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This topic is intended for discussing development of the Geneve 9640 operating system (known historically as MDOS). See links to release topics/messages. Users should update to 7.42 or higher. Some release packages include utilities and drivers. A release table/schedule may be added to this topic in the future. Release history: (sorry, table not yet updated w/7.42 or 7.43 information) Current Release 7.43 as of 5 February 2024: v7.42 as of 27 December 2023: Release v7.40 - 8 May 2023: 7.30 Development goals: 1. Identify the most recent, stable source code files; recreate bug fixes as necessary - DONE 2. Integrate the TIPI development and the 6.70/7.00 development - DONE 3. Create/update relevant tools: GPL, EXEC, GENCFG, CRCOS, PFM Support - DONE 4. Release an updated OS - DONE Future Development Goals: 1. Review enhancement requests 2. Continue bug fixes 3. Continue evolving OS and support 4. Release the updated source code OS Memory Map:
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I have five non-functional Geneve 9640 cards. For some time I've considered what to do with them. I am not interested in investing my time to fix them and have decided to offer them to the community. I obtained the cards during the late 1990s when I temporarily assumed Myarc responsibility from Cecure Electronics. The cards came from Myarc and were never sold due to their inoperable condition. Rest assured these cards are not customer cards. You can read about the repair efforts in Micropendium articles from the period. The cost per card is $50.00USD + shipping. This covers my investment. If you buy a card, you will need to source any missing parts yourself. Schematics are available on WHT. The cards will come with whatever chips are currently installed, untested with no warranty or guarantee of any kind. Last but not least, Richard and I have discussed the future disposition of these cards. We will not accept them for repair. This is primarily an opportunity for those of you who want to own a card that you can learn from and/or repair yourself.
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What are the limits and things to consider when porting TI-99/4a software to the Geneve? In particular I'm considering if it would be feasible to port Stevie to the Geneve, letting it run in GPL mode. Specs: 64K bank-switched ROM cartridge image, no GROM usage 1MB SAMS 8MB HRD4000b F18a I'm aware there's no SAMS and no f18a on the Geneve. So porting to the 9938 is the goal. Could perhaps use the HRD4000B as replacement for SAMS, if not using the HRD4000B as RAMDISK but as extended memory replacement.
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'Clear for Action in the age of Sailing' is a game of strategy pitting you against the computer in a pitched naval battle in the age of the great sail battleships of the 18th century. Originally ported to the TI-99 by Walid Maalouli from the TRS-80 I have now ported thst 99 version over to the Geneve. This is a really terrific program and I have made some modifications to better run on the Geneve and take advantage of it's features. The program is now one large program. Malllouli had to break up the program to get it fit on the 99, on the Geneve there is more than enough memory to fir the whole program at once. Also switched some of the menus to 80 column and added more info in the program. there's a run-able version on a single DSK1 that runs from A: and, if you have Geneve MAME package download from my site https://ti99resources.wordpress.com/emulation/, a set of HDs you can just replace the SOFTWARE files with the new SOFTWARE files and execute ABGAMES at the Geneve prompt for the menu to run CFA. To change to run from another source change the variable on line 100 to the new default SAVEFILE area. Lot's of fun and challenging. enjoy CFA10a-UPDATED.zip
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geneve Finally, creating a software PC for the Geneve: Part 2
hloberg posted a blog entry in HLO projects
First off I want to apologize for taking a few months to get to part 2 but real life keeps rudely intruding on my hobby time. How dare it. Anyway, since I’m also hiding out at a Zaxbys to just have the time to type this up it’s not going to be as intensive as I would like, since life will eventually find me after all. Note: you will want to read through the Part 1 before attempting Part 2. Also, because of the vagaries of Windows PCs your experience may vary. I have also included more utils that you will need in paert 2. Now on with the show. After you got the computer looking all blank like it’s time to make the real changes. Again note: these changes include registry and OS hacks which could crash your PC if not done right. Be warned. 1.) First you want to get rid of that pesky arrow pointer. Use the Take Ownership program to take ownership of WINDOWS\CURSORS. Also make a copy of CURSORS to safe place, just in case. Copy the contents from Tools file of CURSORS into WINDOWS\CURSORS. It’s OK to overwrite the contents. Now take the CROSSDOT.REG registry file and install. This next thing you might want to wait till you are finished to do this since you won’t have a pointer anymore. Open the Mouse Pointer and choose the new CROSSDOT pointer profile. The pointer should now becomes just a dot. 2.) Now lets get rid of that fancy blue logon page. Open from tools Login Studio. Choose the BLACK profile picture and make it the current Logon Screen. Blue gone, black in. Done. 3.) Take ownership of WIN\BRANDINGS dir. Copy content to a safe place. Use Resource Hacker from tools and mod the file WIN/BRANDINGS/BASEBRD.DLL. Remove the bitmap files. 4.) Take ownership of WIN/SYS32/IMAGERES.DLL. Copy to safe place. Now use Resource Hacker to modify that file. Remove spinners, bitmap, mui. 5.) Take ownership of WIN/SYS32/EN-US/WININLOGON.EXE. And you REALLLLLY want to make a copy of this file to a safe place. Just sayin’. Now use Resource Hacker and remove all: 63-1033 1002 welcome 1003 logoff 1005 welcome OK this part is experimental. I have got this hack to work, sometimes. For a split second the pointer comes up then changes to the .dot. I wanted to get rid of that split second standard pointer so I experimented with changing in the registry HKEY/USER/DEFAULT/CONTROL PANEL/CURSOR from the default to .DOT. It worked on some of the virtual PCs I created but didn’t on others. Not sure why. Anyway, good luck. Now reboot. If you have a black screen it works. Copy from TI99REOURCES the MAME Geneve package to the PC. Make a shortcut of the GENEVE.BAT in the Startup folder. Reboot and that should make the Geneve come up after a short while of black. As I stated this works much faster and better with the use of a high speed SDD drive. That’s it. Now back to that life thing. Enjoy. utils for win7 conversion.zip -
Creating this topic to discuss issues found within ABASIC for the Geneve 9640.
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this is going to be a short blog. @9640News & @InsaneMultitasker has just released the latest version of Geneve Advanced BASIC v 4.08. They cleaned up the last of the bugs and I had a small part of editing the manual. Here is the download. Enjoy. NOTE: Recently I found some with the commands concerning SPRITE usage. CALL DISTANCE gives bad values and CALL SPRITE will error out sometimes with a 'bad value' in the X & Y values even when they are good. ABASIC-408.zip
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this below is my Geneve. It's a Geneve created using a Windows 7 PC and MAME. Here is a bad video I made of the startup procedure. I stripped Windows 7 of all badging in start up to just a black screen till the MAME kicks in giving the illusion of a real Geneve PC. I added an old IBM keyboard, HP ball mouse and a new NES style joystick to really give it that old-school look. Mouse works, joystick works and all software runs off the 3 internal v-drives. It looks and operates a lot like if MyArc had went with creating a Geneve PC instead of just a card for the PEB. This blog and subsequent blogs will be a step by step procedure of how-to prepare the Win7 PC by removing badging and other unnecessary stuff and MAME setup. I will be breaking up the how-to into multiple blogs to keep the length down. Now PART 1 Setting up a Win7 PC for Geneve SoftPC. What you need: PC with Win 7 – one that’s fast enough to run MAME/Geneve, (preferably) has an SSD as the main drive & also (preferably) doesn’t have an irradiating brand logo at startup. Copy of the program ‘Resource Hacker’ (included with blog files). Copy of ‘Take Ownership’ program (included). Copy of ‘Login Studio’ (included). Various registry hacks (included in next blog). Beginning steps: Load bare bones Windows 7 then add all patches. Use ‘high contrast’ black theme. This clears out some startup graphics. Remove all desktop items. Using ‘msconfig’ set to ‘no gui’. Turn off any not needed startup items or services that are starting up, also with ‘msconfig’. in ‘system’>’advanced system settings’>’performance’>’settings button’ select to ‘adjust for best performance’. Shut off ‘clock’, ‘date’ and any other no needed items in tray items. Set bottom tray to ‘auto hide’. Shut off all unnecessary services in SERVICES. I even shut off the networking services as they won’t be needed and delay startup by a fraction of a sec. You now have a fairly clean PC startup. Next is removing the startup screen and startup text, the mouse and few other things. this will require some registry hacks but that will be in the next blog, part 2. till then. Enjoy, HLO utils for win7 conversion.zip
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Put together a short list of some XB golden oldies and converted them into AdvBASIC for the Geneve. Added AdvBASIC features to some of the programs, like 80 column or multi-color font, and others I just converted with little changes. Here are games: Awari barricade (was already a ABASIC program) chicken plus civil war (made 80 column) - note: the 80 column ones I converted I tried to make them look like they were being seen on an old monochrome monitor of some sort. millibornes othello star merchant star trek stocks (made 80 column) uno+ wumpus yathzee (added multi-color font) also included the latest AdvBASIC manual if you want to fiddle with the games some. enjoy ABASIC-conv-games.zip
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TIBASE on the Geneve In the updated .HD files for the Geneve emulation (in TI99RESOURCES) I’ve included a new TIBASE for the Geneve running from hard drive. It runs from the FDRIVE.HD (hard-drive 2) in HDS2.TIB. And (recommended) saves to the GDRIVE, HDS3.TIBFILES. It runs with the TI99 E/A Geneve module. (I tried to get it to run with the Geneve EXEC but the SELECT command kept blowing up the TIBASE when executed with EXEC.) To run TIBASE from the Geneve I created a batch file called TIB. You can type TIB at any command prompt to start the program. The program starts with a batch file with the notes: EA loads in Option 5 load HDS2.TIB.TIBASEW program begins. Some things I did to make in run from .hd: To get TIBASE to run from the .HD I modified in the TIB directory files TIBASEW & SETUP. If you want to use TIBASE on your hard drive modify TIBASEW using FILEZAP. Look for the 2 lines that say HDS2.TIB and change to your drive and directory. Also modify the 2 lines in SETUP that refer to HDS2.TIB. You are limited to just 3 letters for the directory name (best I can tell). The program runs in 40 column. It looks like someone at some point was thinking of making it run in 80 column as a line in SETUP was created SET LINE=80 (I since removed it) but apparently it was never implemented as the SET LINE=80 command comes up as invalid. NOTES: in Help (F7) the instructions say ‘press ESC to exit’. This doesn’t seem to work. It may not work because some setting in the emulator or may not ever work, I don’t know. But F9 (mentioned elsewhere in the help file) does exit Help. The program runs much faster on the Geneve then it did on the TI99. This, under some slow typing situations ‘may’ cause multiple letters to be typed. It very rarely happened to me though but once in a while if I loitered on a key too long multiple of the same letter did get printed. I put the tutorial files for TIBASE on separate .dsk in SOFTWARE/DISK. Here’s the link for the new .HD for the Geneve in TI99RESOURCES/ Emulation. https://ti99resources.wordpress.com/emulation/ Enjoy.
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In the before time, @9640News produced a mame HD image of curated Geneve Software. Over this past year, I've done a bit of updating and clean up. It's now a two hard drive set, one being primarily boot and utils and the other being the software collection. I'm looking for two people who want to take these drives for a spin and give me feedback before the general release. PM if you are interested. Hopefully, this can be come the package initially released with the Geneve2020!!
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I'm trying to build a 4a program image file with Genprog. The program I compile runs fine, as EA3 (Load and Run). I'm running into a REF error, when I try to generate an EA5 program image. I tried using both the libref and add command - and neither resolved my problem.
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I received my v2 boot eprom from Bob, he even helped me dump it, so I have a backup! Thanks Bob. Got new v2 eprom installed, it was a pain, the other eprom has like welded in to place and I had to lift a memory pin a bit that was sitting on top of the eprom. But that's all good now. I booted off a: with system-sys and load-scs, used DM to copy the files to scs1. Powered Off, took out the floppy. Powered On. No boot. What did I do wrong?
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Come one, come all and witness the amazing, no colossal, feat of Microsoft Multi-Plan running on a Geneve! No cartridge needed, it runs from the hard drive! No floppies needed, it also saves and loads from said hard drive! And all in 80 columns wonderfulness! Amazing you say! Earth shattering you say! How can this miracle of science be accomplished? Well,... (bit over the top? ) After a bit of searching the internet (mostly WHTECH) I found several versions of MSMP in 80 column and even more attempts at MSMP that would run, load and save to a hard drive. It was a mess. None really worked correctly or completely. so I took a little here, a little there, and with lots of guidance from @InsaneMultitasker and @9640News merged several together into a working copy of Microsoft Multi-plan from the TI99 that would: 1.) run on a Geneve from the hard drive with no cartridge needed. 2.) save and load it's data files also to a hard drive. 3.) display in 80 columns. the version of MSMP on this blog is the fruits of that labor. It works thus: 1.) copy ALL the contents from the .dsk attached into a directory called HDS1.DSK.TIMP these are the program files. 2.) for the system I created you will needed a second hard drive, HDS2. (can be changed, more on that later) to save/load the data files. the directory on HDS2 where the data files will be is in HDS2.MP Note: when you save/load in MSMP don't use the OPTION command to change the default path location, stick with HDS2.MP. Problems may occur if you try another path. 3.) run the MSMP with MYGPL HDS1.DSK.TIMP.MULTI-PLAN (or create an batch file to do it). 4.) when MSMP ask for the load disk, just press enter. this will start the MSMP in 80 columns for you to use. that's it. now it works. Oh, BTW, DON'T download any of the other versions of 80columnMSMP or GeneveMSMP from WHTECH. they are ALL defective in one way or the other for use with the Geneve. Now the later. You CAN change the default path of the data files by editing the MPINTR file that's in the TIMP directory with all the other MSMP load files. You will need a sector editor like FILEZAP (included with the files below). Be sure you make backups before editing and read over the Filezap instructions. You can really mess things up with a sector editor if you don't know what you are doing and the shame, oh the shame. Anyway, look for this section of the MPINTR file. 000140: 00 00 2e aa 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ 000150: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 48 44 53 32 ............HDS2 000160: 2e 4d 50 2e 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 .MP............. 000170: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ 000180: 00 00 00 00 00 10 44 53 4b 2e 54 49 4d 50 2e 4f ......DSK.TIMP.O 000190: 56 45 52 4c 41 59 00 0e 44 53 4b 2e 54 49 4d 50 VERLAY..DSK.TIMP 0001a0: 2e 4d 50 48 4c 50 2e 2e 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 .MPHLP.......... Look at the text to the right. Where you se HDS2.MP. that is the location of the data file save. Use the text edit portion of Filezap to change to the location of where you want the data files to be saved to. I would make it short. I have not tested this past 10 characters or like; HDS1.MSMP. Save the edit now. Next use the hex edit to change the hex number 08 just before the HDS2; 48 44 53 32. That is the length of the file name. HDS2.MP. = 8 characters if you include the (.dot). In the above name change example, HDS1.MSMP. the new value would be 0A (don't forget this is hex). now save the edit then save the file. done. don't mess with the other file locations. If you changed those the cartridge may not work as there is companion file locations in the cartridge GROMS that would also have to be changed. And I'm too lazy to explain those too ? There you go. A spreadsheet for the Geneve 9640. Enjoy, HLO MSMP&FILEZAP.zip
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Hello Everyone, I am rejoining the TI world after being away for many years. I am in the middle of restoring a Geneve system and two TI systems. First I would like to thank shift838 and Bob Carmany for their service to the community and their help to me personally. I have ordered EPROMs from Bob to update various PEB cards and the Geneve boot. I currently have the Geneve (1.0 boot, v7.30 MDOS) running with an HFDC and Myarc RS232. I have resurrected three floppy drives (2-DSDD, and a 1.44). I purchased a Gotek floppy emulator and loaded the FlashFloppy software. I can read .DSK files (Ex: MDOS 7.30a.DSK) but I cannot write to the DSK file. Ex: I try and write to the MDOS 7.30a.DSK to put the "LOAD/SYS" file and I get a device error. I will have many questions as I get the systems up and running and get back into the hardware arena and programming (I still need to find my copy of GenProg and hope it is still on readable floppies :-) ). My first questions are: Does MDOS still require LOAD/SYS. The 7.30 disks don't have this but it wouldn't boot without it. Should I be able to write to the Gotek with a DSK file as the disk? (DSDD MDOS) or do I need to use the hfe file format to write? It doesn't appear that the Gotek can be set as a HD 3.5 drive in the HFDC and read a DSDD disk. It appears to walk two tracks at once when stepping as you expect for a 40 track floppy. Is there away to use a per DSK file cfg to specify the geometry? Thanks for any assistance you can offer! Mark
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geneve UPDATED: Psystem on the Geneve, a short tutorial and bug list
hloberg posted a blog entry in HLO projects
Psystem for Geneve short beginners guide tutorial Note: this has been updated with new information. My initial response to the Geneve Psystem was don't expect much. After working with it some more I have upgraded it to, it works OK but still has a few bugs that really make using it difficult. Some of these bugs are things like no visible cursor and this is a big one. It makes editing a file very, very hard since you never know where the cursor is. Another is only the left arrow key works. makes moving around in Editor tough. Another, there is no known documentation for the psystem. This is an issue since there are some unexplained differences between the p-card and the psystem. And finally not all p-card programs run on the psystem. The main system files run, well enough, but programs like the freeform spreadsheet, pilot programming language and a lot of the user created programs won't run at all. Oh and the Geneve Psystem is actually slightly slower than the P-Card on the TI99. Still, it does work well enough and is usable, if you want to ignore some of the bugs. So, to help you along in the world of geneve psystem (and the p-card for that matter) here is a short tutorial. Use the files included in the post with the tutorial. I created an PSYS.HD that can be attached to the MAME/MESS package I created in an earlier post 'MESS/MAME Geneve 9640 update’. Now the tutorial: Starting the system If you setup in MAME/MESS the PSYS.HD as the 3rd HD it'll show up as HDS3 or G: in the Geneve. Start Geneve and navigate to G:\PSYS. You'll find in PSYS directory: a directory called VOLS a batch file called RUNMAIN a TIBASIC file called MKVOL (more on that later) and an executable called PSYSTEM (this is the program that runs the whole show) You will be starting the batch file RUNMAIN to start the Psystem. --------- side note: in the RUNMAIN batch are the commands: PSYS ON (this turns on the psystem) PSYSTEM HDS3.PSYS.VOLS.MAIN (this commands PSYSTEM to load volume 1 as MAIN. If you wanted to access DSK1 you would have DSK1. In the place of ..MAIN) --------- Now that the Psystem has started to the main menu once you have executed the batch RUNMAIN the fun begins. when all the initialization is complete you are presented with the MAIN MENU at the top of the screen. It looks something like this: Command: E(dit, R(un, F(ile, C(omp, L(ink, X(ecute, A(ssm [IV2.2 R1.0] if you press the ? key it will rotate to the next list of menu choices: D(ebug, H(alt, I(nitialize, U(ser restart, M(onitor press the ? again gets you the final menus choices. S(et +(Tutorial (I haven’t figured out if Tutorial even works.) You will also see a reference to Help. There is no Help for you. again with the ? just rotates back to the 1st menu. Now I'm going to just go over the more useful menu commands here. F)ile – this is the file manager. It’s the next section. E)dit - this starts the editor. I'll go over in more detail in a little bit. C)omp – this is the Pascal compiler. X)ecute – this runs the other programs not on the main menu (.CODE files) as well as the Pascal program you can create using the editor and the compiler. H)alt – this ends the psystem session and returns you back to Geneve. I)nitialize and U)ser restart – these restart the psystem. F)ile File is the file manger. But before we get to working with the file manager we need to get some of the basics of how files and volumes work in psystem. The psystem holds it’s data, programs and everything in files called volumes on the Geneve (and the TI99 for that matter). In the batch program RUNMAIN the PSYSTEM command has a file to the right of it; HDS3.PSYS.VOLS.MAIN. The file MAIN is the main volume that hold all the system files and all the other files for the Psystem. It's kinda like .DSK file in MAME. As of now, there is no way to read or alter it outside of using P-Card or the Psystem. Each volume has an internal volume name. In this case MAIN volume name is (oddly enough) MAIN. The volumes are also associated with a device number. The 1st drive is device #4, 2nd drive device #5 and 3rd device #9, etc... In fact, everything in the psystem has a device number associated with it: Number NAME: Description #1 CONSOLE: Keyboard and display with echo #2 SYSTERM: Keyboard and display without echo #4 (diskette name): 1st disk drive #5 (diskette name): 2nd disk drive #6 PRINTER: 9600 baud RS232 input/output #7 REMIN: 300 baud RS232 input #8 REMOUT: 300 baud RS232 output #9 (diskette name): 3rd disk drive #10 (diskette name): 4th disk drive #11 (diskette name): 5th disk drive #12 (diskette name): 6rd disk drive #14 OS: Operating System #31 TAPE: Audio cassette tape #32 TP: Solid State Thermal Printer As you can see you can have up to 6 volumes attached at once. Nice since sub-directories are not allowed on the psystem files structure. In the volumes are files and there are three types of files that the psystem recognizes: SYSTEM., .TEXT, .CODE. SYSTEM. files are just that, system files that run the psystem. These files start the name out with SYSTEM.(whatever) Examples of these files are SYSTEM.LIBRARY, SYSTEM.FILER, SYSTEM.MISCINFO etc… .TEXT files are, well, text files. These files have the extension of .TEXT, examples off this MAIN volume is HELLO.TEXT which is the source code for a little test Pascal program I created called HELLO. .CODE are the other executables other than the SYSTEM files. They can also be compiled programs you create using the Pascal Compiler. Examples are PATCH.CODE, LIBRARY.CODE etc… In reality you can name your files whatever you like, it’s just that the psystem may not recognize them. Now back to the F)ile file manager. Once F)ile has started you are given a new menu. Filer: L(dir, R(em, C(hng, T(rans, D(ate, Q(uit, B(ad-blks, E(xt-dir ? for next menu K(rnch, M(ake, P(refix, V(ols, X(amine, Z(ero ? and the rest. Again, I’m just explaining the most used or important. L(dir is the directory (Listing?) program that shows you the files in a volume. Dir listing of what vol ? Is the prompt. I have found typing the device number for the volume you want to view is easiest. If you want to refer to the Main volume you can refer to it with *. Example: To view the contents of the Main Volume (usually #4) just use a *. When referring to other volumes in Dir listing use the volume number. #5 will display the contents of whatever volume is secondly attached in 2 nicely formatted columns. just remember there isn't a flashing, or otherwise see-able, cursor when typing. Also, if you type in something incorrect you MIGHT, be able to correct it by pressing ctrl-right arrow which will back you up. Of course you will just have to start typing since there will be no visible cursor and hope for the best you are where you want to be. Even then, sometimes it'll still give you an error. Best, if you make a mistake, press Enter and start over. E(xt-dir gives a detailed directory of the volume. It only single column but shows more info about the files. T(rans is the copy utility. Don’t be confused with the program saying it’s a Transfer utility. It doesn’t actually move the files just copies them. The utility is in two prompts: Transfer what file? - type in the volume number or volume name the : then the file name. = can be used as a wildcard. Ex: #4:HELLO.TEXT To Where? Type in location as above with the new device number : file name. You MUST type in the full name as location too. Examples: copy HELLO.TEXT from #4 to #5 Transfer what file? #4:hello.text To Where? #5:hello.text that will copy HELLO.TEXT from MAIN (#4) to WF(#5) volumes. Now say you wanted to copy all SYSTEM. Files from #4 to #5. Transfer what file? #4:system.= (= is wildcard) To Where? #5: system.= (notice you have to type in the full name again with wildcard) this will copy all the SYSTEM files from #4 to #5. C(hng : is the file rename utility. Best not to try use wildcards with this. Format to type in file names like L(dir. R(em : is file delete utility. It’s like the C(hng utility except it deletes files. You can use wildcards with this just be careful. B(ad-blks : this checks for bad blocks in the file structure. It doesn’t actually do anything about bad blocks but it’s nice of them to let you know. D(ate : this sets the date. The files have date stamps so if you plan to do any programming I would set the date. V(ols : this list the active volumes. Good to find out if a volume isn’t attached. K(rnch : this does a clean up of the volume. It’s good to do this from time to time. Psystem is lousy about clean up after it’s self and sometimes files can go missing from L(dir that appear in E(extended dir. Z(ero : This will erase and reformat a volume. Good to use when creating a new volume. WARNING it will erase all data on an existing volume. Q(uit. This exits the Filer. There are other utilities but these are the ones you will use the most. Editor On the p-card this isn't a bad editor; it has lots of functions and is mostly a full screen editor. Bad in that the commands aren’t very intuitive (or at least to what we are familiar with these days). On the psystem, there are a few limitations. Creating a new document in Editor To use the editor with a new file press ENTER. This will create a new work file name will be CREATED.0.TEXT. This is always a good place to start. To start typing in your new document you always start with the I(nsert command. This puts you at the beginning of blank the document area. Note that there is no indication that you are at the beginning of the document since you don't have a cursor. Just start typing. If you make an error press Crtl+Left Arrow that will remove the characters to the left then retype. Press ENTER at the end of the line. When finished press Ctrl+C to save and return to the main Editor menu and SAVE the file. If you don't want to save the file press ESC. Now that you have created the document Q(uit brings up the Quit menu. To save the file choose U(pdate. If you don't want to save the file press E(xit for exit. Note: this section is new. Editing and existing file. To edit, or just view, an existing file instead of just pressing ENTER when entering Editor type the volume and name of the file. EX: #5:HELLO.TEXT This will pull up the file on the screen. To begin editing you first want to be sure to position your, invisible, cursor at the beginning of the file. This is accomplished by the J(ump command then the B to set the cursor at the beginning. Now use the X(change command that will position your cursor at the 1st character of the 1st line of the document, unseen of course. Now you need to move down the document to the line that you would like to change. Press ENTER and this will move you down the file line by line. Count how many lines to the line you want to change. On the offending line just retype the whole line over. If you find you are not on the correct line (since you have no cursor, easy to do) backspace using CTRL+LEFT ARROW. (CTRL+LEFT ARROW also works when editing the line and you want to backspace.) Then press ENTER to get to the correct line. If you over shot the line press ESC and start over. After you have corrected all the lines you want Ctrl+C to save all your changes. then the quit procedure as listed above. A little practice and you'll find it less annoying. Note: on the p-card you DO have a cursor and full arrow keys. C(ompile – this compiles the TEXT file you created with the Editor. Fairly straight forward and works well. H(alt – this exits the psystem. MKVOL Now outside the psystem is a TIBASIC program call MKVOL. This program creates blank volumes to be used for the psystem. Run this program using XB in the geneve. Fairly straight forward. Attached is the PSYS.HD you can attach to MAME Geneve as .HD three. The P-Card manuals are available here: TI99RESOURCES P-CARD documents OK, that’s it in a nut shell. Best to just play with the system. And a lot of this information here can also be used on the P-Card. Anyway, have fun and try to ignore the bugs. HLO PSYS.zip -
Little time ago I posted some files here that were roll-ups of files for MAME/MESS from the, what I call, the 'other' 99s; that is the TI99-8, TI99-2, TI-99 PSystem, MyArcII XB and the Geneve 9640. Looking over them I realized I hadn't vetted these very closely, especially the Geneve. (FYI: if you don't know anything about the Geneve, here is the Wiki article with some excellent links for a deeper dive on the subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneve_9640 ) So I went back and pulled up MESS Geneve and began testing and adding software so now I have a much better package with lots of games and tested software that runs on the MAME/MESS Geneve without much effort. The tested and working files are put in two .HD files; OS7 and FDRIVE. OS7 is the operating system and the development files. FDRIVE is the games, Advanced BASIC and XB26 files and other miscellaneous files. As stated, I tested these files as working to the extent of my ability. If something is missing that you may know of from the Geneve I either could not get it to work or I just didn't know about it. Here is the brief listing of OS7. BATCH contains batch runtime files for: AB - Advanced BASIC startup Bible - A Christian Bible program CAL- displays a monthly calendar EA - loads TI-99 Editor assembler in MYGPL The HELP files - GPLHELP, MDOSHELP, PROGHELP & QDEHELP 4th - starts the Forth programming package MA - starts Myart MW - starts Myword XB - starts XB2.6 in MYGPL Some of the other packages on OS7: Forth - the Forth programming package directory DSK - holds the Fortran programming package. Start the Fortran in XB then RUN "HDS1.DSK.FORTCOMP.XBBOOT" to execute DSK1 - the virtual Disk 1 drive TASM - the 9640 assembler TIC - the 9640 C programming package MDOS - the MyDOS operating system files. Notable utilities: D - this is a two column formatted directory program DM - the directory manager EDITOR - an advanced editor GAMEGPL - starts GPL programs directly bypassing the TI menu QDE - the general purpose editor for the 9640 XCOPY, XDEL & XDIR - more advanced directory commands FDRIVE listing: ABD - directory program that will run in Advanced BASIC XBD - same as above for XB26 GAMES - MYGPL and MDOS game executables Listing for game executable. Can be run straight from MDOS alpiner, blasto, anteater, burgertime, carwars, chisolm trail, donkey kong, henpecked, jungle hunt, junkman jr, mbgames (includes connect 4, hangman, yathzee & zero zap), microsurgeon, moonmine, moonsweeper, munchman, munchman2, othello, popeye, princess & the frog, return to the island, roto-raiders, schnozola, tetris (MDOS native), the attack, TI invaders, tombstone city, topper, video chess, wingwar, hunt the wumpus and yathzee. Note: it is recommended when starting all these games except Tetris to press SHIFT+SHIFT+CTRL the F4 to slow the speed down otherwise they will run at up to 5 times the speed. Tunnels of Doom -TOD. the files for Tunnels of Doom are in HDS2.TODDISK Adventure - Adventure files are in HDS2.ADVDISK Infocom - all the Infocom games are in the HDS2.INFOCOM XBGAMES - these games must be run from XB26 otherwise they won't work. buckrogers, centipede, congo bongo, dig dug, hopper & Qbert. I also added some other .HD files: 9640news - all of Beery's 9640 newsletters. PSYS - this is the Psystem for 9640. It, sorta works but not well enough to have added it to OS7. MDOS7 - these are the original MDOS7 files. other Games - these are some games that mostly run but with issues. How to run. Copy all the MESS files in your MAME/MESS directory. It contains the ROMS and other import files to run the 9640 emulator. run the supplied batch files GENEVE-9640.BAT to run the emulator Some thoughts on the Geneve 9640. It's still very much a work in-progress. Berry and his other programmers are continuously working on updating the system and adding more features to what is a fairly stable platform. There is also some work on a 9640 hardware recreation, so we got that too. The 9640 was/is a good upgrade of the TI-99 line. It has a much nice BASIC, faster, better graphics and sound. Personally, I think it been a better product than the 99/8. But, that is history. If you want something to play with in the vain of the 99-4a, I would recommend the 9640. Even if you can't get a real iron, make you a virtual one with MAME/MESS or wait and see if a real 9640 finally makes it out the door. Enjoy, HLO Geneve9640.zip
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In the last post I threw around some terms that might not be familiar to those who may have never used the Geneve 9640. So, here is a brief description. MYGPL - Programs from the TI99/4(a) can't be run directly on the 9640. A lot of TI99 software has a underlying layer known as GPL in the code. MYGPL has a GPL emulator built in that enables those TI99 programs with GPL to run on the 9640. To run TI99 software with MYGPL you type in 'MYGPL nameofTI99program' at the MDOS prompt. This executes the TI99 program. But, the program will be running at the native 9640 speed which is about 5 times faster then a normal TI99. This can be an issue if playing games such as Parsec which is already fairly fast. To slow down the program you will need to do a SHIFT+SHIFT+CTRL. This will bring up thev MYGPL menu. See screen below: Pressing F4 will enable you to adjust the speed of the game. Most TI99 games run best at 1 or 2. After setting the speed press ENTER to return back to the game. This is also the way to exit MYGPL by pressing ESC on this screen. EXEC - Sometimes the TI99 program may not have GPL inside it. This is software from the TI99 that usually is executed by entering the Editor/Assembler then pressing 5. Several of the applications run this way. It is executed similar to MYGPL with 'EXEC nameofTI99program'. The down side of EXEC though is that there is currently no way to adjust the speed otherwise I would be using it more with games. BATCH FILES - I run a lot of the MYGPL and EXEC commands from batch files. The batch files are very similar to batch files from MSDOS as they are a collection of commands in a runtime script that will execute from the MDOS prompt. HDS1, HDS2, HDS3 etc.. These are the hard drive designations for Hard Drive 1, Hard Drive 2, Hard Drive 3. There can only be up to three hard drives in MDOS. Within MDOS prompt you can also specify these drives by the letter E:, F:, G: in the form of E:/MODS.DM . The letter designations don't seem to work outside of the MDOS prompt environment though. Like in XB you must refer to the files with the full name 'OLD HDS2.GAMES.BUCKROGERS'. The RAM disk H: DSK5. - The RAM disk is H: OR DSK5. It a 128k drive and is volatile. So if you reboot your system, you will lose the contents of this drive. DSK1 to DSK4 - These are the disk drives 1-4 or A: to D . in MAME/MESS I have them setup as 5.25 DSDD. HELP - you can type HELP at the MDOS prompt anytime to get a list of other HELP files for the MDOS commands, common programs, MYGPL usage and the QDE editor usage. If you need to reboot - Press SHIFT+SHIFT+CTRL like in MYGPL. This will also reboot the system (if not totally locked up). D - typing the letter D at the MDOS prompt will give you a nicely formatted directory listing of your current directory location. As for as I can tell, it won't take any parameters. PATH - As in MSDOS you can specify a PATH command in MDOS. I have set BATCH, MDOS and GAMES as default paths. any program or batch in those directories can be executed anywhere from the MDOS prompt. DSK1 directory - DSK1 directory on E: is a shadow location for the disk drive 1. You can put files in this directory and they will be executed as if in DSK1. Good example is the E/A files: ASSM1, ASSM2 and EDIT1. When running E/A you won't have to have the E/A boot disk in DSK1 to run since MDOS will look for the files 1st in E:/DSK1. This is also handy with XB. I have the XB LOAD file in DSK1 to give that ding dong sound when XB26 starts. That's about all I can think of for now. Good gaming. HLO
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Here is a tool that I wrote during the last days, but which I wished to have for decades (at least since I have a SCSI controller). Don't ask me why I did not think about it earlier. If you have a Geneve with Swan EPROM (0.98) and a modern card like SCSI, you had to use drive A: to boot the Geneve, even though your SCSI drive works perfectly after booting. The old EPROM could only detect different floppy controllers (TI, Myarc, and CorComp), the HFDC, and the Horizon card. So your way would be to burn the 1.00 EPROM. If you don't feel like swapping your EPROM, this program will be the alternative. It is a boot loader that can also be adapted to other devices if desired. I added the source code on the disk image. You need GenASM/GenLink to build it; just call "MYMAKE". Copy the resulting SCSILOAD on A: as "SYSTEM/SYS". You also need a AUTOEXEC on A:, since it is still loaded from there. I also found that I have to add a "PDMA ON" to make the SCSI card work. The idea is that the EPROM will attempt to load this very small SYSTEM/SYS and run it. Then, this program searches the DSR space for a SCSI card (by the name "SCS1") and the subprogram >24 (direct file input). Having found them, it loads a file "@SYSTEM" from the SCS1 drive into pages 0-15 and then starts the loaded program. This happens to be the real GeneveOS kernel file (originally named SYSTEM/SYS). Here is a short video that shows the program in action: http://www.mizapf.eu/files/genboot.mp4 The flashing border is just a way for me to see whether all pages (each 8K) are loaded. As you can see, the load time is really cool. (The SCSI drive is a SCSI2SD.) scsiload.dsk
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Since there doesn't appear to be a manual for 'Advanced BASIC' on whtech (at least not one that's not buried in some inconspicuous disk), I thought I'd start a support thread for advice and tips. So far, I've found that many XB programs can be used exactly as they were designed with just a few adjustments to the program. If you used WDS# for the drive on the TI, it needs to be changed to HDS# for ABASIC on the Geneve. The other important thing is the GRAPHICS subprogram: Set screen to 32-column mode: CALL GRAPHICS(1) Set screen to 80-column mode: CALL GRAPHICS(4) Note that in 80-column mode, CALL COLOR(S,F,B) doesn't work, you must use CALL SCREEN(F,B). (This information was found on mainbyte). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's a text of collected commands. This is pretty much all from the sparse documentation that currently exists, but saves having to dig through generically named RTF files. ABASIC-collected.txt
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Hi, I am (slowly ? ) rebuilding my PFM modded Geneve (384+192K) system and I really don´t know what controller/combination to use. Can/should I use the HFDC for the harddrive only plus adding a BwG (or CC9900) for the (2+HxC) floppy disk drives ? Makes that sense for an extra FDD-controller ? Maybe just to have it full or to prevent from any problems ? I have some controllers, so it is not the question to save up one. And I have no need for formats bigger than 720KB. I also want to add an HRD3000 Ramdisk, is it possible to boot from that, instead of the harddisk ? Does this make sense at all ? Or just install it without boot, just to have it ? Is there any use for the TripleTec-Card ? Speech maybe ? And use the CC9900 floppy controller instead of the BwG ? I also have the Myarc 512 KB RAM, but I think there is a special mod to be done, to use it in the Geneve ? And I will add a RS232, maybe I take the Myarc instead of the TI (?) I also have an ASCSI2-Controller, but I really do not want to use that because I want to keep my SNUG system complete. (if anyone wants to get rid off a WHT-SCSI, I am your man) What did I forget ? thx If needed, here is a picture: More detailed here: https://atariage.com/forums/topic/315250-ti-994a-show-your-modded-systems-here/?do=findComment&comment=4734298
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So, I have a Geneve. A few folks recently have Geneves that are in various states of repair. A handful of you all have working Geneves. --- Looking around, I see lots of software development tools and proofs of concept, but no applications... Growing up, my father used his Geneve for 80 column multiplan... That was really it. That and printing. He didn't game... He managed a mailing list, which was a TI Writer or Multiplan file with peoples names and addresses organized for printing on avery labels for things like 'Christmas letter' or the user-group's newsletter mailing. I used Myart to turn my 'C' at best homework into something that wow'ed the teachers into an 'A', or wrote little GPL snippets that crashed it. I know there was some ABASIC stuff written, but I don't know what any of it was called. In order to find anything on WHTECH you already have to know what it is. I'd love to make something like Vorticon's Gameshelf, but Geneve specific, and not limited to Games. So, I'd like to learn... what is out there for the Geneve? What are your favorite Geneve specific programs? What 4A programs were greatly enhanced by running on the Geneve (even if just for the speed)? And yes, I'd like to include those tech demos and dev tools as well. -M@
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This is a neat device that emulates 1-2 ST506/ST412 or other MFM hard disks for reading and or writing. Can be used to pull data off disks or to emulate disks for that old computer you don't have drives for. I think I read somewhere it can be passed thru to a VM. Possibly this could work for MAME/MESS emulated systems? TI-99 has been tested with the system and works for reading WDS-100 disks. Emulation works for reading, but writing fails this point. Probably have to be patched for the TI/Myarc sector layouts, directory structure, bitmaps, etc. (not enough info yet to correct, it says), but the actual writing appears to work. Works with a wide variety of other systems. List here: http://www.pdp8online.com/mfm/status.shtml There is a group buy under way right now if you want to check it out. Pricing seems reasonable. http://www.pdp8online.com/mfm/ Emulator uses a BeagleBone Black/BeagleBone Green Wireless for the actual processing. Interesting. Go team, TI! ?
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Next to my multiple TI-99/4a home computers, I also own multiple Tomy tutors and even a Geneve. In The last 10 years or so Atariage has become the home of most of the TI-99/4a community. Unfortunately for the Tomy Tutor, the community is really scattered on the internet and it's hard to find technical details and programming details. Also have the feeling that most Tomy Tutor, 99/8 and Geneve owners are here on Atariage in the TI-99/4a section. To better focus the threads and gather additional interest I propose to create a subforum in the TI-99/4A Computers section right here on Atariage. Target group for the subforum are the close relatives of the TI-99/4a like Tomy Tutor, 99/8, DS990, ... Minimal requirement for that is that the heart of the computer, the CPU must be a Texas Instruments 16bit CPU like TMS9900 (or closely related like TMS9995). The VDP chip alone does not count, machines with a Z80 CPU (Colecovision, MSX) have their own forums here on Atariage. I have opened up a poll that goes until end of september. Depending on the poll results we can then discuss with Albert. What do you think? Please vote in the poll and comment here. ? Retroclouds
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Greetings all! I wound up getting into some Geneve emulation in MESS the other day after Michael and I had been talking about it. Anyway, I thought I'd start a support thread. I finally got the first thing besides the OS running on the Geneve a couple of days ago, and that was Advanced Basic. I tried to load and run an XB program from there, but the machine freezes. This likely has something to do with TIMODE, but I haven't been able to get any XB program to run. Moreover, I'm wondering what else is out there for the Geneve? Some reading seemed to suggest that MyWord was a Geneve editor, but I immediately was hesitant to believe it after looking at the contents of the disk, which has a file named 'FORMAT' (which would of course be problematic with MDOS's command). So what other software is there for the Geneve, and where can I find some documentation, such as an ABasic manual? Also, advice on how to run TI software on the Geneve would be greatly appreciated. I'm sorry to ask - I've been wading through whtech for days without finding any answers nor much in the way of useful documentation .