The Bootstrap and Absolute Loaders

This document details the Bootstrap Loader and the Absolute Loader, which are essential programs for loading other software into a computer's core memory.

The Bootstrap Loader is a small program that is toggled into the highest available core memory bank. It contains instructions that, when executed, load a larger program, the Absolute Loader, into memory. The document provides a list of locations and their corresponding instructions for the Bootstrap Loader. It also specifies how the "xx" in these locations represents the highest available core memory bank, and that the contents of location xx7776 should include the device status register address of the paper tape reader used for loading.

The Absolute Loader is a larger program loaded by the Bootstrap Loader. It occupies specific memory locations (xx7474 through xx7743) and has a starting address of xx7500. The Absolute Loader is used to load other programs, and it supports three types of loads: normal, relocated to a specific address, and continued relocation. The document outlines the optional switch register settings for these load types.

Figures D-1, D-2, and D-3 illustrate the loading and verification processes for the Bootstrap Loader, loading the Absolute Loader, and loading BASIC using the Absolute Loader, respectively.