RISC OS 3.7

If you are still running RISC OS 3.5 on your RiscPC or RISC OS 3.6 and you want to fit a Strong ARM processor then you need to upgrade to RISC OS 3.7 or better. Ideally you should get RISC OS 4, but for the 'pecuniarily challenged' we can offer RISC OS 3.7 ROMS plus a CD containing a copy of the hard drive build for just £5.
In case you don't have a CD drive on your RiscPC the data is also supplied on the CD in several zip files which fit on 1.44MB floppies so you can transfer them from almost any computer with a CD ROM and floppy drive.
Price £5 plus £2 UK carriage, £3 outside UK.

Replacement floppy drives

• Hi density (1.6MB) floppy drive to fit A7000, A7000+, RiscPC, A5000, A4000. These drives are modified to work on early RiscPC 600 and other machines where standard drives with ID set to 1 do not work.
  Price £6.50 plus £2 UK carriage, £4.50 outside UK.

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• Double density (800K)replacement drive for A3000. Price £9.50.
  Please add £2 UK carriage, £4.50 outside UK.

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• RiscPC 600 special floppy drive cable
  This is a replacement floppy drive ribbon cable which allows the RiscPC 600 to use a standard PC floppy drive with the drive ID set to '1'. Normally with the RiscPC 600 the drive ID must be '0' and altering this often requires soldering on the drive PCB. This special cable lets you use almost any PC drive. Price is just £4.20 including UK carriage. Please add £1.50 outside UK.

  RiscPC Second Slice

Second slice for RiscPC, complete with 4 slot backplane, screening strip and longer locking pins.
We can supply these for just £39. Note that these may not be new but will be in 'as new' condition with no knockouts removed. Please add £9.50 UK carriage. Outside UK please ask for carriage costs.

Purchase RiscPC 2nd Slice - UK carriage

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  Backplanes

• Two slot backplane for RiscPC - £7 plus £1 UK carriage, £2 outside UK.

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• Four slot backplane for RiscPC - £24 plus £2 UK carriage, £3 outside UK.

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  Network cards

  Risc PC PC cards

The 486-40 is ideal for running old DOS programs, especially games. Since this is equivalent to the fastest processors in general use at the time Windows took over as the standard PC OS almost any pre-Windows programs will run at least as fast as originally intended, sometimes much faster. For use with Windows you really need at least a 486-100 or 586 processor. This will run Windows 3.1 at adequate speed, Windows 95 or 98 is just about adequate, but anything later is painfully slow. You can't run Windows NT on any PC card.

Acorn's original !PC software is availabe from Chris' Acorns. If you want to run Windows on a PC card or with versions of RISC OS after 3.7 you really need PCPro from Aleph One. This used to be commercial software costing over £60 but has now been released under the GPL and version 3.08, which is also RISC OS 6 compatible, is available for download here.

Please add £3 UK carriage, £4.50 outside UK except 586 133 where carriage is £5 UK, £7 outside UK.
If you are ordering more than one PC card please contact us first to ensure that we have stock of the type you want.

• 486 SLX 40 PC card, £12.

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• 486 DX 66 PC card, £20.

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• 486 DX 100 PC card, £27.

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• 586 100 PC card, £37.

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• 586 133 PC card, £48.

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  RiscPC feet

  Replacement CMOS battery

If your computer is getting on a bit you should inspect the battery regularly even if it does appear to be working properly as they can leak when old. On a RiscPC it's the silver object about the size of a couple of £1 coins stuck together on the right hand edge of the motherboard just behind where the leads to the speaker and LED's plug in. If there's the slightest sign of green fur on it replace it at once. Any leakage is very corrosive and can quickly damage the motherboard beyond repair.

The original battery is nickel cadmium, the replacement in nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), which is much less toxic. It also is much less prone to leakage. It is soldered in place so you will need to remove the motherboard. If there's any sign of leakage from the old battery wash the area thoroughly in a 50% solution of vinegar and water and then rinse in clean water. The leakage is alkaline and the mild acid of the vinegar will help neutralise it.

Replacement CMOS battery costs £3.20 plus £1 UK carriage for one, 50p for each additional battery. Outside UK please add £2 for the first, 80p for each additional battery.
 

Alternative AAA cell

Instead of the button cell soldered to the motherboard it is possible to use an AAA cell connected by remote leads. On the RiscPC this cell can then be tucked into the 'slot' at the front of the case beside the speaker. The advantage of this is that if it ever does leak in the future then it won't damage the motherboard. Also it may be possible to cut away the old cell leaving the legs in place to which you can solder the leads without the need to remove the motherboard.

This option is particularly recommended for the A3000 where the button cell lays flat on the PCB and damage caused by leakage is much more likely. It is then possible to connect the leads 'upstream' of the normal mounting pads as the PCB tracks are often badly corroded under the cell.

An AAA cell, sealed with approx 25 cm. flying leads (more than long enough for any model) costs £3.20 plus £1 UK carriage for one, 50p for each additional battery. Outside UK please add £2 for the first, 80p for each additional battery.

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