Q. I have just started programming my new Oric 48K and have run into a few problems saving my programs. My programs seem to be saved alright but when I come to load them I run into difficulties about 75 per cent of the time.

I either get 'FILE ERROR - LOAD ABORTED' or I only get part of the program; the last line number being followed by lots of 'U's.

If I try to edit out this last line number, the computer crashes completely.

R. Benbow
Walsall, W. Midlands

Your problem is corrupted data. Your Oric is reading most of the program fine, but some of it is read from tape incorrectly.

It may be that the record/playback head is out of alignment.

Another possibility is the Oric is picking up some mains hum if you're running the recorder off the mains - try batteries if possible.

You could also try inserting a dummy line as the first line of a program after loading a program (e.g. 1 PRINT), then immediately deleting it by typing 1 and pressing RETURN. This will force the Oric to sort out its program line pointers and sometimes cures the 'U' problem.