Speed DOS

Work is still in progress here!

Speed DOS and Speed DOS plus is likely the best known speeder based on Kernal ROM replacement for the C64. Developed by "Oliver Eickemeier" and "Oliver Joppich" it was released late 1984. The hardware was produced by the german company Elektronik Service – Christoph Dichte and their website states:

1984

Der legendäre Floppy-Beschleuniger "Speed DOS" für die damalige Commodore C64er-Reihe wird in unserem Haus gefertigt und vertrieben.

which translates to:

1984

The legendary Floppy-Speeder "Speed DOS" for the Commodore C64 line is produced and shipped by our company.

The space required on the Kernal ROM was gained by removing tape and RS-232 routines. Speed DOS requires a parallel cable and a modified disk drive ROM next to the C64 Kernal ROM replacement to fully operate. The name Speed DOS was spread a lot due to many programs (mainly copiers) picking it up often when a parallel cable was required.

Even though many people know the name of this ROM the user base is probably near zero nowadays and most people looking into adding a speeder to their system would probably turn towards JiffyDOS. Speed DOS was rather popular in the 80s due to it being easily cloneable by just copying the ROMs, getting Kernal switching boards and adding the parallel cable to the drive. Still Speed DOS is a quite slow speeder easily outrun by about anything else but the parallel cable adds additional value when using copiers supporting it (and probably even REUs).

Functionality

• DOS Wedge (@) and protect/unprotect files
• Basic monitor (M, G, L, S, @ and X) and modified reset routine
• F-Keys
• Start and end address output
• Changed LIST handling
• OLD function (unusual - "!" is the command)

Hacks

It is very likely we will add more notes about special hacks on Speed DOS here, but the probably most important one can be found at:

• http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/firmware/drives/new/1541/hacks/ where 1541-II-relocated.bin among other things is found.

 "A version of the 1541-II ROM where the modifications to older firmware have been relocated to the lower bank ($c000-$dfff),
  to improve compatibility with fastloader systems.  Made by Wolfgang Moser."

Trivia

• RECOLLECTION #1 C64 Legends has an interview with "ojo" (Oliver Joppich).
• Interview with OTD Oliver T. Dietz is one of the Prologic DOS creators and mentions "Oliver Joppich" and "Oliver Eickemeier" on the interview. Together they formed JEDI 2001.

Versions: SD / SD+ / 35 & 40 tracks - hungarian patching available. Headbanger did the loader as standalone loader ?

For later:

• RECOLLECTION #2 Protection Analysis

Binaries

Kernal_ROM_all_rr.c64.org_2021-02.rar WILL SOMEWHEN contain:

• Speed_DOS_Plus_Manual_german_iDOC.txt

Software

• Speed DOS+ Mr.Z version (included on above package)
• Speed DOS stand alone loader
• Speeddos Double Disk Drive Copy V2.0
• Speeddoscopy
• SpeedCopy II
• Flack Turbo +70%

Weblinks

• 1541-parallel-adapter-SpeedDOS has a DIY-SpeedDOS
• Speed DOS vs. Prologic DOS german "reprint" of an article from 64'er October 1985, pages 28-29
• retroport.de has some board images
• Rants on Speed DOS during attempted SD2IEC implementation