Commodore PET - ### COMMODORE BASIC ### Models Do Not Have Drive Commands Catalog - Episode 1493
6I was trying to access a disk drive that I had connected to this 32k PET computer, but the catalog command did not work, nor did the directory command...in other words, the ROM version inside of this machine does not support such commands therefore it has not been upgraded to BASIC 4.0, otherwise it would state that when you turn the computer on...but it does not mean that the drive can not access the drive...you have to revert back to the way to load a directory on the Vic-20 and the Commodore 64, and that is load"$",8. Now, while I was making these videos, I was having other troubles...and maybe a cable that was installed upside down so that did factor into my woes. But if you are sure you are connected and that things should work, it is a good idea to try loading from other devices, such as 9, 10, & 11. Drives could have been altered back the day if whatever they were being used for had more than one unit connected...people that ran BBS's were very often the people who would void the sacred warranty and alter the device numbers...and some would install switches, like Commodore started to do on the 1541-II and the 1581...but these switches were most likely of the toggle variety that might have been on the front or the back...out of the way, but at the ready in case they wanted to make a change...
The following is helpful, but from previous videos...
Looking down from above, we can see the back of the PET and a PET-IEEE cable right side up...Always look for the logo...attach the cable when the computer is off...and enjoy! One thing, if your cable is not very long, try to make sure that the drive and the computer are close enough together that there is no stress on the cable...as they can pull off on an angle if under load as it were...if the other end of the cable has the screws still, do use them and ensure that the connection on the drive is secure and can not slip...if ever things do not seem to be working, before you panic, check to make sure that the connector is not at any sort of angle on the back of the computer...even a little such angle can leave pins not being connected to the edge connector...
On the back of the Commodore PET, there are two ports that look much the same...but the are not the same...looking at the back of the computer, the port on the right is the IEEE-488 port, and the other is the user port. If you have an original cable to go to your disk drive or printer that is called a PET-IEEE cable, there should be little plastic things in there and they would fit just perfectly into the IEEE port which has some notches in it...but after 45 years, most of these little things have long ago fallen out...so just be very careful. Some machines that were likely in educational institutions have covers over the user port and sometimes the expansion port on the side to keep over eager students from getting anything in there, but typically, the IEEE port was not covered and ready to be used...on the very left hand side of the back of the machine, is the cassette port, as you will find on the Vic-20, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, etc...but that as they say, is another story...
IEEE cables typically have a commodore logo on the top of the cable...or if it was made by another company, some other logo...I tested one cable that I was pretty sure just was missing the logo, but indeed, I was mistaken and I put it on the wrong way up...but it did not damage...it just did not work...you can tell pretty quickly if you plug in upside down because when you turn on the drive and then the computer, if the cable is on the correct port and the right way up, the drive will do another reset and bang the heads and spin the drives...
Enjoy your Commodore PET and your disk drive...be careful when connecting things and as always, it is best to have the computer and the drive turned off when you are connecting the cables...
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