My interest in this forum stems from the fact that I used to write C64 games professionally 20-25 years ago and I would love to get back into it as a hobby. To that end I have been trying to put my old development system back together again. I used a PDS system (Programmers Development System) which, as you may know, links a PC to a C64/128 via a proprietary 8-bit ISA card and an interface cable connecting the card to the C64's User Port.

All I had left of this system was the ISA card, the interface cable, the PDS manuals and a bunch of disks containing the PDS software. All my other C64 kit I had sold off years before. First I had to get a PC old enough to use the PDS hardware (i.e. with an ISA slot and an CGA/EGA display) fortunately I managed to acquire an old Amstrad PC1640 with an 8086 CPU, 640k RAM, 20MB hard drive, 5.25" floppy drive and a monochrome EGA display. Despite being absolutely filthy it was in excellent working condition which was amazing.

On the Commodore hardware side I have just bought a C128D (which is what I used to use back in the day) and an extra 1570 drive. I have a Commodore 1701 monitor which I use with my Atari 800 but I'm looking for one of the later Commodore monitors which will take advantage of the C128's RGB output. After also acquiring copies of my favorite books - the "Commodore 64 Programmers Reference Guide" and "Programming the Commodore 64" (by Rae West) I am pretty much set to go, apart from one thing...

Unfortunately, after 20 years of storage my PDS disks have turned into plates of oxide pate' and are totally unreadable. So I will end my first post with a plea for help, if you have or know anyone who has copies of the PDS software (consisting of the 6502 assembler/editor that runs on the PC and the PDS downloader which is loaded into the C64/128 and handles the I/O with the PDS), I would be very grateful if they could send me copies (I will of course pay for any expenses incurred).

WOO HOO!!!!
Just checked out that csdb thread again and SAILOR has posted the files! Yes! Yes! Yes! (sorry but I am rather happy with this turn of events). I've downloaded them but I haven't had a chance to try them out yet. I will let you know what happens when I do.

As I mentioned, I am still waiting for my csdb clearance so if someone (Moloch, maybe?) could post a thank you to Sailor on my behalf I would be very grateful.

Also, let them know that I intend to create a PDS resource page (as I mentioned previously) which will include all the information requested (manual scans, details of cables, pictures of the PDS bits etc.) and more.

Once again, a big thank you to Moloch, Morpheus and Sailor.

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As I mentioned, I am still waiting for my csdb clearance so if someone (Moloch, maybe?) could post a thank you to Sailor on my behalf I would be very grateful.

Also, let them know that I intend to create a PDS resource page (as I mentioned previously) which will include all the information requested (manual scans, details of cables, pictures of the PDS bits etc.) and more.