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Speedlock

2025-06-15T14:16:37Z

Dlfrsilver: /* Disc */

[[Category:Copy Protection]]

'''Speedlock''' is the name of a disc and cassette copy protection designed by Dave Looker ([[DJL]]), David Aubrey-Jones and Simon Berry.

Earlier versions mentioned "DJL Software", while later versions mentioned "Speedlock Associates".

== Cassette ==

The Speedlock cassette loader was a combination of an encryption system and advanced cassette routines. It is often recognized by its blue and black stripes in the border during loading.

Certain hacking software, such as [[Soft-Lok]] and [[Bonzo Blitz]], attempted to follow the protection development to created unprotected versions of the protected software.

The Speedlock tape protections in their Amstrad CPC versions use 3 different types of encoding :

Speedlock type 2 (1984-1986):

*11 A Side Soccer
*3D star Fighter
*Advanced Pinball sim.
*Arcade Flight Sim.
*Arkanoid
*Army Moves UK
*Batman
*Beach Head
*Beach Head II
*Bounty Bob Strikes Back
*Bmx Simulator
*Death Stalker
*Express Raider
*Fruit Machine Sim.
*Galivan
*Grand Prix II
*Green Beret
*Head Over Heels
*Hyper Sports
*Impossible Mission
*International Rugby
*Italian Super Car
*It's a Knockout
*Kong Strikes Back
*Kung Fu Masters
*Leaderboard
*Mikie
*Mission 1 Project Volcano
*Ninja Massacre
*Ping Pong
*Pro Skateboard sim.
*Pro Tennis Sim.
*Raid!!
*Rambo First Blood Part II
*SAS combat Sim.
*Super Heroes
*Super Stuntman
*Super Tank
*Xevious

A Speedlock-protected game with a baud rate of 1900 is Speedlock v4. A Speedlock v6 will not exceed 1675 baud.

Speedlock type 4 (1900 baud) (1986-1988):

*Arkanoid Revenge of Doh
*Basket Master
*Crazy Cars
*Deliverance Stormlord II
*Gryzor
*Mercenary: Escape From Targ
*Renegade (Hitsquad)
*Road Runner
*Robocop
*Stallone Cobra
*Tank
*Target Renegade
*Tarzan (specific Speedlock)
*The New Zealand Story
*World Games

Special speedlock : *Nigel Mansell GP => the main code is protected by Speedlock v4 while the level data uses Speedlock v2.
To determine whether a game uses Speedlock v4 or v6, check the baud rate with CSW2CDT.

Speedlock type 6 (1675 baud) (1988-until the CPC death):
Note that level data may use either the Spectrum variant 2 scheme, or the Sinclair Spectrum one.

*Altered Beast
*Back To the Future III
*Bad Dudes vs Dragon Ninja
*Batman the Movie
*Darkman
*Fighter Bomber
*Guerrilla War
*Hammerfist
*Monty Python Flying Circus
*Mutants 64k
*Ocean Beach Volley
*Operation Wolf
*Operation Thunderbolt
*P47 Freedom Fighter
*Rainbow Islands
*SDI (Activision)
*Shinobi
*Star control
*Stormlord
*Super Wonderboy in Monsterland
*The Addams Family 128k
*The Ninja Warriors
*The Untouchables
*Turrican II The Final Fight
*Typhoon
*Wizball
*Cabal
*Midnight Resistance
*Chase HQ

== Disc ==

Speedlock was also available in disc version.

One version called "[[8k Speedlock]]" relied on the fact that the CPC's hardware (specifically, the [[765 FDC|µPD765]] disk controller) could read 8 Kbyte sectors even though it was typically only possible to store more than 6,250 bytes on 300 rpm double density diskettes. Attempting to write an 8 Kbyte sector would cause the system to over-write its header block, because it requires to slow down the write speed (what the duplicator is doing. when examined with a flux tool like AUFIT, you can see that speedlock tracks are 'density variation' type. the density is higher due to the slower write speed used).

It was written here that "the format was either "devised" on an Atari ST or an IBM PC compatible machine (since the CPC share with them the same FDC controler, but not written on them since the Atari ST and IBM PC are unable to perform writetrack, they can only do sector write).

"The main difference being that an ST or PC can write more data per track than a CPC."

"That's incorrect, since those industrial duplicator formats were not made on standard machine equipment, you can also squash up to 6700 bytes on a CPC track. For that, you will need to do exactly the same thing as on PC and ST, slowdown the write speed in order to write more on each track. With a standard 300RPM speed, that's impossible. A speed lowered to a range of 260-280RPM is needed. that's why trying to copy a speedlock track fails on a CPC. A CPC can't do write track, only sector write. Speedlock tracks were duplicated on trace machine or Philips Unix duplicator in Writetrack, not sector write."

"This contains several inaccuracies. The Speedlock team in fact wrote the diskettes using diskette interfaces custom-modified for this purpose. Also, an Atari ST also has 6,250 bytes/track although used a WD1772 disk controller, while the PC has over time been based on a variety of formats (e.g. HD was 360 rpm 15 sectors etc.) and controllers (e.g. NEC µPD765 or Intel 8272A or 82072A."

"The Speedlock team was using an IBM PC equipped with a drive linked to an FDC able to write disks in writetrack or they used directly a Trace machine (duplicator) to make the master disk.

"Another statement written here was: "In itself, a 'Speedlock track' exists in 2 versions, used at the discretion of the duplicator, one use a CRC, and the other not." This is inaccurate, in the sense that it was never at the discretion of the duplicator. There were at least two separate versions, one of which may have involved a CRA issue."

"the writing above is incorrect. I maintain what i said, i have encoded in IPF (interchangeable Preservation Format) all the commercial games/softwares using the speedlock $1800 track system on the Amstrad CPC

There are 3 variants :

-the Speedlock $1800 with CRC 16 bits,
-the Speedlock $1800 with no EDC

The third one has only been used on one compilation, and i can't currently encode it in IPF, because it has a subtility
that has yet to be found.

And nothing else. The CRC16 and no EDC options were decided by the operator when building the master before writing it to disk.
The Speedlock $1800 with CRC 16 bits is made as follow :
1.Track is $1800 bytes long,
2.Checksum 16 bits calculated as polynomial on 2 bytes ;

The speedlock $1800 with no CRC (no EDC - Error Data Checksum):
1.the checksum is always the same
2.the '4e' byte pattern on each track is the same.

The publishers who released games with this version used a duplicator different from Trace Machine duplicators, and they did the duplication blindly, without checking (exactly what happens on spanish games, and some french,english,and german ones).

Last point, calling the speedlock tracks as speedlock 6K or 8K is incorrect. When i process a game dumped as flux for Amstrad CPC in original, my tool recognize the speedlock tracks. Those were "writetrack" written, NOT as a big 6K sector. Therefore, if someone copy a game with speedlock tracks, my tool will then not recognize the tracks anymore, because they will have been changed from "writetrack" mode to "writesector" mode, loosing informations in the process.

A 'Speedlock track' consists of only 512 bytes declared for the sector while all the remaining data is spanned in a huge GAP section. When copied on a CPC, the FDC only stores the 512 first bytes as declared in the CHRN, and discards the remaining contained in the gap section. Those tracks have an EDC (Error Data Checksum) because only 512 bytes are used to calculate the data checksum as well as an illegal data field size. Several other protection mechanisms existed on such tracks, including special codes written by the Trace 1006 duplication equipment commonly in use at the time: these codes could not be written by standard Amstrad disc drives.

Various methods were attempted to circumvent this protection, including:

1. A hardware modification to the Amstrad CPC and a special copy program .

2. Executioner's utility Xexor included a 'brain file' solution to crack individual games before copying them.

3. The Argonauts (Jason Brooks') 8K Disk Copier was sold both through Nemesis and Personally, it worked by approaching the issue the same as Tape to Disk copying the game code to standard sectors after the "Hack" and then copying protected sectors which contained level data at the end of the disk tracks. This can be found on the Git Repo: https://github.com/muckypaws/AmstradCPC

Speedlock

2017-05-27T01:21:26Z

Dlfrsilver:

[[Category:Copy Protection]]

'''Speedlock''' is the name of a disc and cassette copy protection designed by Dave Looker ([[DJL]]) and Dave Aubrey-Jones.

Earlier versions mentioned "DJL Software" later versions mentioned "Speedlock Associates".

== Cassette ==

It was a modified version of the Spectrum's cassette routines with protection added.

It is often recognised for it's blue/black stripes in the border during loading.

Later versions had multicoloured stripes for the leader/pilot tone, and then blue/black stripes for the data.

As the protection system continued to evolve, programs such as [[Soft-Lok]] and the [[Bonzo Blitz]] were upgraded to break the protection.

The speedlock tape protections in their Amstrad CPC versions only use 3 different types of encoding :

Speedlock type 2 (1984-1986):

*11 A Side Soccer
*3D star Fighter
*Advanced Pinball sim.
*Arcade Flight Sim.
*Arkanoid
*Army Moves UK
*Batman
*Beach Head
*Beach Head II
*Bounty Bob Strikes Back
*Bmx Simulator
*Death Stalker
*Express Raider
*Fruit Machine Sim.
*Galivan
*Grand Prix II
*Green Beret
*Head Over Heels
*Hyper Sports
*Impossible Mission
*International Rugby
*Italian Super Car
*It's a Knockout
*Kong Strikes Back
*Kung Fu Masters
*Leaderboard
*Mikie
*Mission 1 Project Volcano
*Ninja Massacre
*Ping Pong
*Pro Skateboard sim.
*Pro Tennis Sim.
*Raid!!
*Rambo First Blood Part II
*SAS combat Sim.
*Super Heroes
*Super Stuntman
*Super Tank
*Xevious

* In order to determine if a game use a speedlock v4 or v6, you need to check the baudrate with CSW2CDT.

a speedlock game with a baudrate of 1900 bauds is a speedlock v4. A speedlock v6 will never be beyond 1675 bauds.

Speedlock type 4 (1900 Bauds tapes) (1986-1988):

*Arkanoid Revenge of Doh,
*Basket Master,
*Crazy Cars,
*Deliverance Stormlord II,
*Gryzor,
*Mercenary L'evasion de Targ (specific speedlock)
*Renegade (Hitsquad),
*Road Runner,
*Robocop,
*Stallone Cobra,
*Tank,
*Target Renegade,
*Tarzan (specific speedlock)
*The New Zealand Story,
*World Games

Special speedlock : *Nigel Mansell GP => the main code use a speedlock v4, while the levels use a speedlock v2.

Speedlock type 6 (1675 bauds) (1988-until the CPC death):

Before hand, please note that the data levels can be using either the spectrum variant 2 scheme, or the sinclair spectrum one.

*Altered Beast,
*Back To the Future III,
*Bad Dudes vs Dragon Ninja,
*Batman the Movie,
*Darkman,
*Fighter Bomber,
*Guerrilla War,
*Hammerfist,
*Monty Python Flying circus,
*Mutants 64k,
*Ocean Beach Volley,
*Operation Wolf,
*Operation Thunderbolt,
*P47 Freedom Fighter,
*Rainbow Islands,
*SDI (activision)
*Shinobi,
*Star control,
*Stormlord,
*Super Wonderboy in monsterland,
*The Addams Family 128k,
*The Ninja Warriors,
*The Untouchables,
*Turrican II The Final Fight,
*Typhoon,
*Wizball,
*Cabal
*Midnight Resistance
*Chase HQ

== Disc ==

Speedlock was also available in disc version.

One version called "[[8k Speedlock]]", relied on the fact that the CPC's hardware could reliably read but not write 8k sectors.

the format was either devised or done on an Atari ST or an IBM PC compatible machine (since the CPC share with them the same FDC controler). The main difference being that an ST or PC can write more data per track than a CPC.

In itself, a speedlock track exists in 2 versions, used at the discretion of the duplicator, one use a CRC, and the other not.

A speedlock track consist of only 512 byte declared for the sector, and all the remaining data is spanned in a huge GAP section.
When copied on a CPC, the FDC only store the 512 first bytes as declared in the CHRN, and discard the remaining contained in the gap section. Those tracks have an EDC (Error Data Checksum), because only 512 bytes are used to calculate the data checksum, as well as an illegal data field size.

There were two methods to get around this:

1. A hardware modification to the Amstrad CPC and a special copy program

2. Executioner's utility Xexor included a 'brain file' solution to crack individual games before copying them.

Poliload Loader

2016-02-25T22:35:40Z

Dlfrsilver:

A spanish protection system created by Pablo Ariza.

It has been used on a few games :

*After the War UK release
*AMC Astro Marine Corps UK release
*Jabato
*El Capitan Trueno
*Aspar GP Master
*Satan Spanish release

Microkey Loader

2016-02-25T22:34:35Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "The creator of this scheme is unknown, and here are the games using it : Those games use the doubling bauds method (the loader is 1000 bauds, and the data files are 2000 baud..."

The creator of this scheme is unknown, and here are the games using it :

Those games use the doubling bauds method (the loader is 1000 bauds, and the data files are 2000 bauds) :

*Bobsleigh
*Ranarama
*TT Racer
*Z

There is a variant which doesn't use the same baud speed :

*Tobruk 1942

Operasoft Loader

2016-02-25T18:08:15Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "The operasoft Loader has been used on many games. *Goody *Ulises *Mot *Livingstone supongo/Livingstone i Presume *Solo *Trigger *Cosa Nostra *Corsarios *Soviet"

The operasoft Loader has been used on many games.

*Goody
*Ulises
*Mot
*Livingstone supongo/Livingstone i Presume
*Solo
*Trigger
*Cosa Nostra
*Corsarios
*Soviet

Zydroload Loader

2016-02-25T17:51:33Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "This scheme was devised by Isidro Gilabert, the New Frontier Studios Developer. It has been used on the games : *Hostages *North And South *the Light Corridor"

This scheme was devised by Isidro Gilabert, the New Frontier Studios Developer.

It has been used on the games :

*Hostages
*North And South
*the Light Corridor

Unilode Loader

2016-02-25T17:48:47Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "It's a universal loader scheme. Its name is the abbreviation of (Uni)versal (O)xford (D)igital (E)ntertainment Loader. The data tapes can be loaded on any computer (CPC, Sp..."

It's a universal loader scheme.

Its name is the abbreviation of (Uni)versal (O)xford (D)igital (E)ntertainment Loader.

The data tapes can be loaded on any computer (CPC, Spectrum, C64), from the moment
the user has the main program for its machine.

It has been used on the games :

*Trivial Pursuit New Generation/Nouvelle génération
*Trivial Pursuit Young Players/Junior
*Trivial Pursuit Edition de Noel
*Trivial Pursuit La Revolution Française
*Yes Prime Minister
*Gazza Soccer II

EhService Loader

2016-02-25T17:33:17Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "The EH services protection system was used on 4 Games : *Dick Tracy *Knight Force *The One *Wild Streets Note : add the specifics."

The EH services protection system was used on 4 Games :

*Dick Tracy
*Knight Force
*The One
*Wild Streets

Note : add the specifics.

Loaders

2016-02-25T17:30:54Z

Dlfrsilver: /* Cassette */

A loader is a program that loads in new data for a game or program.
This section covers various types of loaders seen on the Amstrad.

== Cassette ==

This list is not complete:

*[[Custom Turbo Loader]]

Known protection schemes :

*[[Speedlock]]
*[[Alkatraz]]
*[[Bleepload 1]]
*[[Bleepload 2]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 1]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 2]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 3]]
*[[Operasoft Loader]]
*[[Unilode Loader]]
*[[Zydroload Loader]]
*[[Ricochet Loader]]
*[[Microkey Loader]]
*[[Poliload Loader]]
*[[ehService Loader]]
*[[MBC Loader]]
*[[Puffy's Saga Loader]]
*[[Technician Ted Loader]]
*[[Ariolasoft Decryption key]]
*[[Rainbow Arts Decryption Key]]
*[[Lone Wolf Loader]]

== Disc ==

This list is not complete:
*[[Speedlock]]
*[[Hexagon]]
*[[Alkatraz]]

=== Specific loaders worth looking at ===

This list is not complete:

* [[Deflektor]] had a loader which showed instructions while loading
* [[Zynaps]] had a loader which had a countdown while loading
* [[Speedlock]] had colourful stripes in the border, some versions loaded the screen from top-to-bottom line by line
* Some firebird games had music while loading from tape (see below).

== Loading music ==

=== Cassette ===

Loading from cassette effectively uses all the CPU's time because it must poll the cassette input in order to convert the sound into data.
So to do music and other things during loading requires precise timing.

The C64 effectively had interrupt driven loading music and the serial chip handled clocking in of the data bits and signalled an interrupt when the byte of data was ready. This meant music during loading was much easier to achieve.

I think only Firebird games had loading music on cassette. The music was composed by Melvyn Wright ([http://www.melright.com www.melright.com]). The music data was embeded into the data on cassette. The data was read as a group of 3 bits and 8 data bits. The 3 bits determined if the 8 data bits were for data or for music.

This list is not complete, please add more. Will upload YM of the loading music soon.

{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
|Game
|Loading music
|-
|Booty
|
|-
|Comet Game (The)
|[[Media:Comet_game_%28the%29-loader.ym|Media:Comet_game_(the)-loader.ym]] 
|-
|Harvey Headbanger
|[[Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym|Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym‎]]
|-
|Thrust
|[[Media:Thrust.ym]]
|-
|Spiky Harold
|[[Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym|Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym]]
|}

=== Disc ===

The disc system on the Amstrad (and Spectrum +3) is "polled" which means the CPU has to keep checking if the [[FDC]] (NEC765) has more data to read/write. On the C64 the disc system is interrupt driven.

So to do music while loading requires careful timing and often the use of very small sectors (128bytes).

ZapTBalls
The Demo
5KB Demo 3
Midline Process
Orion Prime
Batman Forever

Poliload Loader

2016-02-25T17:26:20Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "A spanish protection system created by Pablo Ariza. It has been used on a few games : After the War UK release AMC Astro Marine Corps UK release Jabato El Cap..."

A spanish protection system created by Pablo Ariza.

It has been used on a few games :

[[After the War]] UK release
[[AMC Astro Marine Corps]] UK release
[[Jabato]]
[[El Capitan Trueno]]
[[Aspar GP Master]]
[[Satan]] Spanish release

Gremlin Loader 1

2016-02-25T17:23:38Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "The gremlin loader 1 has been used on the games : Mickey Mouse Basil Private Detective Footballer of The Year 2 Skate Crazy Note : add the specifics."

The gremlin loader 1 has been used on the games :

[[Mickey Mouse]]
[[Basil Private Detective]]
[[Footballer of The Year 2]]
[[Skate Crazy]]

Note : add the specifics.

Gremlin Loader 2

2016-02-25T17:20:51Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "This revision of this protection concerns the game Impossamole in its tape release, retail and also budget GBH. the game use a speed of ~1900 bauds. Impossamole"

This revision of this protection concerns the game Impossamole in its tape release, retail and also budget GBH.

the game use a speed of ~1900 bauds.

[[Impossamole]]

Gremlin Loader 3

2016-02-25T17:13:45Z

Dlfrsilver:

The Gremlin Loader 3 has only been used on the game Mask by Gremlin Graphics. It uses more than 19000 micro-blocks, and the system looks like the speedlock 2 scheme.

The game is using a speed of 2500 bauds.

Note: adding the specific informations about this very complex scheme.

Custom Turbo Loader

2016-02-25T17:12:43Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "Custom Turbo loaders use timings defined by the duplicator, and those can be really faster than the usual amstrad speed write 0 or 1 scheme. A game like Bad Cat from Rainbow..."

Custom Turbo loaders use timings defined by the duplicator, and those can be really faster than the usual
amstrad speed write 0 or 1 scheme.

A game like Bad Cat from Rainbow Arts use an average 3500 bauds speed for example.

Note: those protections systems are actually using custom turbo blocks and don't need a specific encoder,
and are actually sub-parts of the custom turbo loader family:

*[[Spectrum (loader)]]
*[[Gremlin Dot Loader]]
*[[Cassys Loader]]
*[[Hexagon Loader]]
*[[Hewson Counter Loader]]

Loaders

2016-02-25T16:34:08Z

Dlfrsilver: /* Cassette */

A loader is a program that loads in new data for a game or program.
This section covers various types of loaders seen on the Amstrad.

== Cassette ==

This list is not complete:

*[[Custom Turbo Loader]]

Known protection schemes :

*[[Speedlock Type 1,2,3,4]]
*[[Alkatraz]]
*[[Bleepload 1]]
*[[Bleepload 2]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 1]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 2]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 3]]
*[[Operasoft Loader]]
*[[Unilode Loader]]
*[[Zydroload Loader]]
*[[Ricochet Loader]]
*[[Microkey Loader]]
*[[Poliload Loader]]
*[[ehService Loader]]
*[[MBC Loader]]
*[[Puffy's Saga Loader]]
*[[Technician Ted Loader]]
*[[Ariolasoft Decryption key]]
*[[Rainbow Arts Decryption Key]]
*[[Lone Wolf Loader]]

== Disc ==

This list is not complete:
*[[Speedlock]]
*[[Hexagon]]
*[[Alkatraz]]

=== Specific loaders worth looking at ===

This list is not complete:

* [[Deflektor]] had a loader which showed instructions while loading
* [[Zynaps]] had a loader which had a countdown while loading
* [[Speedlock]] had colourful stripes in the border, some versions loaded the screen from top-to-bottom line by line
* Some firebird games had music while loading from tape (see below).

== Loading music ==

=== Cassette ===

Loading from cassette effectively uses all the CPU's time because it must poll the cassette input in order to convert the sound into data.
So to do music and other things during loading requires precise timing.

The C64 effectively had interrupt driven loading music and the serial chip handled clocking in of the data bits and signalled an interrupt when the byte of data was ready. This meant music during loading was much easier to achieve.

I think only Firebird games had loading music on cassette. The music was composed by Melvyn Wright ([http://www.melright.com www.melright.com]). The music data was embeded into the data on cassette. The data was read as a group of 3 bits and 8 data bits. The 3 bits determined if the 8 data bits were for data or for music.

This list is not complete, please add more. Will upload YM of the loading music soon.

{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
|Game
|Loading music
|-
|Booty
|
|-
|Comet Game (The)
|[[Media:Comet_game_%28the%29-loader.ym|Media:Comet_game_(the)-loader.ym]] 
|-
|Harvey Headbanger
|[[Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym|Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym‎]]
|-
|Thrust
|[[Media:Thrust.ym]]
|-
|Spiky Harold
|[[Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym|Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym]]
|}

=== Disc ===

The disc system on the Amstrad (and Spectrum +3) is "polled" which means the CPU has to keep checking if the [[FDC]] (NEC765) has more data to read/write. On the C64 the disc system is interrupt driven.

So to do music while loading requires careful timing and often the use of very small sectors (128bytes).

ZapTBalls
The Demo
5KB Demo 3
Midline Process
Orion Prime
Batman Forever

Gremlin Loader 3

2016-02-25T16:32:56Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "The Gremlin Loader 3 has only been used on the game Mask by Gremlin Graphics. It uses more than 19000 micro-blocks, and the system looks like the speedlock 2 scheme. Note: a..."

The Gremlin Loader 3 has only been used on the game Mask by Gremlin Graphics. It uses more than 19000 micro-blocks, and the system looks like the speedlock 2 scheme.

Note: adding the specific informations about this very complex scheme.

Loaders

2016-02-25T16:30:20Z

Dlfrsilver:

A loader is a program that loads in new data for a game or program.
This section covers various types of loaders seen on the Amstrad.

== Cassette ==

This list is not complete:

*[[Custom Turbo Loader]]

Note: those protections systems are actually using custom turbo blocks and don't need a specific encoder,
and are actually sub-parts of the custom turbo loader family:

*[[Spectrum (loader)]]
*[[Gremlin Dot Loader]]
*[[Cassys Loader]]
*[[Hexagon Loader]]
*[[Hewson Counter Loader]]

*[[Speedlock Type 1,2,3,4]]
*[[Alkatraz]]
*[[Bleepload 1]]
*[[Bleepload 2]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 1]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 2]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 3]]
*[[Operasoft Loader]]
*[[Unilode Loader]]
*[[Zydroload Loader]]
*[[Ricochet Loader]]
*[[Microkey Loader]]
*[[Poliload Loader]]
*[[ehService Loader]]
*[[MBC Loader]]
*[[Puffy's Saga Loader]]
*[[Technician Ted Loader]]
*[[Ariolasoft Decryption key]]
*[[Rainbow Arts Decryption Key]]
*[[Lone Wolf Loader]]

== Disc ==

This list is not complete:
*[[Speedlock]]
*[[Hexagon]]
*[[Alkatraz]]

=== Specific loaders worth looking at ===

This list is not complete:

* [[Deflektor]] had a loader which showed instructions while loading
* [[Zynaps]] had a loader which had a countdown while loading
* [[Speedlock]] had colourful stripes in the border, some versions loaded the screen from top-to-bottom line by line
* Some firebird games had music while loading from tape (see below).

== Loading music ==

=== Cassette ===

Loading from cassette effectively uses all the CPU's time because it must poll the cassette input in order to convert the sound into data.
So to do music and other things during loading requires precise timing.

The C64 effectively had interrupt driven loading music and the serial chip handled clocking in of the data bits and signalled an interrupt when the byte of data was ready. This meant music during loading was much easier to achieve.

I think only Firebird games had loading music on cassette. The music was composed by Melvyn Wright ([http://www.melright.com www.melright.com]). The music data was embeded into the data on cassette. The data was read as a group of 3 bits and 8 data bits. The 3 bits determined if the 8 data bits were for data or for music.

This list is not complete, please add more. Will upload YM of the loading music soon.

{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
|Game
|Loading music
|-
|Booty
|
|-
|Comet Game (The)
|[[Media:Comet_game_%28the%29-loader.ym|Media:Comet_game_(the)-loader.ym]] 
|-
|Harvey Headbanger
|[[Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym|Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym‎]]
|-
|Thrust
|[[Media:Thrust.ym]]
|-
|Spiky Harold
|[[Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym|Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym]]
|}

=== Disc ===

The disc system on the Amstrad (and Spectrum +3) is "polled" which means the CPU has to keep checking if the [[FDC]] (NEC765) has more data to read/write. On the C64 the disc system is interrupt driven.

So to do music while loading requires careful timing and often the use of very small sectors (128bytes).

ZapTBalls
The Demo
5KB Demo 3
Midline Process
Orion Prime
Batman Forever

Bleepload 2

2016-02-25T16:24:40Z

Dlfrsilver: Created page with "The Bleepload 2 protection system is a double edge encoding. Some games use the musical loader with music by Melvyn Wright. It concerns games like : Rick Dangerous"

The Bleepload 2 protection system is a double edge encoding. Some games use the musical loader with music by Melvyn Wright.

It concerns games like :

[[Rick Dangerous]]

Loaders

2016-02-25T16:22:54Z

Dlfrsilver: /* Cassette */

A loader is a program that loads in new data for a game or program.
This section covers various types of loaders seen on the Amstrad.

== Cassette ==

This list is not complete:

*[[Speedlock Type 1,2,3,4]]
*[[Spectrum (loader)]]
*[[Alkatraz]]
*[[Bleepload 1]]
*[[Bleepload 2]]
*[[Gremlin Dot Loader]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 1]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 2]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 3]]
*[[Operasoft Loader]]
*[[Unilode Loader]]
*[[Zydroload Loader]]
*[[Cassys Loader]]
*[[Ricochet Loader]]
*[[Hexagon Loader]]
*[[Microkey Loader]]
*[[Poliload Loader]]
*[[ehService Loader]]
*[[MBC Loader]]
*[[Puffy's Saga Loader]]
*[[Technician Ted Loader]]
*[[Ariolasoft Decryption key]]
*[[Rainbow Arts Decryption Key]]
*[[Lone Wolf Loader]]

== Disc ==

This list is not complete:
*[[Speedlock]]
*[[Hexagon]]
*[[Alkatraz]]

=== Specific loaders worth looking at ===

This list is not complete:

* [[Deflektor]] had a loader which showed instructions while loading
* [[Zynaps]] had a loader which had a countdown while loading
* [[Speedlock]] had colourful stripes in the border, some versions loaded the screen from top-to-bottom line by line
* Some firebird games had music while loading from tape (see below).

== Loading music ==

=== Cassette ===

Loading from cassette effectively uses all the CPU's time because it must poll the cassette input in order to convert the sound into data.
So to do music and other things during loading requires precise timing.

The C64 effectively had interrupt driven loading music and the serial chip handled clocking in of the data bits and signalled an interrupt when the byte of data was ready. This meant music during loading was much easier to achieve.

I think only Firebird games had loading music on cassette. The music was composed by Melvyn Wright ([http://www.melright.com www.melright.com]). The music data was embeded into the data on cassette. The data was read as a group of 3 bits and 8 data bits. The 3 bits determined if the 8 data bits were for data or for music.

This list is not complete, please add more. Will upload YM of the loading music soon.

{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
|Game
|Loading music
|-
|Booty
|
|-
|Comet Game (The)
|[[Media:Comet_game_%28the%29-loader.ym|Media:Comet_game_(the)-loader.ym]] 
|-
|Harvey Headbanger
|[[Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym|Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym‎]]
|-
|Thrust
|[[Media:Thrust.ym]]
|-
|Spiky Harold
|[[Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym|Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym]]
|}

=== Disc ===

The disc system on the Amstrad (and Spectrum +3) is "polled" which means the CPU has to keep checking if the [[FDC]] (NEC765) has more data to read/write. On the C64 the disc system is interrupt driven.

So to do music while loading requires careful timing and often the use of very small sectors (128bytes).

ZapTBalls
The Demo
5KB Demo 3
Midline Process
Orion Prime
Batman Forever

Spectrum (loader)

2016-02-25T16:22:16Z

Dlfrsilver:

This is a cassette loader for the Amstrad which is a conversion of the Spectrum ROM loader.

It is 100% compatible with the Spectrum and can load Spectrum data blocks.

You also have the same coloured stripes in the border to indicate loading progress.

The "Gremlin Multiload Loader" is also a spectrum type loader which displays instructions (and a countdown timer) while the program loads. Some games using this scheme are not using the counter and instructions.

Seen on the following games:
* [[Blood Brothers]]
* [[Deflektor]]
* [[Compendium]]

But also these games, which uses the exact same encoding system, but without the timer and instructions :

* [[Shadow of The Beast]]
* [[Dynamite Dux]]

Gremlin Instruction Loader

2016-02-25T16:19:36Z

Dlfrsilver: Blanked the page

Loaders

2016-02-25T16:18:07Z

Dlfrsilver: /* Cassette */

A loader is a program that loads in new data for a game or program.
This section covers various types of loaders seen on the Amstrad.

== Cassette ==

This list is not complete:

*[[Speedlock Type 1,2,3,4]]
*[[Spectrum (loader)]]
*[[Alkatraz]]
*[[Bleepload 1]]
*[[Bleepload 2]]
*[[Gremlin Instruction Loader]]
*[[Gremlin Dot Loader]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 1]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 2]]
*[[Gremlin Loader 3]]
*[[Operasoft Loader]]
*[[Unilode Loader]]
*[[Zydroload Loader]]
*[[Cassys Loader]]
*[[Ricochet Loader]]
*[[Hexagon Loader]]
*[[Microkey Loader]]
*[[Poliload Loader]]
*[[ehService Loader]]
*[[MBC Loader]]
*[[Puffy's Saga Loader]]
*[[Technician Ted Loader]]
*[[Ariolasoft Decryption key]]
*[[Rainbow Arts Decryption Key]]
*[[Lone Wolf Loader]]

== Disc ==

This list is not complete:
*[[Speedlock]]
*[[Hexagon]]
*[[Alkatraz]]

=== Specific loaders worth looking at ===

This list is not complete:

* [[Deflektor]] had a loader which showed instructions while loading
* [[Zynaps]] had a loader which had a countdown while loading
* [[Speedlock]] had colourful stripes in the border, some versions loaded the screen from top-to-bottom line by line
* Some firebird games had music while loading from tape (see below).

== Loading music ==

=== Cassette ===

Loading from cassette effectively uses all the CPU's time because it must poll the cassette input in order to convert the sound into data.
So to do music and other things during loading requires precise timing.

The C64 effectively had interrupt driven loading music and the serial chip handled clocking in of the data bits and signalled an interrupt when the byte of data was ready. This meant music during loading was much easier to achieve.

I think only Firebird games had loading music on cassette. The music was composed by Melvyn Wright ([http://www.melright.com www.melright.com]). The music data was embeded into the data on cassette. The data was read as a group of 3 bits and 8 data bits. The 3 bits determined if the 8 data bits were for data or for music.

This list is not complete, please add more. Will upload YM of the loading music soon.

{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
|Game
|Loading music
|-
|Booty
|
|-
|Comet Game (The)
|[[Media:Comet_game_%28the%29-loader.ym|Media:Comet_game_(the)-loader.ym]] 
|-
|Harvey Headbanger
|[[Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym|Media:Harvey_headbanger-loader.ym‎]]
|-
|Thrust
|[[Media:Thrust.ym]]
|-
|Spiky Harold
|[[Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym|Media:Spiky_harold-loader.ym]]
|}

=== Disc ===

The disc system on the Amstrad (and Spectrum +3) is "polled" which means the CPU has to keep checking if the [[FDC]] (NEC765) has more data to read/write. On the C64 the disc system is interrupt driven.

So to do music while loading requires careful timing and often the use of very small sectors (128bytes).

ZapTBalls
The Demo
5KB Demo 3
Midline Process
Orion Prime
Batman Forever

Speedlock

2016-02-25T15:59:05Z

Dlfrsilver: /* Cassette */

[[Category:Copy Protection]]

'''Speedlock''' is the name of a disc and cassette copy protection designed by Dave Looker ([[DJL]]) and Dave Aubrey-Jones.

Earlier versions mentioned "DJL Software" later versions mentioned "Speedlock Associates".

== Cassette ==

It was a modified version of the Spectrum's cassette routines with protection added.

It is often recognised for it's blue/black stripes in the border during loading.

Later versions had multicoloured stripes for the leader/pilot tone, and then blue/black stripes for the data.

As the protection system continued to evolve, programs such as [[Soft-Lok]] and the [[Bonzo Blitz]] were upgraded to break the protection.

The speedlock tape protections in their Amstrad CPC versions only use 4 different types of encoding :

Speedlock type 1 :

*11 A Side Soccer
*3D star Fighter
*Advanced Pinball sim.
*Arcade Flight Sim.
*Arkanoid
*Army Moves UK
*Batman
*Beach Head
*Beach Head II
*Bounty Bob Strikes Back
*Bmx Simulator
*Death Stalker
*Express Raider
*Fruit Machine Sim.
*Galivan
*Grand Prix II
*Green Beret
*Head Over Heels
*Hyper Sports
*Impossible Mission
*International Rugby
*Italian Super Car
*It's a Knockout
*Kong Strikes Back
*Kung Fu Masters
*Leaderboard
*Mikie
*Mission 1 Project Volcano
*Ninja Massacre
*Ping Pong
*Pro Skateboard sim.
*Pro Tennis Sim.
*Raid!!
*Rambo First Blood Part II
*SAS combat Sim.
*Super Heroes
*Super Stuntman
*Super Tank
*Xevious

Speedlock type 2 :

*Arkanoid Revenge of Doh,
*Basket Master,
*Crazy Cars,
*Deliverance Stormlord II,
*Gryzor,
*Mercenary L'evasion de Targ,
*Nigel Mansell GP,
*Renegade (Hitsquad),
*Road Runner,
*Robocop,
*Stallone Cobra,
*Tank,
*Target Renegade,
*Tarzan,
*The New Zealand Story,
*World Games

Speedlock type 3 :

*Altered Beast,
*Back To the Future III,
*Bad Dudes vs Dragon Ninja,
*Batman the Movie,
*Fighter Bomber,
*Guerrilla War,
*Hammerfist,
*Monty Python Flying circus,
*Mutants 64k,
*Ocean Beach Volley,
*Operation Wolf,
*Operation Thunderbolt,
*P47 Freedom Fighter,
*Rainbow Islands,
*SDI (activision)
*Shinobi,
*Star control,
*Stormlord,
*Super Wonderboy in monsterland,
*The Addams Family 128k,
*The Ninja Warriors,
*The Untouchables,
*Turrican II The Final Fight,
*Typhoon,
*Wizball,

Speedlock type 4 :

*Cabal
*Midnight Resistance
*Chase HQ

== Disc ==

Speedlock was also available in disc version.

One version called "[[8k Speedlock]]", relied on the fact that the CPC's hardware could reliably read but not write 8k sectors.

the format was either devised or done on an Atari ST or an IBM PC compatible machine (since the CPC share with them the same FDC controler). The main difference being that an ST or PC can write more data per track than a CPC.

In itself, a speedlock track exists in 2 versions, used at the discretion of the duplicator, one use a CRC, and the other not.

A speedlock track consist of only 512 byte declared for the sector, and all the remaining data is spanned in a huge GAP section.
When copied on a CPC, the FDC only store the 512 first bytes as declared in the CHRN, and discard the remaining contained in the gap section. Those tracks have an EDC (Error Data Checksum), because only 512 bytes are used to calculate the data checksum, as well as an illegal data field size.

There were two methods to get around this:

1. A hardware modification to the Amstrad CPC and a special copy program

2. Executioner's utility Xexor included a 'brain file' solution to crack individual games before copying them.

Speedlock

2016-02-25T15:55:24Z

Dlfrsilver: /* Cassette */

[[Category:Copy Protection]]

'''Speedlock''' is the name of a disc and cassette copy protection designed by Dave Looker ([[DJL]]) and Dave Aubrey-Jones.

Earlier versions mentioned "DJL Software" later versions mentioned "Speedlock Associates".

== Cassette ==

It was a modified version of the Spectrum's cassette routines with protection added.

It is often recognised for it's blue/black stripes in the border during loading.

Later versions had multicoloured stripes for the leader/pilot tone, and then blue/black stripes for the data.

As the protection system continued to evolve, programs such as [[Soft-Lok]] and the [[Bonzo Blitz]] were upgraded to break the protection.

The speedlock tape protections in their Amstrad CPC versions only use 4 different types of encoding :

Speedlock type 1 :

*11 A Side Soccer
*3D star Fighter
*Advanced Pinball sim.
*Arcade Flight Sim.
*Arkanoid
*Beach Head
*Beach Head II
*Bmx Simulator
*Death Stalker
*Express Raider
*Fruit Machine Sim.
*Grand Prix II
*Green Beret
*Head Over Heels
*Hyper Sports
*Impossible Mission
*International Rugby
*Italian Super Car
*Kong Strikes Back
*Kung Fu Masters
*Leaderboard
*Mikie
*Mission 1 Project Volcano
*Ninja Massacre
*Ping Pong
*Pro Skateboard sim.
*Pro Tennis Sim.
*Raid!!
*SAS combat Sim.
*Super Heroes
*Super Stuntman
*Super Tank

Speedlock type 2 :

*Arkanoid Revenge of Doh,
*Army Moves UK,
*Basket Master,
*Crazy Cars,
*Deliverance Stormlord II,
*Gryzor,
*Mercenary L'evasion de Targ,
*Nigel Mansell GP,
*Renegade (Hitsquad),
*Road Runner,
*Robocop,
*Stallone Cobra,
*Tank,
*Target Renegade,
*Tarzan,
*The New Zealand Story,
*World Games

Speedlock type 3 :

*Altered Beast,
*Back To the Future III,
*Bad Dudes vs Dragon Ninja,
*Batman the Movie,
*Fighter Bomber,
*Guerrilla War,
*Hammerfist,
*Monty Python Flying circus,
*Mutants 64k,
*Ocean Beach Volley,
*Operation Wolf,
*Operation Thunderbolt,
*P47 Freedom Fighter,
*Rainbow Islands,
*SDI (activision)
*Shinobi,
*Star control,
*Stormlord,
*Super Wonderboy in monsterland,
*The Addams Family 128k,
*The Ninja Warriors,
*The Untouchables,
*Turrican II The Final Fight,
*Typhoon,
*Wizball,

Speedlock type 4 :

*Cabal
*Midnight Resistance
*Chase HQ

== Disc ==

Speedlock was also available in disc version.

One version called "[[8k Speedlock]]", relied on the fact that the CPC's hardware could reliably read but not write 8k sectors.

the format was either devised or done on an Atari ST or an IBM PC compatible machine (since the CPC share with them the same FDC controler). The main difference being that an ST or PC can write more data per track than a CPC.

In itself, a speedlock track exists in 2 versions, used at the discretion of the duplicator, one use a CRC, and the other not.

A speedlock track consist of only 512 byte declared for the sector, and all the remaining data is spanned in a huge GAP section.
When copied on a CPC, the FDC only store the 512 first bytes as declared in the CHRN, and discard the remaining contained in the gap section. Those tracks have an EDC (Error Data Checksum), because only 512 bytes are used to calculate the data checksum, as well as an illegal data field size.

There were two methods to get around this:

1. A hardware modification to the Amstrad CPC and a special copy program

2. Executioner's utility Xexor included a 'brain file' solution to crack individual games before copying them.

Speedlock

2015-12-19T19:24:39Z

Dlfrsilver: /* Disc */

Howto: Alkatraz and other protections

2008-03-28T22:03:21Z

Dlfrsilver:

Ok, you will find here the settings i use in order to transfer alkatraz protected tapes with no problems :

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7382/rglagesprotectionalkatrya6.jpg

- Contrôle de lecture means 'read control' in english 

- Wave/mp3 is easy to translate 

- Synth midi too 

- Microphone must be muted 

- entrée de ligne means 'in-line' 

Once you have done this, Please use GOLDWAVE, and check this second pictures below : 

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/1776/rglagesprotectionalkatrbt6.jpg

 

-in line must be put to 50% and used (click select) 

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8127/rglagesprotectionalkatrpg5.jpg

- Now, the most top button must be put to 76%, the one below for balance to 0%, and the third to speed = 1.00

Ok, and more than everything, on your tape recorder, put the volume slider to 50,

considering the range goes from 0 to 100.

Use then *.WAV format, 44khz, 8 bits mono, and try to dump a cassette.

It should work 100 % unless you have an error on tape.

Howto: Alkatraz and other protections

2008-03-28T21:39:39Z

Dlfrsilver:

Howto: Alkatraz and other protections

2008-03-28T21:35:31Z

Dlfrsilver:

Ok, you will find here the settings i use in order to transfer alkatraz protected tapes with no problems :

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7382/rglagesprotectionalkatrya6.jpg

Howto: Alkatraz and other protections

2008-03-28T21:33:58Z

Dlfrsilver:

Howto: Alkatraz and other protections

2008-03-28T21:33:01Z

Dlfrsilver:

Ok, you will find here the settings i use in order to transfer alkatraz protected tapes with no problems :

[[Image:[URL=http://imageshack.us][IMG]http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7382/rglagesprotectionalkatrya6.jpg[/IMG][/URL]|frame|left|[URL=http://imageshack.us][IMG]http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7382/rglagesprotectionalkatrya6.jpg[/IMG][/URL]]]

Howto: Alkatraz and other protections

2008-03-28T21:28:53Z

Dlfrsilver: New page: Ok, you will find here the settings i use in order to transfer alkatraz protected tapes with no problems : [[Image:http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rglagesprotectionalkatrde5.jpg...

Ok, you will find here the settings i use in order to transfer alkatraz protected tapes with no problems :

[[Image:http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rglagesprotectionalkatrde5.jpg]]

Technical documentation

2008-03-28T21:18:26Z

Dlfrsilver:

== BASIC / Firmware / CP/M ==

* [[Technical information about Locomotive BASIC]]

== Built-in connectors: pinout ==

* [[Connector:2nd disc drive (CPC664, CPC6128, CPC6128+)|2nd disc drive (CPC664, CPC6128, CPC6128+)]]
* [[Connector:Analogue joystick (CPC Plus only)|Analogue joystick (CPC Plus only)]]
* [[Connector:Aux socket (CPC Plus only)|Aux socket (CPC Plus only)]]
* [[Connector:Cassette recorder|Cassette recorder]]
* [[Connector:Digital joystick|Digital joystick]]
* [[Connector:Expansion port|Expansion port]]
* [[Connector:Floppy|Floppy]]
* [[Connector:Monitor|Monitor]]
* [[Connector:Printer port|Printer port]]
* [[Connector:Stereo sound|Stereo sound]]
* [[Connector:Tape|Tape]]

== Hardware extensions ==

* [[Programming:CPC Booster|CPC Booster]]
* [[Programming:SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]]

== How to's ==

* [[Changing the drive belt]]
* [[A guide to running software on a real Amstrad CPC/CPC Plus computer|A Guide to running software on a real CPC!]]
* [[Modify PC floppy drives|Modify PC floppy drives to work on a CPC]]
* [[Transfering Alkatraz protected tapes and most games!]]

== Internal components ==

* [[Arnold V specs|Arnold_V_specs]] - Arnold V (CPC+) Technical Specification
* [[AY-3-8912]] - Sound chip / keyboard controller
* [[Cassette data information]] - Information about the cassette storage system
* [[CRTC]] - Video chip
* [[Gate Array]] - Custom chip (frequency generation, colors, bank switching)
* [[I/O Port Summary]] - map of all known I/O ports of the CPC
* [[PIO]] - I/O controller
* [[Serial interface]] - how to use the DART and 8253 chips of an Amstrad-compatible serial interface

== Service Manuals ==

* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Amstrad%20CPC%20464%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad CPC 464 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Amstrad%20CPC%20664%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad CPC 664 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Amstrad%20CPC%206128%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad CPC 6128 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1%20FD-1%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad DDI-1 FD-1 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Amstrad%20PCW%208256-8512%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad PCW 8256-8512 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/CPC464-6128-GT65-CTM644-MP3-CT11%20Amendment%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad CPC464-6128-GT65-CTM644-MP3-CT11 Amendment Service Manual]

== Specifications ==

* [[Disc format|Disc formats]]
* [[List of file formats]]
* [[Format:SGX (SymbOS graphic files)|SGX (SymbOS graphic files)]]
* [[Format:VID (SymbOS video files)|VID (SymbOS video files)]]

[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Manual]]

Technical documentation

2008-03-28T21:15:29Z

Dlfrsilver:

== BASIC / Firmware / CP/M ==

* [[Technical information about Locomotive BASIC]]

== Built-in connectors: pinout ==

* [[Connector:2nd disc drive (CPC664, CPC6128, CPC6128+)|2nd disc drive (CPC664, CPC6128, CPC6128+)]]
* [[Connector:Analogue joystick (CPC Plus only)|Analogue joystick (CPC Plus only)]]
* [[Connector:Aux socket (CPC Plus only)|Aux socket (CPC Plus only)]]
* [[Connector:Cassette recorder|Cassette recorder]]
* [[Connector:Digital joystick|Digital joystick]]
* [[Connector:Expansion port|Expansion port]]
* [[Connector:Floppy|Floppy]]
* [[Connector:Monitor|Monitor]]
* [[Connector:Printer port|Printer port]]
* [[Connector:Stereo sound|Stereo sound]]
* [[Connector:Tape|Tape]]

== Hardware extensions ==

* [[Programming:CPC Booster|CPC Booster]]
* [[Programming:SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]]

== How to's ==

* [[Changing the drive belt]]
* [[A guide to running software on a real Amstrad CPC/CPC Plus computer|A Guide to running software on a real CPC!]]
* [[Modify PC floppy drives|Modify PC floppy drives to work on a CPC]]
* Transfering Alkatraz protected tapes and most games!

== Internal components ==

* [[Arnold V specs|Arnold_V_specs]] - Arnold V (CPC+) Technical Specification
* [[AY-3-8912]] - Sound chip / keyboard controller
* [[Cassette data information]] - Information about the cassette storage system
* [[CRTC]] - Video chip
* [[Gate Array]] - Custom chip (frequency generation, colors, bank switching)
* [[I/O Port Summary]] - map of all known I/O ports of the CPC
* [[PIO]] - I/O controller
* [[Serial interface]] - how to use the DART and 8253 chips of an Amstrad-compatible serial interface

== Service Manuals ==

* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Amstrad%20CPC%20464%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad CPC 464 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Amstrad%20CPC%20664%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad CPC 664 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Amstrad%20CPC%206128%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad CPC 6128 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1%20FD-1%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad DDI-1 FD-1 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Amstrad%20PCW%208256-8512%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad PCW 8256-8512 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/CPC464-6128-GT65-CTM644-MP3-CT11%20Amendment%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad CPC464-6128-GT65-CTM644-MP3-CT11 Amendment Service Manual]

== Specifications ==

* [[Disc format|Disc formats]]
* [[List of file formats]]
* [[Format:SGX (SymbOS graphic files)|SGX (SymbOS graphic files)]]
* [[Format:VID (SymbOS video files)|VID (SymbOS video files)]]

[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Manual]]