# Beta Release of Color 64 version 8.1b

**URL:** <https://www.itchybutt.org/t/beta-release-of-color-64-version-8-1b/141>\
**Category:** Commodore Color 64 BBS Support Forum\
**Created:** [September 18, 2026, 11:36am UTC](https://www.itchybutt.org/t/beta-release-of-color-64-version-8-1b/141 "2026-09-18T11:36:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nuke](https://www.itchybutt.org/user_avatar/www.itchybutt.org/nuke/32/5_2.png) [@nuke](https://www.itchybutt.org/u/nuke)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 11:36am UTC](https://www.itchybutt.org/t/beta-release-of-color-64-version-8-1b/141/1 "2026-09-18T11:36:41Z")

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🎆 **I’m happy to announce the beta release of Color 64 version 8.1b!** 🎉

**Big differences between 8.1a and 8.1b:**

- All code has been hardened and heavy focus was put on stack-safety for program stability

- Bugs corrected 🪲:

- Improvements 🔨:

**For existing systems being updated:**

- Download files and replace files ending in “810a”, "8100, or “8000” with their “810b” replacements. Remember that “bbs.games” goes to your AUX3 drive location!
- Add bbs.profile810b (replaces bbs.profile)
- Add new files sys.dir 810b and sys.pswd 810b
- Remove existing “bbs.profile”, “dir tools”, “bootmaker” and “pswd tools” if you haven’t already done so.
- run new “bootmaker 810b”
  - Press “ENTER” for all prompts
  - This will create new +DIRTOOLS and +PSWDTOOLS

- The updated User Profile section now offers “Protocol Selection” for users. You can either remove the SPARE 2 command (mark it level 9 in SETUP) or the “!” command. The SETUP is modified now to default to “!”

💾 **Download links:** 💾

- [Upgrade-only disk for Lt. Kernal (LTK) users](https://www.color64wiki.itchybutt.org/images/f/fe/81b_upgrade_%28LTK%29_BETA.zip)

- Full Install (New Systems) Options:

- 8.1b Beta Manual (draft): [Download](https://www.color64wiki.itchybutt.org/images/e/ea/Color_64_8.1b_Sysop_Manual_%28Beta%29.pdf)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nuke](https://www.itchybutt.org/user_avatar/www.itchybutt.org/nuke/32/5_2.png) [@nuke](https://www.itchybutt.org/u/nuke)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 9:59pm UTC](https://www.itchybutt.org/t/beta-release-of-color-64-version-8-1b/141/2 "2026-10-20T21:59:04Z")

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The beta did result in some necessary tweaks and I have posted refreshed files under the same links as of today at 4:30 EDT.

The beta period is nearly done as all objectives have been met!

The profile editor is now beefed up with the traditional user settings, password change, and protocol selection now incorporated.

I’ve also restructured what overlays load when to help reduce load time for the BBS systems that arent on some sort of fastload system.

**If you have already downloaded the beta** , you can update by downloading the current posted files (use the D81 or D64 image disks and replace on your system:

Bbs.init  
Bbs.msgs  
Bbs.xfer  
Bbs.ovl  
Bbs.ov3  
Bbs.profile

Let me know if you have any issues.

I’m expecting to release the completed product mid-December.