The Big MegaFlashROM SCC+ SD Topic

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Van Colemu

Hero (542)

afbeelding van Colemu

14-12-2013, 18:46

Guillian wrote:

Why you need/want a 1024K version?

A couple of reasons:

First is to store large midi files for playback on my Moonsound cart,
second is that I can then map the external 1MB as the main memory mapper using MemTR, the MSX 1 games 'cracked', 'trained' and transferred to disk images, then work fine on TurboR Big smile

The external memory 'has' to be larger than the internal (for me '512k') for this to work, as MemTR maps the largest as the main mapper

I'm sure the extra RAM will come in handy for other things too.....

Van Guillian

Prophet (3516)

afbeelding van Guillian

14-12-2013, 18:57

Colemu wrote:

First is to store large midi files for playback on my Moonsound cart,

If that midi files are larger than 800K aprox., then you need more RAM indeed.

Colemu wrote:

second is that I can then map the external 1MB as the main memory mapper using MemTR, the MSX 1 games 'cracked', 'trained' and transferred to disk images, then work fine on TurboR Big smile

I'm not sure about that. If those MSX1 games are converted in the right way to disk, then they should work on internal memory. If they have bugs in the memory selection rutine, they'll probably fail in the 1024K expansion.
I could test it with the 1024K prototype to be sure.

Colemu wrote:

The external memory 'has' to be larger than the internal (for me '512k') as MemTR maps the largest as the main mapper

With Nextor you don't need MemTR. Just press "4" key at boot time and bigger or equal external memory will be used.

Van Colemu

Hero (542)

afbeelding van Colemu

14-12-2013, 19:06

Ah, so you can still map the MFR SD RAM as the main mapper even though it is the same size, handy!

The reason is, I downloaded loads of disk images and they mainly failed to load on my TR, however, when I used my external 1024kb memory mapper (as main mapper), they worked fine!

I can load cassette images (using LoadCAS), but they are not 'trained'/'cracked', Jet Set Willy asks for the codes etc. I need the unlimited lives in Auf Monty....

Not sure why they worked on my external (now long gone) mapper, but they did Tongue

Van Guillian

Prophet (3516)

afbeelding van Guillian

14-12-2013, 19:15

Yes, I tested with the MFR SD 512K and the external memory was selected.
Perhaps they worked because the internal RAM is in an expanded slot and your external RAM in a primary.
Those MSX1 games sometimes ignored the subslot register and overwrited it.
With MFR SD 512/1024 they "probably" will not work because the cartridge works as an slot expander (the RAM is in subslot 2) So if those games overwrite/ignore the subslot register, they will fail.

Van max_iwamoto

Hero (628)

afbeelding van max_iwamoto

15-12-2013, 03:43

Now I found another issue with MegaFlashROM SCC+SD+512K. If I flash first disk of SD Snatcher and use flash cartridge in MSX2+ (I tried Panasonic WSX & Sony MSX2+) with ony 64KB of unmapped RAM installed, the game will hang with black screen. I tried all? possible scenarios to rule out every possibility. So this is what I tested:

1. Result - Failed:I started computer with "D" pressed to remove all other disk interfaces.
2. Result - Success: MegaFlashROM SCC+SD+512K in slot 1 + 1MB mapper in SLOT 2.
3. Result - Failed: MegaFlashROM SCC+SD inslot 1, MegaFlashROM SCC+SD+512K in slot 2.
4. Result - Success: MegaFlashROM SCC+SD+512K in slot 1 + 4MB Padial mapper in SLOT 2.

I suspected that maybe problem because RAM located in subslot, so I simulated same scenario on openMSX. Run from disk, SCC in slot 1-0 & 1-1, RAM in slot 1-2 (same as MFR SCC+SD+512). And everything worked OK, so I know that there is no issue in the game code.

Then I decided to test MegaFlashROM+SD+512K only as a memory mapper. So I killed SD Kernel and run game from disk. And success! So mapper part is working fine.

I was unable to test MSX2 with 64KB RAM, because I have all of them with 128K+. But I don't think it would be different from MSX2+ with 64KB results.

The conclusion: The issue happens only when playing on MegaFlashROM SCC+SD+512K and MSX2 with only 64KB of unmapped RAM.

So the question is - where is the problem? Somewhere in SD Kernel?

Van Guillian

Prophet (3516)

afbeelding van Guillian

15-12-2013, 09:08

Guillian wrote:

When running a DSK, MSX is restarted to disable subslots. In this way the BIOS can detect the MegaFlashROM SCC+ in the primary slot.

That mean that all devices in MegaFlashROM SCC+ SD will be disabled except the MegaFlashROM SCC+. So the RAM will not be available.
If you try OPFXSD v1.11 you can hold "R" (cartridge in slot 1) or "F" (cartridge in slot 2) to NOT disable subslots but disable Nextor. In that way you can run a DSK and use the RAM expansion. But the SCC will be in a subslot.

Van max_iwamoto

Hero (628)

afbeelding van max_iwamoto

15-12-2013, 16:21

Guillian wrote:
Guillian wrote:

When running a DSK, MSX is restarted to disable subslots. In this way the BIOS can detect the MegaFlashROM SCC+ in the primary slot.

That mean that all devices in MegaFlashROM SCC+ SD will be disabled except the MegaFlashROM SCC+. So the RAM will not be available.
If you try OPFXSD v1.11 you can hold "R" (cartridge in slot 1) or "F" (cartridge in slot 2) to NOT disable subslots but disable Nextor. In that way you can run a DSK and use the RAM expansion. But the SCC will be in a subslot.

I downloaded OPFXSD 1.11 and tried following things:

1. I need to restore KERNEL.DAT, because I killed it before to disable SD interface from booting. Put KERNEL.DAT into root of SD card and booted into recovery mode with key "UP" pressed. Pressed "F4" to restore kernel. Program said something about searching and counted some HEX values for a while and then returned to main menu. So, it's unclear if it located it and flashed it or not. So would be nice to have more comments in this section. So I assumed that it didn't flash and went to 2nd step.

2. Installed MegaFlashROM SCC+SD into SLOT 1 and MegaFlashROM SCC+SD+512K in SLOT 2. Booted to MM and flashed 2 files (assumed that SCC+SD+512K in slot 2-1 and it found it there! Because we don't want to flash last working interface in SLOT1-1Wink:
OPFXSD KERNEL.DAT /S21/I
OPFXSD ROMDISK.DSK /S21 /ID

So, I install MegaFlashROM SCC+SD+512K in SLOT1 and reboot MSX. Nothing happened, it went directly to basic.

3. So, I decided to flash DSKROM.ROM as well to make sure that everything is updated. So I used this command:

OPFXSD DSKROM.ROM /S21 /I1

Flashed with no issues, restarted and again nothing!

4. I decided to re-flash DISK1 of SD Snatcher so the boot will be flashed again. Done!

OPFXSD SD-SNA1E.DSK /D1

Restarted again and wooow! It's booted now! So, is it good news? NO! Freezing again... But I forgot to press "R" with cartridge in SLOT1! Restarted again with "R" down and MSX freezing even earlier with a blue screen, so game not even starting yet. Same effect with "F" pressed in SLOT2.

5. So I am out of options at the moment... Another interesting thing is that SD interface is still not working, if I try to boot with "ESC" key, it's going directly to BASIC...

Earlier when I was experimenting, I used OPFXSD /U. At the time it didn't produced any results, but maybe this is the reason why SD interface is not working anymore? Even it worked after I did /U. And would be nice to know which command undo results from /U command (But as I mention earlier, /U didn't do anything for me and cartridge was booting with SD interface).

So, I am very frustrated...

Van Guillian

Prophet (3516)

afbeelding van Guillian

15-12-2013, 18:32

max_iwamoto wrote:

1. I need to restore KERNEL.DAT, because I killed it before to disable SD interface from booting. Put KERNEL.DAT into root of SD card and booted into recovery mode with key "UP" pressed. Pressed "F4" to restore kernel. Program said something about searching and counted some HEX values for a while and then returned to main menu. So, it's unclear if it located it and flashed it or not. So would be nice to have more comments in this section. So I assumed that it didn't flash and went to 2nd step.

- Just follow the instructions of the manual: copy kernel.dat or kernelD.dat (kernel + ROM disk) to an empty/formated SD card.
- Enter recovery mode and press F4.
- While seaching for a valid kernel file you can see "Searching kernel..."
- When it is found you it starts the flashing process while on screen is shown ""Writing bank: xx"
- When the flashing process finish, it is shown "Kernel installed."
- If the kernel is not found, you can see "Kernel not found." text.
I think it is quite clear.

Quote:

2. Installed MegaFlashROM SCC+SD into SLOT 1 and MegaFlashROM SCC+SD+512K in SLOT 2. Booted to MM and flashed 2 files (assumed that SCC+SD+512K in slot 2-1 and it found it there! Because we don't want to flash last working interface in SLOT1-1;):
OPFXSD KERNEL.DAT /S21/I
OPFXSD ROMDISK.DSK /S21 /ID

KERNEL.DAT is for recovery menu only. If you want to install Nextor, you must use Nextor ROM

Quote:

So, I install MegaFlashROM SCC+SD+512K in SLOT1 and reboot MSX. Nothing happened, it went directly to basic.

That is normal. There is no Nextor/SD driver installed.

Quote:

3. So, I decided to flash DSKROM.ROM as well to make sure that everything is updated. So I used this command:

OPFXSD DSKROM.ROM /S21 /I1

Flashed with no issues, restarted and again nothing!

You don't need to install DSKROM. It is only used when running DSKs
Anyway, that is the expected result. No Nextor/SD driver = no boot.

Quote:

5. So I am out of options at the moment... Another interesting thing is that SD interface is still not working, if I try to boot with "ESC" key, it's going directly to BASIC...

Since it has no Nextor/SD driver, that's normal. There is no a disk interface in the cartridge.

Quote:

So, I am very frustrated...

I'd choose the kernelD.dat option. It installs Nextor kernel + ROM disk in the process. From recovery it takes a few seconds and it is quite easy.

EDIT: I have tested OPFXSD from the web and you are right. Pressing R/F does not work as expected. I reuploaded OPFXSD v1.11, ROMDISK.DSK with the updated OPFXSD and kernelD.dat with the updated ROM disk. Please, download them again.

Van max_iwamoto

Hero (628)

afbeelding van max_iwamoto

15-12-2013, 21:11

Guillian wrote:

EDIT: I have tested OPFXSD from the web and you are right. Pressing R/F does not work as expected. I reuploaded OPFXSD v1.11, ROMDISK.DSK with the updated OPFXSD and kernelD.dat with the updated ROM disk. Please, download them again.

I used recovery with new kerneld.dat (could you add link to it to the downloads from MSXCartridgeShop, because I believe it will help many people). And now everything is working. SD interface booting again and you can play mapper version with SCC cartridge. If your MSX have 128+ KB of RAM you just need to press "S" in order to enable SCC-I chip (it will be found in SLOT 1 - primary slot). If you wish to use 512KB from MegaFlashROM you need to press "R" as well for SLOT 1 and "F" for SLOT2. So if you press "S" and "R" and cartridge in SLOT1, SCC-I will be found in SLOT 1-1 and RAM is SLOT 1-2. And after that game will boot and play without any issues.

Van Guillian

Prophet (3516)

afbeelding van Guillian

16-12-2013, 10:44

max_iwamoto wrote:

I used recovery with new kerneld.dat (could you add link to it to the downloads from MSXCartridgeShop, because I believe it will help many people).

I agree. That seems the easiest way of restoring Nextor/SD interface and ROM disk.
I'll join both versions. From now on "recovey.dat" will also include the ROM disk. If someone don't want/need it, it can be erased easily from recovery menu.

Nice to hear you get it working. Smile

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