Re: Slots
Yes, this is in the definition of the standard. It must be, because on power-up all registers (including hA8) are zero. Therefore, the reset routine (and thus the whole bios) must start at address 0, slot 0-0. As far as I know, the standard doesn't say so. The problem is that there might be more than one MAIN ROM on MSXes which use for example a MSX - MSX2 upgrade cartridge. The MSX1 rom in such a configuration will indeed be located in slot 0 or 0-0, but the MSX2 BIOS -which is the BIOS that should be used in such a configuration- will be located in another slot. The issue of accessing the right BIOS ROM is quite crucial. Consider for example direct VDP access. In an MSX1 with MSX2 upgrade cartridge, there will be two VDPs. The MSX1 VDP can be accessed through the usual in- and output ports, but the MSX2 VDP will use other ports, in case of the adapter I know of #88 and #89. The address of these ports can be only obtained by accessing #0006/#0007 in the MSX2 BIOS. The slot containing the BIOS which should be used on a MSX computer can be found at location #FCC1. MSX1 documentation claims that this address contains a byte indicating whether or not slot 0 is expanded, but all later ASCII documentation -including the MSX Datapack- defines it as slot address of the BIOS/MAIN ROM. Regards, Bernard Lamers -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
Re: Slots
Hi Bernard! :) Bernard Lamers wrote: The problem is that there might be more than one MAIN ROM on MSXes which use for example a MSX - MSX2 upgrade cartridge. The MSX1 rom in such a configuration will indeed be located in slot 0 or 0-0, but the MSX2 BIOS -which is the BIOS that should be used in such a configuration- will be located in another slot. That's my point, because that's what the MSX2 Technical Handbook says: In some cases, however, it is required to know the slot number of the specified software. For example, in the previous version, BASIC MAIN-ROM was placed in basic slot #0 or in expansion slot #0-0 when basic slot #0 was expanded. So when MSX1 is upgraded to have the MSX2 functions by installing MSX-VIDEO and BASIC ver 2.0 ROM, the MAIN ROM should be placed somewhere other than slot #0 or slot #0-0. The slot where MSX2 SUB-ROM resides depends on the machine, but the information about the slot where BASIC interpreter ROM resides can be obtained by referring to the work area described below The slot containing the BIOS which should be used on a MSX computer can be found at location #FCC1. MSX1 documentation claims that this address contains a byte indicating whether or not slot 0 is expanded, but all later ASCII documentation -including the MSX Datapack- defines it as slot address of the BIOS/MAIN ROM. But #FCC1 is RAM. The slot address in that system variable is set by the BIOS at boot time. Now let's say that the BIOS didn't to that job for me. How could I find out where's the MAIN-ROM for that computer? Regards, -- Javi Lavandeira ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) - http://www.ag0ny.com -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
Re: Slots
The slot containing the BIOS which should be used on a MSX computer can be found at location #FCC1. MSX1 documentation claims that this address contains a byte indicating whether or not slot 0 is expanded, but all later ASCII documentation -including the MSX Datapack- defines it as slot address of the BIOS/MAIN ROM. But #FCC1 is RAM. The slot address in that system variable is set by the BIOS at boot time. Now let's say that the BIOS didn't to that job for me. How could I find out where's the MAIN-ROM for that computer? You don't. It makes sense to leave it to the bios to set a system variable to tell where it is. The first bios can never tell you about the second, because it doesn't know about it. If the bios didn't run, the only way to do this in a way that you can be sure you have the right page, is by executing the bios anyway (or execute it in a debugger until the byte has changed, but that's quite a lot of work to do automated). Bye, shevek -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
Re: Slots
If the second BIOS was not found and initialized there is not much chance it will function :) The first MSX BIOS (which will be at slot 0-0 due to the way the hardware i have seen is initialized) must find the second MSX BIOS in the standard way, if that BIOS is designed well and let it initialize. So the RAM will be filled in with the correct information or the second BIOS (and e.g. MSX2 upgrade)will not function. I wonder how many MSX-1s are still being used with that MSX2 upgrade? I know of Brasil, never seen one here in the Netherlands. -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
Konami MSX stuff for trade only
Hi, I have some Konami stuff for trade (only for trade): see http://manuel.msxnet.org/msx/like2sell (Yes, I finally updated this page! ;-) For now: Original software (cartridges!) For the moment: for trade only, so not for sale! Mail me your proposal... Game box manual cart Usas 80% 85%80% (tape on it) Yie Ar-Kung Fu 2 85% none 95% Konami's Tennis only plastic none 95% and * manual of Football (looks dirty) * Box and manual of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (manual looks used) Other stuff is on the aforementioned page. -- Grtjs, Manuel PS: MSX 4EVER! (Questions? See http://www.faq.msxnet.org/) PPS: Visit my homepage: http://bilderbeek.cjb.net/ -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
Re: Snatcher: The Translation
Daniel Caetano wrote: Hum... how have you finally solved the keyboard problem? About this problem: I checked the MSX Technical Handbook (MSX1). I'm probably making a stupid mistake here, but can't you just read out the information bytes that tell what keyboard and character table layout is in the MSX and with that decode the right key? -- Grtjs, Manuel PS: MSX 4EVER! (Questions? See http://www.faq.msxnet.org/) PPS: Visit my homepage: http://bilderbeek.cjb.net/ -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
Bee card list
Hi, There used to be a bee card list online somewhere. Where is it, if it is still online? When it is offline, can someone make a list of all available bee cards for MSX? -- Grtjs, Manuel PS: MSX 4EVER! (Questions? See http://www.faq.msxnet.org/) PPS: Visit my homepage: http://bilderbeek.cjb.net/ -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
Re: Bee card list
On Mon, Feb 18, 2002 at 03:13:36PM +0100, Manuel Bilderbeek wrote: Hi, There used to be a bee card list online somewhere. Where is it, if it is still online? When it is offline, can someone make a list of all available bee cards for MSX? Pardon my ignorance, but what is a 'bee card' ? :) Joost -- pub 1024D/EE97FFCB 2001-12-10 Joost Yervante Damad (Work) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Key fingerprint = 1AF3 11FD 6139 C5DB 6651 A59A 2743 D9E4 EE97 FFCB -- Chalky gcc is the best compressor ever ported to linux. it can turn 12MB of kernel source (and that's .debbed) into a 500k kernel -- -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
Re: Bee card list
Joost Yervante Damad wrote: When it is offline, can someone make a list of all available bee cards for MSX? Pardon my ignorance, but what is a 'bee card' ? :) It's a game which is in a 'credit card'. This card has a set of connectors, so you can put it in a Bee Pack, the adaptor for them to work on an MSX. Some old MCCM has an article about them. Also, check Google... ;-) An example: http://www.funet.fi/pub/msx/photos/hardware/BaseBall_Craze_Beecard.jpg and (same location) Star_Force_-Hudson_Soft-_BeeCard.jpg -- Grtjs, Manuel PS: MSX 4EVER! (Questions? See http://www.faq.msxnet.org/) PPS: Visit my homepage: http://bilderbeek.cjb.net/ -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
Re: Slots
Hi, Bernard Lamers wrote: Hmm, isn't it much easier and safer to use the value at #FCC1? No, if it hasn't been initialized before. :) (P.S. Javi, congratulations with your new job. We are waiting for you over here.) Don't celebrate yet. I have the job, but I still don't have the visa. I will start celebrating as soon as it is stamped in my passport. :) Regards, -- Javi Lavandeira ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) - http://www.ag0ny.com -- For info, see http://www.stack.nl/~wynke/MSX/listinfo.html
