The FreeLoad cartridge is a simple clone of an Epyx Fastload cartridge, offering a system reset button, a file access activity LED and a disable switch. Load 5x faster from your floppy disk drive, your SD2IEC or your Pi1541!
Most 8k (E)EPROMs should work. They usually have one of the following identifiers in their names: 2764, 2864, 27C64, or 28C64.
There are numerous programming devices/EPROMers. The MiniPRO TL866 is used in these instructions. This is available for around €50 and supports almost all (E)EPROMs.
After starting the MiniPRO software, search in the IC database for the (E)EPROM used. The (E)EPROM must now be correctly inserted in the socket. A click on the "Information" button shows how this must be positioned. Pay attention to the notch and to pin 1. If an EPROM (not EEPROM) is used, the following must be observed: Make sure that the EPROM is empty. A "blank check" provides information about this. An EPROM that is not empty must first be erased. EEPROMs, on the other hand, can simply be overwritten. Open the cartridge image (freeload_8k.bin, you can find it in the software folder) and confirm with "OK". Now click on the "P" button and confirm with "Program". The (E)EPROM will now be burned. So that the EPROM does not lose its data, the glass pane should be sealed with an opaque adhesive tape. An EEPROM does not have this window and there is also no risk of the data being lost.
The (E)EPROM is now ready for use and can be plugged into the socket of the cartridge. Important: Pay attention to the alignment of the notch on the (E)EPROM! It must match the notch on the module PCB.
The MiniPRO software is only available for Windows, but it also runs smoothly on Linux and Mac with WINE. Alternatively, the open source command line tool minipro is available for these operating systems.
In contrast to EEPROMS (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory), EPROMs cannot be overwritten with new data, but must first be erased with an EPROM eraser. This sends ultraviolet radiation into the EPROM. This erases the memory, which can then be rewritten. A cheap EPROM eraser is sufficient. Don't forget to remove any UV cover from the EPROM. The erasing process takes 10-15 minutes in most cases. The EPROM can then be written to again.
- Switch off your C64 if you haven't already done so.
- Insert the cartridge into the expansion slot of your C64.
- Switch on the cartridge using the selector switch.
- Turn on your C64.
- The Fastloader works automatically.
Take a look at the manual to find out how you can use all the features of the cartridge.