dphirschler
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Posts posted by dphirschler
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I wondered what the last BASIC line was intended to do, since there was no CALL LOAD with a machine language program. So I concluded that there is a hidden loader, something that I actually learnt of in this forum some time ago.
My TIImageTool did not help at first because it autodetected it as a BASIC program and only listed the BASIC lines, so I exported the file to the file system, clipped away the first 256 bytes (thus breaking the BASIC header in order to trick my own program), reimported it into the DSK, and doing a disassembly. Got this:
FE3A: LWPI >83E0 02E0 83E0 FE3E: CLR R0 04C0 FE40: LI R1,>0001 0201 0001 FE44: LI R2,>FFE7 0202 FFE7 FE48: BLWP @>2014 0420 2014 FE4C: LI R12,>1100 020C 1100 FE50: SBO 0 1D00 FE52: STWP R4 02A4 FE54: LI R5,>0002 0205 0002 FE58: LI R11,>FE6C 020B FE6C FE5C: B @>4080 0460 4080 FE60: NOP 1000 FE62: SBZ 0 1E00 FE64: LI R0,>01C0 0200 01C0 FE68: BLWP @>2118 0420 2118 FE6C: LI R0,>071C 0200 071C FE70: BLWP @>2118 0420 2118 FE74: LI R0,>030E 0200 030E FE78: BLWP @>2118 0420 2118 FE7C: LI R0,>0401 0200 0401 FE80: BLWP @>2118 0420 2118 FE84: LI R0,>0040 0200 0040 FE88: MOVB R0,@>8C02 D800 8C02 FE8C: SWPB R0 06C0 FE8E: MOVB R0,@>8C02 D800 8C02 FE92: LI R1,>2020 0201 2020 FE96: LI R2,>0300 0202 0300 FE9A: MOVB R1,@>8C00 D801 8C00 FE9E: DEC R2 0602 FEA0: JNE >FE9A 16FC FEA2: CLR R1 04C1 FEA4: LI R2,>0080 0202 0080 FEA8: MOVB R1,@>8C00 D801 8C00 FEAC: DEC R2 0602 FEAE: JNE >FEA8 16FC FEB0: LI R1,>1C00 0201 1C00 FEB4: LI R2,>0080 0202 0080 FEB8: MOVB R1,@>8C00 D801 8C00 FEBC: DEC R2 0602 FEBE: JNE >FEB8 16FC FEC0: CLR R1 04C1 FEC2: LI R2,>0C00 0202 0C00 FEC6: MOVB R1,@>8C00 D801 8C00 FECA: DEC R2 0602 FECC: JNE >FEC6 16FC FECE: LI R0,>0900 0200 0900 FED2: MOV R0,@>834A C800 834A FED6: BLWP @>20FC 0420 20FC FEDA: DATA >0018 FEDC: LI R0,>0B00 0200 0B00 FEE0: MOV R0,@>834A C800 834A FEE4: BLWP @>20FC 0420 20FC FEE8: DATA >004A FEEA: LI R0,>01E0 0200 01E0 FEEE: BLWP @>2118 0420 2118 FEF2: LI R0,>0F80 0200 0F80 FEF6: LI R1,>FFDE 0201 FFDE FEFA: LI R2,>0020 0202 0020 FEFE: BLWP @>210C 0420 210C FF02: LI R0,>0F89 0200 0F89 FF06: MOVB @>FFE7,R1 D060 FFE7 FF0A: SRL R1,8 0981 FF0C: A R1,R0 A001 FF0E: MOV R0,@>23FC C800 23FC FF12: LI R0,>FF34 0200 FF34 FF16: LI R1,>2400 0201 2400 FF1A: LI R2,>0800 0202 0800 FF1E: MOV *R0+,*R1+ CC70 FF20: DEC R2 0602 FF22: JNE >FF1E 16FD FF24: B @>2400 0460 2400 FF28: LWPI >20BA 02E0 20BA FF2C: LI R5,>2500 0205 2500 FF30: LI R0,>0F86 0200 0F86 FF34: LI R1,>3000 0201 3000 FF38: BLWP @>2108 0420 2108 FF3C: LI R0,>0F89 0200 0F89 FF40: MOV R0,@>8356 C800 8356 FF44: BLWP @>211C 0420 211C FF48: DATA >0008 FF4A: JEQ >FFB4 1334 FF4C: LI R0,>1000 0200 1000 FF50: LI R1,>23F0 0201 23F0 FF54: LI R2,>0006 0202 0006 FF58: BLWP @>2114 0420 2114 FF5C: MOV @>23F4,*R5+ CD60 23F4 FF60: MOV @>23F2,R2 C0A0 23F2 FF64: MOV @>23F4,R1 C060 23F4 FF68: LI R0,>1006 0200 1006 FF6C: BLWP @>2114 0420 2114 FF70: MOV @>23FC,R0 C020 23FC FF74: BLWP @>2110 0420 2110 FF78: AI R1,>0100 0221 0100 FF7C: BLWP @>2108 0420 2108 FF80: MOV @>23F0,@>23F0 C820 23F0 23F0 FF86: JNE >FF30 16D4 FF88: LWPI >83E0 02E0 83E0 FF8C: MOV @>8370,R4 C120 8370 FF90: LI R3,>8300 0203 8300 FF94: LI R2,>00A0 0202 00A0 FF98: CLR *R3+ 04F3 FF9A: DECT R2 0642 FF9C: JNE >FF98 16FD FF9E: MOV R4,@>8370 C804 8370 FFA2: LI R4,>9E7E 0204 9E7E FFA6: MOV R4,@>8372 C804 8372 FFAA: LWPI >20BA 02E0 20BA FFAE: MOV @>2500,R0 C020 2500 FFB2: B *R0 0450 FFB4: MOVB @>23F8,@>9800 D820 23F8 9800 FFBA: NOP 1000 FFBC: MOVB @>23F9,@>9800 D820 23F9 9800 FFC2: BLWP @>0000 0420 0000
Holy crap, that is clever!
Darryl
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I just curious, does anyone remember "WCM" in a hardware data library? It would be interesting to know, just for the hell of it.Anyway, do you have your heart set on reproducing the original diskette or would you settle on a substitute loader?> I just curious, does anyone remember "WCM" in a hardware data library? It would be interesting to know, just for the hell of it.
WCM is my friend’s initials. So he must have named the routine after himself.
> Anyway, do you have your heart set on reproducing the original diskette or would you settle on a substitute loader?
Certainly, I’d be happy with another loader program. But I am more interested in solving this puzzle. This was a cool loader. And if something is wrong with it with today’s emulation software and updated hardware, I’d like to know why. At the moment, I suspect the disk transferring software… especially since it seems to be behaving the same in MESS, on the NanoPEB, and on real hardware. The only thing common there is the software used to transfer the floppy.
I vaguely remember attaching machine code to XB programs somehow (using Disko perhaps?). It would load with the XB program, but would show up as garbled characters in the listing. I don’t see any of that here. That’s the main reason I suspect the TI99-PC disk transferring software. Perhaps it sees XB programs and ignores the non-ascii characters when transferring(?).
We did all kinds of goofy things back then just because we could. I used ‘@’ as a variable name. We named disks “NONO…..1” (note the period chars were illegal) using Disko. Attached machine code to XB programs in weird ways. Ripped carts using the Widget and load interrupt switch. And who knows what else? I know we also had some game loaders that required Mini-Mem, but I cannot remember why. Maybe that was one of the cart ripper programs.
Darryl
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Yes matter of fact RXB 1005 had a updated version that loaded the Miller Graphics GPLDSRLINK when you did a CALL INIT2
Could this loader have been dependent on the presence of a Gram Kracker? We (my friend and I) both had one.
Darryl
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Was your original disk formatted on a CorComp controller using Disk Manager 1000? That sometimes does really bad things to the disk (and produces symptoms just like you're having when another controller is reading them).
Very likely. I remember having a battery backed clock. But I thought it was the Myarc. Could it be that the disk-reading software (TI99-PC) has a problem with these types of disks? It seemed to read them fine, and the loader program seemed to work... well, it maybe isn't loading the hidden code properly. How exactly did you discover it, Mizapf?
But I also remember doing something to convert DIS/VAR to PGM format. I just don't remember what. I also remember having some game disks that were made to be loaded in Minimem.
Darryl
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I am a graphics guy, so I had to make my own template for TI cartridge labels. I never liked the original black labels. I always thought that adding color was a good thing, but the text was still hard to read since all the labels still looked the same except for color. And then they started adding different fonts for the games and then the labels really came to life. Parsec was instantly recognizable with its purple label and large yellow letters.
So anyways, here is my first template of the original TI cart.
And here is template number two. I don't think I ever noticed that they changed more than just the color of the background. The text "Command Module" was replaced by the more modern sounding "Solid State Cartridge".
And here is my retro redesign using elements of both labels. Only slight changes such as bolder text and the slicker looking TI logo.
Finally, here is my template of the newer labels using color, large fonts, and the more modern language.
None of these are exact. I only estimated the colors, sizes, and layouts using Ebay photos. I'll make them more exact later on. I'd be interested in feedback on the labels. I plan on making some nice labels for my multicarts after I burn them.
Darryl
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Ahh! That rings a bell. I remember that. But we had this working on original equipment. Maybe a Myarc Mem Exp. at most.
I tried loading the same files in MESS and they also failed. So I am not sure why it fails. Has anybody tried it on real equipment yet? My PEB is still dead so I cannot test it.
I did try my super Scott Adams Adventure disk on the NanoPEB and it worked just fine, so I know the NanoPEB works now.
Darryl
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I am having trouble loading games from my NanoPEB. It boots up into my game disk just fine, just as it used to back in the day. But the games just don't load. Can it be a problem with the NanoPEB and the way this game disk was written? The game disk has a bunch of cart games (some Atarisoft, TI and Parker Bros games). And it is designed to auto load into XB giving you a menu. That much works. But when you select a game, it just goes blank. The loader/linker program was written by my friend long ago. The menu was written by me in XB.
I haven't yet tried loading the games through EA yet. I suppose that is the next test. But I really wanted it to work like it used to. I'd appreciate it if some of you could test out my game disk on your NanoPEB/CF7+ and also on real hardware. I'll attach the dsk image.
Darryl
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I'd like one, but I bet they are all gone now.
Darryl
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I found documentation for the 512K cart last night buried in one of the pages in the thread. But it was WIP (unifinished). Is there a final documentation? Why don't you put it (and supercart roms) on the first post so everybody knows where to look for the most up-to-date files.
Darryl
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So who won the auction? Anybody here?
Darryl
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Woo hoo! I have my NanoPEB! Now what? LOL... Reading the documentation now.
First observations:
- It has a power plug and a small switch. Didn't come with a wall transformer. Hopefully this is explained in the docs.
- Wasn't packaged very well. The padded envelope looks like it might have come open during shipping. Glad the Nano made it. Was there a power supply that got lost? I'll never know. Can you guys recommend one? Does it matter if it is 1.2 or 2.2 Amps? This is the one I am looking at: http://www.amazon.com/iMBAPrice%C2%AE-5V-Wall-Power-Adapter/dp/B00GUO5WUI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410227751&sr=8-1&keywords=5v+power+adapter+2.1mm
- It sure plugs in tight! I feel like I might break it trying to get it unplugged.
- Sure would be nice if it came in a case. I have some case ideas, but I have no means to build one
Darryl
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I have a copy of it if anybody wants to try it.
Darryl
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Just wow. I want in on this!
Darryl
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So I am attempting the speech-in-console mod.
So far I’ve done this:
-De-cased the speech synth
-Snipped, de-soldered, and removed the edge connector
-Cleaned everything up.
Next I need to find a nice piece of ribbon cable. Any suggestions here?
Darryl
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I haven’t yet checked the power supply lines, so no answers there yet. But I did have an opportunity to check out my system using a genuine TI FDC. This time I saw the disk spinning in the drive. But DM2 still reported an error. But I no longer suspect the floppy drives, and I am feeling good about the Myarc controller too.
Now I am hopeful of a PEB power supply issue. If it is the PEB PSU, what are my options? Should I look into the Mainbyte 2amp PEB PSU mod? Is that even an option if the PSU is already failing? Can a standard PC PSU be installed in the PEB?
Darryl
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OK, well, I replaced the quartz crystal oscillator and everything works exactly as before (black/white image). So no improvement. Either the TI is outputting slightly non-standard NTSC or the converter box is finicky.
Darryl
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If it's any help, I have a sizable collection if the Plato diskettes... possibly all of them. I remember spending an entire afternoon way back just copying them from my dad's collection.
But at the moment they are locked away on TI disks and I am still resurrecting my PEB... And also building a windows xp machine with 5.25" floppy drive for transferring.
But when I get them transferred, I will donate them to the project.
Darryl
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Just so I get this straight, this 32k supercart will behave like an e/a cart with a 32k men exp, right? If that's the case, then I will be wanting one of these.
Darryl
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This may sound completely crazy, but...
I've seen other circuit boards designed and built on this forum. Maybe it's time for a Mitsumi citcuit board replacement project. Possible?
Other than that, the only option I know of it wait for a beige console to go up on Ebay and look for the ones with an "under" shot. You can usually tell if it has that brown color or a green circuit board.
Darryl
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This may sound stupid, but have you tried replacing the black keys (on a good keyboard) with beige keys?
Darryl
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That's great news! Thanks!
Darryl
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I've got originals of most of the Myarc manuals--so if it turns out you need one that isn't available, I can probably scan it in for you.
I need the manual for the Myarc 32/128k Memory Expansion card. I cannot find mine. I need to test it out. I want to know a) if it works, and 2) how much RAM it has. I opened it up and the RAM chips say the following:
Japan 8648
HM50464P-15
U1005ZZ
Guessing these are 64K chips, so since there are 16 of them means this is a 128K card... right?
Darryl
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I'll help out. But first I am gonna dig a little. I might have this manual. I had a fair amount of MG stuff back in the day. And I recognized the screen from MG Explorer put up recently (or maybe not so recently, but i just saw the thread for the first time). So I am pretty sure I have the software too.
Darryl.
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I just discovered this process which restores the yellowed beige plastic. Since my beige console is already taken apart, I am going to try it. Has anybody else here tried it? I may also try it on my cassette recorder, which has uneven yellowing on the different pieces. The keys in particular are more yellow than the main shell.
http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/
Darryl
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Setting up a 512k cart
in TI-99/4A Computers
Posted
Nice collection! Aren’t there more educational carts than that?
I’d suggest grouping them by subject, or perhaps by level.
What’s the difference between Decimals and Decimals-1?
Darryl