppy drives instead of the more common 360K versions on most PC-Compatible systems. The double-sided quad-density floppy drives used 96tpi track density vs. the 48tpi but at the lower Double-Density (DD or MD) rate encoding. Later HD format floppy drives, more commonly known today, used the exact track density but at a High Density (HD) encoding. The drives use a steel band based positioning system and a belt-less direct-drive motor, fast and generally maintenance free.
While you could read standard 360K disks in the Tandy 2000, you could not read DSQD disks in other 360K drives on other systems. A program included with the Tandy MS-DOS installation allows the formatting of 360K disks on the Tandy 2000, that can be read in other PC-Compatible systems.
Reference:
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mitsubishi/floppy/M4852_M4853/M4852_M4853_Specifications.pdf
B/W Graphics Board (#26-5140) w/ Color graphics option (#26-5141)
One of the ways Tandy 2000 saved customers on costs was the inclusion of the monochrome graphics option built-in to the main logic board. Combined with the cost-effective VM-1 monochrome monitor, the Tandy 2000 provided a standard 80x25, variable intensity resolution display. IBM required users to pay an additional cost even for the monochrome graphics/printer expansion card. The printer option, albeit not standard, was also included at no extra charge in the Tandy 2000. If the system were to run Xenix and support multiple terminals, as the "SOS" models did for RadioShack stores later in the 2000's life, this would free up the bottom slot for additional memory or other expansion board.
For applications that needed hi-res graphics, the Hi-Resolution Graphics expansion card (#26-5140) could be added to expand the system. Combined with the CM-1 (or the VM-1 using an adapter), the upgrade gave the system 640x400, Color or B&W, bitmapped graphics.
Owners added the required PALs and DRAM ICs as a color upgrade (#26-5141), adding additional memory planes to the graphics hardware. This upgrade gave the card the ability to display 8 of 16 colors on screen at a time. The card contained circuitry that allowed a four-color text mode for applications written for the Tandy 2000.
Software and Applications like Microsoft's Flight Simulator™, Windows™, and Digital Research's Draw™ and Graph™ took advantage of the hardware exploiting the advanced resolution, colors, and speed of the Tandy 2000. The graphics output of the Tandy 2000 required a monitor that could sync to a higher scan frequency for the 400 lines (26.4Khz). Most computers used a lower 15Khz monitor at 250-350 lines, and thus the Tandy 2000 required the explicit use of either the VM-1 or CM-1 displays. The CM-1 could display EGA graphics using the Tandy Text or EGA ISA cards, but the unique Tandy ISA graphics cards weren't widely sold since the EGA standard was short-lived.
Digi-Mouse™ Clock/Calendar Board - #26-5144
Digi-Mouse™ Clock/Calendar Board - #26-5144
Digi-Mouse™ Clock/Calendar Board - #26-5144
At the time, two leading technologies were pitting for mouse dominance; Serial and BUS, PS/2 was still in the hands of IBM and not yet adopted as a general standard. Tandy opted for the BUS mouse technology and marketed the Tandy Digi-Mouse accessory along with an expansion card. Tandy cited freeing up the serial ports for other hardware like modems, terminals, and drawing pads as benefits.
The card is not listed in the Technical Reference, but data sheets on the web provide more information. The card uses the Intel 8742 Microprocessor to handle the mouse signals and a 555 compatible SAF 3019P IC clock chip for the clock and calendar. The 8742 is an 8-bit 12 Mhz CPU with ROM, RAM, I/O, timer, and Clock built-in. (Another Computer?!)
A coin-cell battery preserves the date and time for the SAF 3019P IC which is automatically provided to the system at startup. The Mouse/Clock card shipped with software that included the mouse driver (mouse.sys) and two executables that the user added to the AUTOEXEC file of DOS, and for the most part appears to at least be Y2K compliant.
The Tandy Digi-Mouse is a BUS mouse utilizing a DE9 connection on the back of the machine. The expansion is another irregular Tandy accessory to find, card and mouse. While bus mice can still be found online, the Tandy Digi-Mouse, when available, usually costs more due to its collectability. Thankfully a workaround exists to modify a Microsoft BUS mouse to work with the system.
Microsoft BUS Mouse
Digi-Mouse™ Clock/Calendar Board - #26-5144
Digi-Mouse™ Clock/Calendar Board - #26-5144
The Tandy Digi-Mouse ™ (Catalog # 26-1197) is rather hard to find these days and fetches a premium rate in most cases. After getting a mouse card and replacing the battery, we were able to load up the mouse and "clock get" and "clock set" utilities and confirmed the clock holds and functions, but no mouse in the entire collection would be compatible.
Then we discovered a post on "Rich's Classic Computing Pages" called "Tandy 2000 Restoration...Twice," which detailed information about the BUS mice, the Tandy Mouse card pinouts, and useful data on substitute hardware. It makes sense if you think about it; you needed a mouse on the Tandy 2000 to use Windows or other Drawing applications. Microsoft and Tandy worked closely with the development of Windows, and it would make sense if they used Microsoft BUS tech and just placed the Tandy Name on it (Digi-Mouse).
We purchased a $20 Microsoft "Dove Bar" BUS Mouse online, and its appearance kind of complements the Tandy 2000. While Rich's site detailed pinouts for the mini-DIN connectors, none of the models we had matched either of the two found on Minus Zero Degrees, another beneficial site. So we set out to figure it out ourselves.
After splicing the bus mouse to the DE9 connector, we determined that the buttons worked, but the movement did not. Analysis revealed that if we moved the 5v to another wire and changed the current 5v line to ground, the potentiometers would read correctly; the only problem left was to run a new common to the switches using kynar wire. Success, the mouse reads and works just like the Tandy Digi-Mouse, tracking is smooth and not bouncy and complements the Windows install on this machine.
Reference:
Hard Disk controller w/ external connector - #AX-9577
Hard Disk controller w/ external connector - #AX-9577
Hard Disk controller w/ external connector - #AX-9577
Much like the Tandy Models 12, 16, and 6000 before it the system still uses the WD1010 and 1100 chipset combo to give the computer an ST506/ST412 compatible hard disk controller option. These cards use a combination of the Western Digital 1010 and 1100 ICs to provide a compatible Whenchester drive interface to the computer.
The controller is much like its predecessors in the big business machines, it supports up to 8 heads and 1024 cylinders. With the correct drive and settings, users could add a larger supported MFM and achieve a larger 72MB partition. 32MB was the maximum supported by MS-DOS 2.11, but Tandy 2000 Orphans had a special version of the format program (MLFORMAT) that bypassed the limitations. The card also supported the use of a single external hard disk (#25-1025), giving the user an additional 10MB of hard disk space.
Hard Disk upgrade kit (internal) (#26-5125)
Hard Disk controller w/ external connector - #AX-9577
Hard Disk controller w/ external connector - #AX-9577
To boot the Tandy 2000 with an internal hard disk, the system required the controller with internal headers, an updated ROM on the main logic board, and the special header connector cable. Three different HDC configurations existed: Internal Only (#AX-9451), External Only (#26-5127), and Internal/External with the 50 pin Input-Output Bus (#AX-9577). Cards exist with a 50 pin connector labeled “Input / Output Bus.” According to datasheets, they pass-thru the data lines and other signals to connect the older 5 and 15MB disk system controllers, but this has not been tested or confirmed yet.
“Technical Bulletins” were released by Tandy, allowing users to configure the external hard disk as the first physical drive to the OS. The modification required cutting traces and adding bodges or jumpers to reroute the hard disk controller card paths.
10MB Tandon TM502 (2000HD) (#26-5104)
10MB Tandon TM502 (2000HD) (#26-5104)
10MB Tandon TM502 (2000HD) (#26-5104)
Tandy shipped the 2000HD models with the Tandon TM502 Hard Disk, a similar model used the older external hard disk units used with the z80 based systems. The TM500 series includes Model Numbers TM501, TM502, and TM503, which have one, two, and three recording platters, and use two, four, and six recording heads, respectively.
The TM502 has 4 heads, 306 cylinders and supported a formatted capacity of 10MB with the default interleave 5. Interleave has to do with how the data is written in sectors on the disk and more along the lines of speed. Instead of putting data in direct order on the track, 1-2-3-4-5, the data is written like 5-2-1-4-3. The reason is while the disk drive itself can pick up and read the fluctuations on the disk at a 1 to 1 rate, the controller, even the WD’s need the interleave or data may come too fast for the controller or computer to read.
MFM Hard Disk Reader/Emulator
10MB Tandon TM502 (2000HD) (#26-5104)
10MB Tandon TM502 (2000HD) (#26-5104)
David Gesswein djg@pdp8online.com created a hardware solution using a custom board and pairing it with a Beaglebone SBC. He wrote up custom software to analyze disk geometry and read-in data from aging older ST506/412 drives, creating a disk image bit by bit. Additionally, up to two, the image can then be emulated using the same hardware to take the place of an actual MFM hard disk.
The device contains logic and a row of capacitors that keep the device powered up well long enough to shut down cleanly. Boot up to the emulated image is around 10-12 seconds; the Tandy 2000 waits for the disk to come ready and boots without issue now. If needed, the original MFM hard disk is safely stored away for future archiving initiatives.
Repair
Power Supply
We began the work and pulled out the primary PSU; There are two power supplies in the T2000, one for the primary system and one dedicated to the hard disk. We replaced all of the capacitors and began addressing TB’s. Referring to the Tandy 2000 Technical Bulletins Index, released in 1986, we can see a couple of line items that apply to the Power Supply.
- 2000:2 list an issue with the Power Supply Harness, and we can see it doesn’t apply here as the power hardness runs in a metal tray, away from the transformer.
- 2000:11 talks about a braid on the reset switch wires shorting the PSU, not applicable or already completed.
- 2000:15 says it should have a slow blow fuse, and it does.
- 2000:18 lists the rubber edge on the heatsink to prevent the shorting of the reset lines again, done as well.
- 2000:23 calls for replacing a couple of capacitors that work in the control section for stability, so we replaced them as directed.
- 2000:42 covers adjustable resistors that were used to fine adjust the 12v and 5v rails. During operation, they changed values and caused the system to reboot or worse. Tandy’s directions would have users lock the values in place using resister "blobs" or networks, but we needed to adjust them due to the changes with new components. For now, we readjusted the system and used a tiny dab of gorilla contact glue to lock them in place.
Hard Disk Controller Alignment
"Why does the controller need an alignment? I've never had to do that for my PC or other hard disk systems of that era." We didn't know this was a thing either until we received our first controller with issues, and I had the same question when I noticed others performing this on the TRS-80 8" systems. The controllers of this era would require this procedure from time to time as components like the variable capacitor and resistors change or drift along with other components on the card.
Alignment and other maintenance would be carried out when customers brought in the system for service. The user would likely have seen these as line items on a repair bill; these were internal procedures for regular maintenance carried out by Computer Service Centers. After speaking with professionals who worked on these systems, they confirmed anytime major work was performed on the Power Supply, card alignment should be checked and adjusted as the main system power changed.
Hard Disk Contents
"10MB of mystery"
After completing the alignment and making sure the card was in top shape using a DREM hard disk emulator and oscilloscope, the drive sprang to life. The system contains DOS 2.11 and is configured to spin up a shell for the WordPerfect Library, with a quick menu to access the various software titles located on the system using macros. The disk information shows the drive is 306 Cylinders, four heads, and the standard 10MB partition.
Not listed here, Chess.exe, which appears to be a DOS version of the Game of Chess, was written by Don Berg and distributed via the Tandy 2000 Orphans by Bob Polmanter. The presence of This file would indicate the user was likely a part of the Tandy 2000 Orphans, a user group of serious 2000 users with a monthly “Whimper” newsletter distribution running up until Jan 1990. Users paid and contributed stories, upgrades, news, and other information and shared files, patches, tips, and tricks to support each other with a system Tandy abandoned quickly after its failure.
With all the files we discovered and the hard disk running quietly, we immediately connected the drive to the MFMe device and captured the image. There were no significant issues in capturing the harddrive disk image; the MFM emulator software "mfm_read" read the disk geometry the first time correctly as we executed the software following Davids's instructions.
Further following his setup, we configured the device to boot from our newly captured image and safely stored the hard drive away for safekeeping and future archives. A huge thank you to the creator; this device has saved several systems in the collection and just works—no frills or extra jazz that isn't necessary. The product does what it needs to do and does it transparently. Thank you for creating such a great tool! https://www.pdp8online.com/mfm/ <-- go there for more details!
WordPerfect Library Menu
- Appointment Calendar
- DR Draw 2000 v1.0
- Calculator
- Deskmate 2000 v1.01
- Edit Macros
- File Manager
- GW-BASIC 2000 v. 02.11.03
- Home Accountant 2000 version 1.0
- Microsoft Windows version 1.04
- Go to DOS for one command
- Multiplan 2000 v3.0
- Norton Advanced v4.0
- Program Editor
- Cornerstone
- Tax Plan – BASIC
- WordPerfect 4.2
- Go to Menu Screen
Windows Files, and more...
According to sources online, Tandy only released a 1.01 driver disk, and to current knowledge, there were no other support disks with Windows drivers released for the Tandy 2000. Access to Windows 1.0 documentation is scarce, as it's been so long since the product was released; only recently in 2018 did the driver disk containing the hardware drivers for the Tandy 2000 for Windows 1.01 surface. Without this disk, the regular setup executable would hang and not function on the system, and the installation of Windows would not be possible. Since the system was THE choice by Microsoft Engineering to develop Windows and has the updated version, this system had to come from someone who either created or may have worked for Microsoft. More on that here in a moment.
Once booted into Windows, the hard disk contents reveal the two system files used to run the Windows Executive, the binary and OVL file. (WIN100.BIN and WIN100.OVL) On the root of Windows (C:\Windows) exists WIN200.BIN and WIN200.OVL and online information suggest these are the files to run Windows version 2.0. That is currently all of the info we know about the files, and we suspect they were either trying to do an upgrade or some other development tasks.
Up to this point, we believed we had a unique system that ran early Windows. A setup like this system with the hardware found inside is top of the line for the Tandy 2000. At a minimum, this would have been an expensive system and just a nice find, but along with many intriguing files found on the root of C, is a text file called "READ.ME." This file's contents only create more questions about the different files found on the disk, and just what this computer was used for, and by Whom?
Windows 1.04
Windows shipped on five disks, formatted at the 360K DSDD common format. Using the additional sixth Tandy diskette a process is used to swap the Windows Setup executable with the specific Tandy 2000 version, copy hardware-specific drivers for the 2000s graphics, keyboard, and printers, mouse, and other peripherals. The process involves combining the new installation files from the five (5) 360K disk to three (3) 720K Tandy 2000 QDDS formatted diskettes. Then batch files from the Tandy 2000 Windows Supplement handle the file-swapping and driver placement. The user then installs Windows from MS-DOS 2.11.x by running the modified setup.
Since we were well versed in exploring and installing the Windows 1.01 image now available on the WinWorld site and were aware of what the default "C:\Windows" files structure looked like, so it was no surprise when we noticed the additional files on the pictured screen.
Superfuse, Space, SOL, Torus, TP, Trails, and Guts were NOT part of the original files of the Windows 1.0 install, nor were the WIN200.BIN and WIN200.OVL files. Research online shows those files belong to Windows 2.o? We chalked it up to either the user wanting to see how the system would run it if at all possible, or ________ (insert other speculation). We aren't sure, but we did reach out to the merchant and politely requested intermediate contact for archiving purposes. The seller respectfully declined, and we respect that. : )
Version 1.04
This system executive reports version 1.04, the last version of the Microsoft Windows 1 release, before moving to the next major version (Version 2). We are not sure of the differences between versions, but we know the Tandy Supplemental Disk only references 1.01, and part of the install process is to create a boot splash screen for the system. If the media for Windows 1.04 is used, say from the standard IBM version as this one was, the installation works, with two notable bugs:
- After setup, the disk is built, and Windows Setup is initiated; the installation step where the mouse is chosen has a deformed screen or bug and doesn't like the drivers for v1.01. You can still read it and select the use of the mouse or not.
- After install, the boot splash still references version 1.01 since it sources from the Tandy Setup Disk, but users can modify the file to reflect the correct version by using a text editor. The file is a typical color array file, and the text is easily visible in any modern text editor.
As far as we can discern, this may have been what the user did since the splash on this system is not updated. There is also speculation that the user received the updated disks from Tandy, which may have updated drivers, but we haven't reviewed this avenue yet.
Solitaire v1.1 by Wes Cherry
Microsoft Solitaire was initially included as part of Windows 3.0 back in 1990, explicitly designed to teach users how to use a mouse. Wes Cherry, an intern at the time, invented the game for Windows 2.1 in the summer of 1988, according to the article covering Wes's Reddit posts. So how does a machine running an even older version of Windows have this game or even run it?
The About screen for Solitaire confirms the information with the Author Wes Cherry, (C) Bogus Software, 1988. This information matches the data from the Inverse article and other publishings around the software history. Oddly he never asks for a dime for one of the world's greatest games of all time.
You can learn more here: https://www.bobsblitz.com/2017/04/meet-wes-cherry-intern-who-wrote.html
Taipei v2.00 by Dave Norris
From his Wiki Page: https://www.chessprogramming.org/David_Norris
David C. Norris, former programmer for Microsoft, and current Chief Technology Officer at TechSmith Corporation.
“From 1984 until 2009, David Norris served in multiple capacities at Microsoft and was selected as a leader in the Microsoft Engineering Excellence group, where he developed and promulgated best practices in software development processes, techniques, and tools.”
According to http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Taipei :
Taipei is a mahjong solitaire puzzle video game developed by Dave Norris in 1988 and published by Microsoft in their Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows for Windows 3 in 1990.
It's clear to see here we have possible development files, that are what became the first Entertainment Pack for Windows.
Bogus Software
Another program we found on C:\Windows is "Superfuse". This program looks like the development of an early screen saver, using various color lines and rendering the fusion of lines and colors into an array. The program is not listed in the "READ.ME" file that describes multiple software titles written for BSG, respectively.
Superfuse appears to have been written by Darrel Plank, another member listed on the masthead of the text document for the Bogus Software Group. Darrell Plank was a programmer that started working for Microsoft in 1983. He later helped found Sucker Punch Productions and helped produce two games from 1997 to 2001, including "Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus" for the Playstation 2.
TRAILS (Hans) - A kaleidoscope that uses the mouse. The application responds directly to the movement of the mouse and creates a "Kaleidoscope" of pixel or line colors on the screen. The effect is less than desired but still uses the colors and is an excellent visual to play with, if only briefly.
Written by Hans Spiller (co-founder of BSG), and currently (According to LinkedIn) a Software Architect at Taxi 2000 Corporation, in the Greater Seattle area. He looks to have been a systems programmer for Microsoft for 17 years; he supported the Xenix projects and Designed and implemented the Microsoft C compiler, Versions 3-7.
DIGITAL RESEARCH DRAW & GRAPH FOR THE TANDY 2000
A dual-floppy non-working unit from Oklahoma yielded an additional CM-1 Color CRT, another hard disk controller, and a box of diskettes, including a demo version of the DR Draw and Graph programs! As far as we can tell there have been no diskettes surfaced to date for DR DRAW and GRAPH so having these diskettes is amazing!
The Digital Research Draw and Graph programs for the Tandy 2000 were not as common as the PC counterparts so this program specifically is extremely difficult to find! Many of the PC and compatible platforms were still using 8-bit CGA systems, which ran slow and displayed lower resolution and color images. On the Tandy 2000, you have 8 colors compared to 4, and load times are much faster.
It appears this diskette set was used to demo the program somewhere either in-store or at some computer fair or other public display. Another disk with the bundle is labeled “Microsoft Word Floor Copy” and “Demo Disk IAB” so it would be safe to call this a demonstration machine. But that is the extent of our knowledge of that system and software.
The labels don’t indicate it but on the 1st diskette is a READ.ME file and in the last section is reads regarding the Demonstration:
The Demo(s) proceed to a point where the demonstrator (you) will be asked to type a "D" for DR Draw or "G" for DR Graph. If nothing is typed before ten seconds, the demonstration continues on to the next section or loops back and restarts. If "D" is typed, a "live” version of DR Draw is started which can be used to call up one of two files we provide on the disk (BRIDGE or FIELD) or one that you had made previously. You cannot output to any device except the screen.
You can, however, save any files you make for future demos. On floppy systems, there will be room for a few small picture files but not many. If "G" is typed, a "live" version of DR Graph is started. There is a sample graph on the disk called MOMSPIES.GPH which can be called up. As in the DR Draw demo, you can only output to the screen. You may save graphs you create but on the floppy systems, there is room for only a few small graphs. Once the live programs are exited, the demo will continue on and will eventually loop back and restart. If you have trouble using your PC's mouse during the live portion of the demos, make sure that the MOUSE.SYS or MOUSE.COM (depending on the system) is on the A: floppy or root fixed disk.
Please refer all questions on the demo to Tandy in Fort Worth.
Looking back at the hard disk on the 2000HD, on the root of C:\ is a “DRAW” folder and upon listing, it appears to be the Digital Research Draw application folder. Any attempt to run the application causes the GSX environment to halt, as it calls for a specific Tandy SYS file (TDY2000H.SYS) that did not survive the hard disk aging.
Additionally found on the system is Norton Disk Utilities and using its “unerase” program we were able to locate parts of the Tandy Video driver (?DY2000H.SYS), but restoration revealed a hollowed file, the bits are just not there.
After reading about Digital Research and its products for the Tandy 2000, including the GEM operating system, Draw, Graph, and other applications, we discovered how they worked. With this, an idea occurred.
Captured from a real Tandy 2000 using the RBGtoHDMI with 6-bit TTL buffer. Audio is of the real Mitsubishi 4853 Quad-Density floppy disk drive(s), captured in stereo. Images are vectored at 640 by 400 @ 26.4khz. and rendering on some computers and displays may result in poor colors.
DR Draw Version 1.2 M0-7
DR Graph Version 1.0
© 1984 Digital Research Inc.
When the demonstration starts, a display independent graphics library developed by Digital Research is run called “GSX.EXE.” The GSX-86 Graphics Extension System was written by Digital Research and sets up an abstraction layer between the DR applications and the hardware drivers. The abstraction layer allows the applications like Draw, Graph, and Logo, initially written for CP/M-86 and CP/M-80, to run without modification on PC-Compatible 8086 systems. This implementation allowed the port of the applications to the PC-Compatible DOS world without rewriting the code for each different type of computer. GSX handled the input and output for printers, screens, mice, plotters, and even cameras. Computer Vendors like Tandy, NEC, and Texas Instruments could write drivers and efficiently market the application to their systems.
Back to the idea, the installed version on the 2000HD hard disk has the GSX and DRAW8086 files, which is the Draw application's core. What is missing is the Tandy 2000 specific driver file needed for the graphics hardware. If you try to start Draw, it complains the Tandy Driver File is missing and halts loading GSX.
It occurred to me the same activity happens with the Demo Diskette, but the file loaded at runtime was a different name (HIRESCLR.SYS). Obviously, by name, this was the driver for the Tandy 2000 Graphics, as indicated by the file name (HIgh RESolution CoLoR). Checking the date shows HIRESCLR.SYS has a creation date of 1-1-80 and its paired version of GSX. The full version GSX file is dated 1984 on the hard disk and appears to be a newer file. There was concern the driver would not function correctly. Still, after copying and renaming this file to the file name expected by the version of Draw installed, the application opened to our amazement.
We noticed that starting the Draw program on the hard disk is the version v1.2 M06 and the demo version v1.2 M07. There is a difference in the start screen logo. We have no printer, plotter, or camera to test the output but the application functions just as the Demo does with no errors so far. Drawing in the application is fun, and if Graphing things is your game, then we are sure Graph will be an exciting exploration for you, even reduced as a demo.