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Special notes on RapidLok from Accolade

There are PSI-5 Trading Co versions with RL1 (disk id "F1") and RL2 (disk id "F2"). PSI-5 Trading Co RL5 has disk id "F4", which indicates that it contains a later version of the game (see following statements). The "Psi-5 Trading Company" booklet has interesting statements from Accolade concerning different versions of RapidLok ("fast-loader", "protection software") and the game itself ( http://www.cerebus.de/psi5/words/docu/booklet.html#newTips ): DISK LOADING PROBLEMS (Commodore 64/128 users) BRAND OF DISK DRIVE: At present, Accolade's C64 product line only supports Commodore disk drives (i.e. 1541 & 1571). We cannot guarantee compatibility with other brands. We have a built-in "fast-loader" that can load programs over 10 times faster than a normal 1541 load. This, along with protection software, requires the internals of the disk drive to be very close to what a Commodore disk drive looks like. RANDOM BOOT PROBLEMS: We have found that a variety of problems can be caused by equipment being attached to your C64. We therefore recommend that all peripherals and cartridges (particularly "fast loaders") be removed from your C64 computer (except disk drive 8 joystick) prior to running any Accolade game. People are surprised to find out that just turning the power off to these devices is not enough. Accolade software utilizes all 64K of RAM in the system and uses memory configurations that differ from other game software. This tends to upset modems and printers and the like. DRIVE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS: We have found out that our original "fast-loader" and protection system required 1541 and 1571 disk drive alignment to be in close adjustment. A weakness in Commodore's 1541 disk drive design (along with the fact that other companies' older protection schemes involved the stepper motor banging itself against the track zero stop) causes many disk drives to become out of alignment. Both Commodore and other companies have wised up, but it still leaves a lot of disk drives partially out of alignment. We have therefore improved our "fast-loader" software to be more forgiving. In the case of Psi-5, you can determine if you have the earlier loader by doing a diskette directory of the label side. If the volume-id is "F1" it is the early, less forgiving loader. You may purchase an updated version by sending $10.00 to Accolade with your written request (your warrantee card must be on file also). Of course the best long term solution is to get your disk drive aligned. QUIT-REPLAY PROBLEMS: We found out that there is a rather rare version of the Commodore G64 printed circuit board that has trouble performing the Psi-5 QUIT REPLAY SAME/NEW commands (screen goes black with no disk light & hangs). This is machine and not media dependent. The later disk releases of Psi-5 have found a way around this problem. You can determine if you have the earlier version by doing a diskette directory of the label side. If the volume-id is "F1" it is the early version. You may purchase an updated version by sending $10.00 to Accolade with your written request (your warrantee card must be on file also).