Latest Harmony Cart software

[+batari]

The latest Harmony software and firmware may be found here.

If you are using a production cart, it's important to use the correct BIOS as versions before 1.03 may not work properly on them.


This version of the software was included with Deluxe Harmony carts, and all production carts are using this version of the BIOS. If you are using a pre-production cart, I recommend upgrading to this BIOS as there were several improvements and bugfixes.

Linux 32-bit: https://github.com/sa666666/harmonycart/releases/download/release-1.3/harmonycart_1.3-1_i386.deb
Linux 64-bit: https://github.com/sa666666/harmonycart/releases/download/release-1.3/harmonycart_1.3-1_amd64.deb
OSX: https://github.com/sa666666/harmonycart/releases/download/release-1.3/HarmonyCart-1.3-macosx.dmg
Windows: https://github.com/sa666666/harmonycart/releases/download/release-1.3/HarmonyCart-1.3-win32.exe
Source code: https://github.com/sa666666/harmonycart/releases/download/release-1.3/harmonycart-1.3-src.tar.gz

Drivers:
When you plug the Harmony cartridge into your computer, proper drivers are usually already included with your operating system and are installed automatically. If the drivers do not install automatically, you may download them for your operating system here. Make sure you download drivers for the FT232R chip.

Linux users may also need to install Qt4 libraries. If you're using KDE4 in Linux, you already have Qt4. Otherwise, you can simply install it from your distro repository.

BIOS: Version 1.05, uploaded May 23, 2010

• Support for Sega Genesis controllers in the menu (hold down button B during power on)
• 3F bankswitching now works with files up to 32k (e.g Andrew Davie's dancing baby demo)
• Support for new bankswitching (such as DPC+) without requiring future BIOS updates
• Certain F6 games that didn't work on version 1.04e should work now

1.04e BIOS info retained for historical purposes:

BIOS: Version 1.04e, uploaded Feb. 9, 2010

• Fix for PAL50 menu bug
• FB2 Support
• Brighter menu colors
• Bad dumps of F8/F6 that work in Stella now should work on Harmony
• Supercharger fix for SDI (see below)

Note: the 1.04 BIOS includes a new EEPROM loader that must be used with the hbios file or the update will not succeed.

SDI also requires a modified binary to work. The fixed binary is here:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/157111-fyi-found-a-game-that-doesnt-work/page__st__27

harmony_105.zip

hbios_106_NTSC.bin

hbios_106_PAL50.bin

Edited December 24, 2018 by batari

[tremoloman2006]

The latest Harmony software and firmware may be found here.

 

If you are using a production cart, it's important to use the correct BIOS as versions before 1.03 may not work properly on them.

 

This version of the software was included with Deluxe Harmony carts, and all production carts are using this version of the BIOS.  If you are using a pre-production cart, I recommend upgrading to this BIOS as there were several improvements and bugfixes.

 

Linux 32-bit: http://harmony.atari..._1.1-1_i386.deb

Linux 64-bit: http://harmony.atari...1.1-1_amd64.deb

OSX: http://harmony.atari...yCartOSX1.1.dmg

Windows: http://harmony.atari...t-1.1-win32.exe

Source code: http://harmony.atari...1.1-src.tar.bz2

 

Drivers:

When you plug the Harmony cartridge into your computer, proper drivers are usually already included with your operating system and are installed automatically.  If the drivers do not install automatically, you may download them for your operating system here.  Make sure you download drivers for the FT232R chip.

 

Linux users may also need to install Qt4 libraries.  If you're using KDE4 in Linux, you already have Qt4. Otherwise, you can simply install it from your distro repository.

Am I blind?  I can't find the BIOS upgrade.  One of my harmony carts only produces a green screen now so I need to reflash it to bring it back to life.  I DL'd the software from this post but still don't see the BIOS anywhere.  I must be missing something...

 

 

 

[+batari]

The software includes the 1.03c BIOS which is the latest publicly available version as of this writing.

[accousticguitar]

So the hbios_ntsc.bin is the 1.03c bios?

[+batari]

So the hbios_ntsc.bin is the 1.03c bios?

Yes - I thought it was named hbios_xxx_ntsc.bin but apparently it was renamed.

 

We are about to release a 1.04 BIOS, which I will post here.

[+stephena]

So the hbios_ntsc.bin is the 1.03c bios?

Yes - I thought it was named hbios_xxx_ntsc.bin but apparently it was renamed.

 

We are about to release a 1.04 BIOS, which I will post here.

Sorry about the name change; that was my fault. When I checked it into Subversion, I forgot to use the correct name. Perhaps you should send me the 1.04 file, and I'll do a 1.2 release of the software instead (there are a few other things I want to update).

[+batari]

We will send you the software when we finish it

 

Should be soon.

[Dan Iacovelli]

I can't do anything until I get me a mini usb-b cable(or adapter) and an sd card.

[+batari]

I can't do anything until I get me a mini usb-b cable(or adapter) and an sd card.

You don't need a cable except for BIOS updates. All you need is an SD card and card reader, really.

[Dan Iacovelli]

I can't do anything until I get me a mini usb-b cable(or adapter) and an sd card.

You don't need a cable except for BIOS updates. All you need is an SD card and card reader, really.

I thought you need the sd card to have the bios saved on it.

(I have Rico 4 in 1 card reader on my laptop)

[+batari]

BIOS has been updated. You may download the BIOS and the new EEPROM loader in the first post of this thread.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I forgot to mention that Gunfight will work now too.

[seanhq]

The new BIOS file says 1.04e but when you update the Harmony, the Harmony menu screen reads 1.04 without the "e". Does that make any difference? Reason I'm asking is because I was using a beta version of 1.04 prior to the official "e" release which also didn't show a ending letter. It did say the BIOS was updating after I did the normal upgrade process, but with the "e" missing from the display screen, I just want to confirm.

[+batari]

The new BIOS file says 1.04e but when you update the Harmony, the Harmony menu screen reads 1.04 without the "e". Does that make any difference? Reason I'm asking is because I was using a beta version of 1.04 prior to the official "e" release which also didn't show a ending letter. It did say the BIOS was updating after I did the normal upgrade process, but with the "e" missing from the display screen, I just want to confirm.

The letter just refers to our private builds of the 1.04 BIOS we've been working on and is really only there so we can tell the files from one another. The "e" is not shown on the credits screen.

[seanhq]

The new BIOS file says 1.04e but when you update the Harmony, the Harmony menu screen reads 1.04 without the "e". Does that make any difference? Reason I'm asking is because I was using a beta version of 1.04 prior to the official "e" release which also didn't show a ending letter. It did say the BIOS was updating after I did the normal upgrade process, but with the "e" missing from the display screen, I just want to confirm.

The letter just refers to our private builds of the 1.04 BIOS we've been working on and is really only there so we can tell the files from one another. The "e" is not shown on the credits screen.

Thanks for clarification. I've noticed that this version seems to run a little quicker... not sure if that was part of the work you did or not in this release, but thanks in advance if it was

 

Also, what's on the road map for the next release? For geeks like me, it would be cool to know some of what's to come for this amazing little piece of 2600 goodness.

[cd-w]

Also, what's on the road map for the next release? For geeks like me, it would be cool to know some of what's to come for this amazing little piece of 2600 goodness.

 

There probably won't be any big new features as it now does everything that we originally planned. Future BIOS updates will probably just be bug fixes and compatibility improvements.

 

Chris

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

I just ordered a Deluxe model, I downloaded everything available, I was wondering though, I downloaded the Windows version of the software, will it work with Windows 7 64bit?

[R.Cade]

I just ordered a Deluxe model, I downloaded everything available, I was wondering though, I downloaded the Windows version of the software, will it work with Windows 7 64bit?

 

Yes. I just ran it with no problems on W7 Enterprise x64.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

I just ordered a Deluxe model, I downloaded everything available, I was wondering though, I downloaded the Windows version of the software, will it work with Windows 7 64bit?

 

Yes. I just ran it with no problems on W7 Enterprise x64.

 

Awesome! thanks.

[seanhq]

I'm curious if there is a new version of the Harmony BIOS being worked on presently or is version 1.04e going to be the stable release for a while? If a new one is being worked on, any chance of a sneak peek of what we can expect from it? Keep up the great work by the way. The Harmony cartridge is awesome.

[+batari]

We have had a few discussions, but currently the team is busy with RL things. In a few weeks we might get back into it.

[seanhq]

We have had a few discussions, but currently the team is busy with RL things. In a few weeks we might get back into it.

Awesome. Thank you for the follow up. I completely understand about RL things. I appreciate all your work on the Harmony, as I'm sure the rest of the community appreciates everything that you and your crack A-Team does too.

[BigO]

Yeah, what he said ^^^.

 

I finally got a few minutes to get mine loaded up and she works like a champ. Still no time to play, but it's ready when I'm ready.

[A.J. Franzman]

Batari, can you please list for us, which games that required fixed binaries (which were made available) to work under previous BIOS(es), no longer do so? In other words, which (if any) patched binary files are no longer needed, now that the original files/dumps will work under BIOS 1.05?

Edited May 24, 2010 by A.J. Franzman

[+batari]

Batari, can you please list for us, which games that required fixed binaries (which were made available) to work under previous BIOS(es), no longer do so? In other words, which (if any) patched binary files are no longer needed, now that the original files/dumps will work under BIOS 1.05?

I don't remember all the games I patched (and I looked, so they must not be in obvious places.)

 

At any rate, the patches were for F8/F6 (8k or 16k) games. Any patched 8k or 16k game would be unnecessary under 1.05. IIRC, some of the 16k games that didn't work were Midnight Magic, Road Runner and Berzerk VE, and I may have patched the first two (I did not patch Berzerk VE.)

 

I also patched some Supercharger games, and these patches are still needed as of BIOS 1.05.