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Do I need to remove the cartridge to load my games from disk/tape ?

Do you have a specific PAL/NTSC version ?

May I use Mega-Cart's NV-RAM?

May I use ROM images even if protected?

There is a way to restore standard default Mega-Cart settings?

Where are my favorites and other settings stored?

 

The Mega-Cart is a single cartridge for both PAL & NTSC Vic-20 computers.  All items inside were either originally made for both video standards, or if not then they have been fixed to work with both video standards.  You need just one Mega-Cart for no matter if you own a NTSC Vic-20, a PAL Vic-20 or both!  There are just few exceptions (listed below):

PAL only (Demos in the Extra menu):
Munakois
Robotic Liberation

PAL only (Utilities):
Hypra System

NTSC only (Cartridge games):
Bandits
Capture The Flag
Final Orbit (Bumper Bash works on both PAL/NTSC machines)
Mountain King
Spider City
Tooth Invaders

NV-RAM is exclusively used to store favorite items, settings and all other Mega-Cart preferences.
It is also used to play the menu background tune and other minor menu functions.

This information is retained even when the Vic-20 computer is powered OFF for up to 100 years.

NV-RAM is not accessible to the user for the purpose of saving high scores, files or other things.  Because there is a small free portion that is reserved for possible future use, access to NV-RAM disabled by default.

Since in some unforseen rare case a program might accidentally enable NV-RAM access and overwrite vital information, a periodic backup is recommended.

Read this article from the tips section for further information on how to backup preferences and this article to learn how to restore preferences from disk.

Remember that it is always possible restore the default factory settings.  Read this article for further information.

Note: There is one exception. The Tape/Disk game "Tetris+", uses a specific portion of the Mega-Cart's NV-RAM to save the best scores table.

Yes, you may use the Mega-Cart like a Memory expander too so it is possible to load and execute any ROM image, even if it is protected.

Read this article from the tips section for further information.

Yes, you may clear your preferences and restore the Mega-Cart's default factory settings by using the "RESET PREFS" function from Service menu.

Read this article from the Tips section for futher information.

 

How to add custom items to the Early Startup Menu

How to backup preferences

How to clear preferences and restore default factory settings

How to hide the menu and start just a specific tool/game.

How to restore preferences

How to select a random item.

How to select a tune from a data disk

How to start a protected rom Image.

How to use multiple utilities simultaneously.

How to use the Mega-Cart as a "simple" memory expander.

How to use the Mega-Cart in "Kiosk" mode.

The Early Startup Menu may contain up to 14 custom programs from any of the submenus CARTRIDGE GAMES, TAPE/DISK GAMES and UTILITIES.

Check here how to add or remove a custom item to/from the Early Startup Menu.
 

User preferences are automatically stored in the Mega-Cart’s Non-Volatile RAM and retained (for up to 100 years!) even when the Vic-20 computer is turned off.  Because preference settings are unique to each user, and because in some rare case a program may also overwrite this information, a periodic backup is recommended.

Please remember that the Mega-Cart preferences contain such settings as your favorite items, custom Early Startup menu items, filters (Categories, Publisher, System, etc) plus other things.

Mega-Cart preferences may be saved to a  disk-drive on device numbers 8 to 15.  It is not possible to use a datassette to save Mega-Cart preferences.  To save save your preferences, follow this procedure:

- Switch OFF the Vic-20 - Insert the Mega-Cart - Ensure the disk-drive is connected - Insert a formatted floppy disk with at least 2 blocks free in the   disk-drive - Switch ON the disk-drive - Switch ON the Vic-20 while holding CTRL key The Service menu should now appear. - Select "SAVE PREFS"

The Mega-Cart will now automatically save your current preferences to a file named "MC-PREFS" on the floppy-disk.  If the file already exists, you will be asked if you want to overwrite it or abort the operation. Please note that the Mega-Cart checks for an external disk-drive on device numbers 8 to 15 (in this sequence) in order to save preferences, so if you wish to use (for example) drive 10 please disconnect or switch off the drives 8 and 9 first. Once the backup process is successfully finished, the Early Startup menu comes up automatically, otherwise an error message will be displayed.

In case of a problem, or you if you simply want to delete your settings quickly, it is possible to clear all preferences and restore the Mega-Cart to default factory settings. Please remember that the preferences contain such settings as your favorite items, custom Early startup menu items, filters (Categories, Publisher, System, etc) plus other things.  So, when you clear preferences you lose all these settings!

Firstly, you need to enter the Service menu.  In order to enter this menu, hold down the CTRL key when you turn ON or reset the Vic-20. Next, select "RESET PREFS".  The Mega-Cart will restore default factory settings and open the Menu Music selector screen that allows you to select a favorite menu tune. Once you have selected the menu tune, the Early Startup menu comes up automatically with the default settings. Watch this tutorial video too.

Even if using the Mega-Cart you may choose from hundreds of software titles, sometimes you may want to use just a certain tool or play with just one game for a while (maybe to set the new Hi-Score) and you don't want to navigate the menu to select that game/utility and his Vic-20 memory configuration.

There is an easy solution for this request:

Select the Game or the utility from the proper menu

If you select an utility, select the Vic-20 memory configuration too
(If you use the QUICK MODE option, you cannot set a configuration but a common proper configuration will be used)

Now hold the "6" key and reset the Vic-20

Now each time you switch on or reset your Vic-20, the Mega-Cart always starts this game / utility by using the selected memory configuration for utilities.

You may revert to the standard navigation by holding "0" key on boot, take a look to the Boot Keys page for further information.

 

 

 

The Mega-Cart is able to use additional tunes loaded from a data disk that you may download here, to select a tune from a data disk, use this procedure:

- Switch off the Vic-20 - Insert the Mega-Cart - Ensure the disk-drive is connected - Insert the floppy disk containing music files into disk-drive - Switch on the disk-drive - Switch on the Vic-20 while holding the SPACE key   The Mega-Cart music selector should appear. To select an additional tune from data disk just press F3

Please note that the Mega-Cart checks for an external disk-drive on device numbers 8 to 15 (in this sequence) in order to load the additional tunes, so if you use (for example) drive 10, please disconnect or switch off drives 8 and 9 first.

 Watch this tutorial video too.

The Mega-Cart contains all currently known cartridge games, but if any other are discovered in future and its file image is protected you may use it as well.  Here is the procedure:

From the Normal Reset menu select VIC +32K
(The Vic-20 starts with 32K so any block can be used to load the cartridge image, normally it use just the BLK 5.)

Load the file image by adding ",1"
LOAD "FILE NAME",8,1

If the cartridge uses two file images then type NEW and load the next file image:
NEW
LOAD "FILE 2 NAME",8,1

Now the file image/s is/are in memory.  To prevent ROM protection and BLK 1 issues start it in this way:

Reset the Mega-Cart

From the Normal Reset menu select VIC UNEXP.(32K R/ONLY) 

Now the file image(s) automatically will start without any problem (ROM protection and/or BLK1 issue)

If the "cartridge" does not use a file image for BLK5 you need to type the proper SYS command.

This procedure can be used to load any cartridge file image even if it is unprotected or doesn't have BLK1 issues.  By the way, in this case after the file image(s) are loaded, to quickly start the ROM for BLK5 you may perform a Vic-20 soft reset by using this command:
SYS64802

Sometimes you may need to use multiple utilities simultaneously and with various Vic-20 memory configurations. This is quite possible using the Mega-Cart, as long as you observe the memory location requirements of the utilities to ensure they don't clash.  Fortunately, after selecting a utility from the software menu an information screen will show you what memory locations that particular utility requires (along with other information about the title).

For example, you cannot simultaneously use HESMON (which needs locations A0-AF or $A000-$AFFF) and BASIC V.4 (which also needs A0-AF) because they both occupy the same location in RAM.  However, you can mix PROGRAMMER'S AID (70-7F or $7000-7FFF) and BASIC V.4 (A0-AF or $A000-$AFFF) since they use different memory location.  Here is an example of how to do so using the Mega-Cart:

- From the Utilities menu, select "PROGRAMMER'S AID 70-7F"
- A Vic-20 memory configuration menu is opened
- From this menu select any RAM configuration.  It doesn't matter which you select at the moment.  The preselected
  RAM configuration of VIC+16K is fine.
- The PROGRAMMER'S AID utility should start succesfully.
- Now reset the Mega-Cart using its built-in reset button.
- From the Utilities menu, select "BASIC V.4 A0-AF"
- A Vic-20 memory configuration menu is opened.
- From this menu select the proper RAM configuration that works with both PROGRAMMER'S AID and BASIC V.4.  (BASIC V.4 will work with any RAM configuration but because PROGRAMMER'S AID works in BLK3, if you select the VIC+32K+3K configuration BASIC V.4 will overwrite it.  Any RAM configuration other than VIC+32K+3K is okay in this case.)

BASIC V.4 starts automatically because it resides on BLK5 while to start PROGRAMMER'S AID you need to type the proper SYS command (SYS28681 in this case).

This example demonstrates two utilities being used simultaneously, but you can combine more than two utilities if none of them use the same memory location (for example try adding "VICMON B0-BF" and "DISK UTILITY 60-6F" to see what happens).

 

Mega-Cart includes a "Kiosk" Mode feature that can restrict access to all menus but one the you specify.  For example, you may wish to restrict use of the Mega-Cart to CARTRIDGE GAMES only.  Additionally, by selecting the QUICK MODE option you can have games start instantly when chosen (hiding the EARLY MENU ADD/DELETE feature).

Here is the procedure:

- Hold the "CTRL" key and switch on / reset the Vic-20.  The Mega-Cart Service menu will appear.
- Select the QUICK MODE option (if not present you are already using the QUICK MODE).
- Hold the "1" key and reset the Vic-20 again.

Now the Mega-Cart will operate in "Kiosk" Mode and you can quickly start any games inside the CARTRIDGE MENU.

You may revert to the standard navigation (making all menus available) by holding the "0" (zero) key on boot, or by selecting the STANDARD MODE option from the Service menu (Hold the "CTRL" key on boot to enter to this menu)

Take a look to the Boot Keys page for further info.

I do not see all the menu items

I just see a plain boot screen when I switch ON the Vic-20.

The early startup menu doesn't come up on boot

When resetting the Mega-Cart the last game played or a plain Vic-20 boot screen appears.

 

It is possible you have not correctly inserted the Mega-Cart in the rear expansion port of the VIC-20.

1. Turn your Vic-20 OFF and remove the cartridge. 2. Insert the cartridge (label side up) into the wide expansion     port on the back of the computer as far as possible.  You     should see the cartridge like in the photo to the right. 3. Turn the Vic-20 ON. If the problem persists then it is possible your Vic-20 expansion port has a dirty edge connector or is faulty.  Try to clean them or if possible use another Vic-20.

This normally occurs when you hold "1" to "6" keys while booting.

These keys are used to lock certain menus or lock the last selection so the Mega-Cart always start from that menu instead of the normal Early Startup Menu.  You can re-enable the normal startup by holding down the “0” (zero) key while booting.

Take a look to the Boot Keys page for further information.

 

Occasionally, when resetting the Mega-Cart in order to return to the Early startup menu, the last game played or a plain Vic-20 boot screen may appear.  This is NOT a Mega-Cart anomaly.  When this happens just perform another reset.

In order to ensure that the reset function works properly be sure to use the Mega-Cart’s reset button exclusively.  Do not use reset switches on serial/user ports.

1

Additional menu tunes

2

Instruction sheet

3

JiffyDOS drives speedup (SJLOAD)

4

Mega-Cart poster

5

Mega-Cart sticker

6

Run additional programs (CBM-FileBrowser)

7

Vic-20 keyboard overlay

The Mega-Cart contains 8 different tunes that can be selected as background music during menu browsing but it is also able to use additional tunes loaded from a data disk.

We've provided here a downloadable zip file containing a data disk file image with additional tunes by Anders Carlsson.  The zip file must be extracted and the file image must be copied to a real disk using any tool that you like.  Please check this Denial thread if you need further information on how to transfer disk file images to real disks.

1541 Disk image (Zip file) 1571 Disk image (Zip file) 1581 Disk image (Zip file)

To know how to select a tune from a data disk, read this article from the tips section.

An instruction sheet was included inside your Mega-Cart box.  In case it has gone missing (or your children have used it as drawing paper!) you may download and print another copy from the PDF document available here.

Instruction sheet (PDF file)

SJLOAD boost speed access to disk drives with JiffyDOS ROM and also to new SD-Card based drives (uIEC, C64-SD, SD2IEC, MMC2IEC), it speed-up LOAD, SAVE and OPEN for both PAL and NTSC systems.

From revision 20 it is full integrated on Mega-Cart and it is automatically used from CBM-Command and Disk Copier utilities and from the new External Boot feature too, you may also select it from the SOFT RESET menu to use it with any memory configuration, unexpanded, +3K, +32K.
If you prefer you may just hold keys F2, F4, F6 on boot to automatically start the Vic-20 respectively, unexpanded +3K or +32K with SJLOAD active.

To automatically speed-up specific utilities (EasyLoad+ and CBM-FileBrowser) and generically to add SJLOAD support for all previous Mega-Cart revisions you may install the SJLOAD BASIC version, it is a special SJLOAD version for Mega-Cart that resides on NV-RAM IO2/3 area that could be easily used from any memory configuration with just a SYS call, there are 2 distinct versions for PAL and NTSC systems and it speed-up LOAD only.
Please note that there is just one Mega-Cart version for both PAL and NTSC systems but you need to install the proper PAL or NTSC version of SJLOAD BASIC if you want to automatically speed-up EasyLoad+, CBM-FileBrowser or to add SJLOAD support for all previous Mega-Cart revisions.


How to install:
Load the proper program (PAL or NTSC) and run (It will take about 10 minutes, just once)

How to use:
To manually activate SJLOAD speedup for "Jiffy" drives, from basic prompt type SYS40000 (for VIC+32K+3K or VIC+3K configurations) with any other Vic configuration type POKE40320,0:SYS40000

To get the best SJLOAD experience just use CBM-FileBrowser for Mega-Cart, it will auto-detect and use SJLOAD and surf directories of SD-Card based drives as well as classic CBM drives easily and quickly by loading programs for any Vic configuration, unexpanded / +3K / +8K or plus or cart images and all without any configuration file.

Download:
SJLOAD08 BASIC version for Mega-Cart (Zip file).

Do you need a poster for your vintage computer room ? This is another amazing work by Brent Santin: Mega-Cart poster (high resolution JPG file)

Do you want something really cool thing to amaze your friends ? Here is the perfect thing for you... Mega-Cart sticker (high resolution JPG file)

CBM-FileBrowser is a program launcher that easily surf and run programs stored on any drive. It runs programs for any Vic-20 memory configuration (unexp. / +3K / +8K or plus) and cart images without any config file. Even it may work with "classic" drives (1541-1571-1581 / etc), you get the best experience along with modern SD-Card based drives (uIEC, C64-SD, SD2IEC, MMC2IEC). It is capable to detect and use SJLOAD for Mega-Cart that speedup access to any JiffyDOS drive (SD-Drives too). If you use these drives, it's strongly suggested that you install SJLOAD BASIC for Mega-Cart.

How it works:
LOAD it from any memory configuration and RUN.

After launching a program, It may auto-restart (without re-load) even if you switch off your Vic-20, just hold CBM key on boot/reset (or select VIC +3K) and type SYS1150.

Please note that if you launch a 3K program, you must reload the FileBrowser.


Download for old revisions:*
CBM-FileBrowser v1.5 for Mega-Cart (Zip file)

* Added to the Utilities section from revision 20 (November 2010).

 

If you consider yourself a hip Mega-Cart user then your Vic-20 certainly cannot be seen without this fashionable accessory... Here you can download an attractive looking keyboard overlay that you may print and place on your Vic-20. This overlay shows you all the main Mega-Cart key functions; both those that can be used while browsing the cartridge's menus and also those keys that activate special functions during boot. This overlay is best printed on heavy paper or card stock.  If you cannot print a document of this size at home, your local printing bureau can do the job cheaply and professionally. Keyboard overlay (U.S. Tabloid) (PDF file) Keyboard overlay (A3) (PDF file)