Disable BREAK KEY - CONTROL-C - FUNCTION KEYS
by Terry Kepner
     The interrupt routine can be turned on and off at RAM 
location 63059.  The command to disable one of these functions 
will disable them all.  There is no way to "selectively" disable 
one or the other.  
    POKE 63059,128 will disable the Break Key, Control-C 
and Function Keys.
    POKE 63059,0 will re-enable the same functions.

Hide ADDRSS and SCHEDL
     If you don't use ADDRSS or SCHEDL, it is irritating to see 
them in the MENU all the time.  This solution makes them 
invisible, although it doesn't give you any extra room in the 
MENU area.  To hide ADDRSS, go into BASIC and type POKE 
63878,184.  To conceal SCHEDL, type POKE 
63889,184.  If you have the international version of the 
Olivetti M10, use POKE 63882,184 to hide ADDRSS and 
POKE 63893,184 to stash SCHEDL.

Hidden Storage Area
     There are 36 bytes of RAM (Random Access Read/Write Memory) 
which you can use in the memory reserved by the M10 operating 
system.  This 36-byte area will be protected from everything 
short of a cold start.  It can be used to store an identification 
name, number, or machine code program safely and permanently in 
RAM.  You could use this 36-byte area in BASIC programs or to 
transfer data from one program to another without creating a file 
in user-RAM.
     This technique uses the area in the operating system that 
normally holds the routines for accessing the optional ROM 
(Read Only Memory), if it is installed in your machine.  If you 
have an alternate ROM installed in your M10, then these 36 bytes 
are not available to you.
     Before using these 36 bytes, type POKE 62981,201 
and POKE 63018,255 in BASIC.  Once these two pokes are 
executed, memory addresses 62982 to 63017 are free to use for 
anything you want.  The above pokes remain effective until a 
cold-start occurs, or you install and use an optional ROM.
     Normally, the code from 62981 to 63011 checks for the 
existence of an optional ROM everytime you power up. If the ROM 
is installed, then the value 255 is stored in 63018, and the name 
of the ROM (for the Menu) is placed in 64167-64174.  The code 
from 63012 to 63017 is used when choosing the option ROM from the 
Menu.
     The POKE 62981,201 puts a machine language Return there, 
making the M10 think that the optional ROM is installed.  The 
POKE 63018,255 prevents a cold-start when you turn on your 
computer. 
     Whatever you put in those 36 bytes will stay there, unless 
you write a program to change them. Obviously, you use POKE 
commands to get whatever you want into these locations.
     Finally, these 36 bytes are available in the same locations 
for both the US and International versions of the M10.  And be 
prepared, anytime you start using POKE, you could cause a cold-
start in your computer. Therefore, make a backup of all your 
files BEFORE you start experimenting.

Reprinted from Pico Magazine with their permission
Copyright (c) 1985, still held by Pico Magzine
-Terry Kepner, Technical Editor, Pico Magazine