Amstrad CPC WiFi

[Duke]

Thanks for taking a look @Duke - I thought it probably didn't something funny to do what it does! I'll try out your tip but I guess anything I created with it will still have to run via my HxC. If it's a lot of work and no one else is using it it just isn't worth your time and effort. But thank you anyway.

No problem, maybe I will re-visit it later. I am quite intrigued by the load (and autorun) trick, never seen that on CPC before, just giving it a few rounds in WinApe before I call it a day

[XeNoMoRPH]

Hi Duke !!! this is an offtopic:

it's about this hardware:

http://alabs.tech/usbtopia-item.html

it's an adaptor for USB joysticks on MSX  .. Could be possible this .. with some addon or firmware update with your M4 Board .. ? thx 

[Duke]

It should be possible to connect a usb mouse/keyboard to the usb socket, if I wrote drivers for it. Power would need to be reversed to the usb port with a 3 "legged" jumper or using a powered usb hub.
I actually did buy some mini usb->usb A converters sometime ago, to try it out, just haven't got around to it. Maybe some time.

Hi Duke !!! this is an offtopic:

it's about this hardware:

http://alabs.tech/usbtopia-item.html

it's an adaptor for USB joysticks on MSX  .. Could be possible this .. with some addon or firmware update with your M4 Board .. ? thx 

[XeNoMoRPH]

It should be possible to connect a usb mouse/keyboard to the usb socket, if I wrote drivers for it. Power would need to be reversed to the usb port with a 3 "legged" jumper or using a powered usb hub.
I actually did buy some mini usb->usb A converters sometime ago, to try it out, just haven't got around to it. Maybe some time.

Awesome !!! ... waiting for that , thx

[Tolkin]

Hy Duke,
this weekend i had time to copy my disks to the SD-Card, unsing FCP.
Then i have to ckeck the loaders of the Programs, because i have to change a few things, because the Discs where Vortex Format, and there where |CAS and |Select für |Tape and |User... (but thats not the point here...)
I try loading a few Programs on the SD-Card i copied with |FCP from B-Drive to the SD-Card. On nearly all Files i have errors and failures. (Program crashes, Pictures are a Mess and so on.) But not on the Original disk, where the Files come from.
The next check was, i copy disks, which give me corrupt files on the SD-Card, on another Disk using CP/Ms NSweep (All Disks have no copy protected Files i try to transfer). And on the new copy everything is loading fine as on the Source Disk.

I think there is still a problem with the Mass Copy

Does other People have such Problems with the |FCP Copy or is it just a Problem with my "Charma" or "Spirit", then i will call a Priest. 

Thanks so much for help

Tolkin

[Duke]

@Tolkin, can you upload or email me the files in question, so I can take a look ?

[Tolkin]

Hello, no Problem, here is one Copied Disc.
In Aliens you see a half "Loading Screen" and in Game the Ripley Picture is not shown.
Hope this help.
Thanks so much

[Duke]

In Aliens you see a half "Loading Screen" and in Game the Ripley Picture is not shown.

Thanks. A quick test shows the file integrity is fine. Just dragged the files on a DSK in winape, aliens loading screen is fine, game looks fine.
So probably it's another issue (ie. himem). Probably if you use modified lower rom, problem will disappear. I will test later. It's not a |FCP problem.

EDIT: tested it on M4, and it runs fine for me (even without modified lowerrom). However it does put the loader high in memory, so if you have other roms enabled, that may cause an issue. I assume these files were copied with |FCP ?

[Tolkin]

Hy Duke,
thanks for reply.
So i need a Priest right now! Anyone? }:)
Iam not at home this week, but i will check next weekend.
Thank you
Tolkin

[AxelStone]

If there is another batch in preparation, I'm really interested in one 

[XeNoMoRPH]

Yeah .. i'm now testing my new M4 Board .... i have a question ... it's possible to LOAD a .CDT file ? , like a Real CPC ?

[Duke]

Yeah .. i'm now testing my new M4 Board .... i have a question ... it's possible to LOAD a .CDT file ? , like a Real CPC ?

It's not possible to use .CDT or tape files from M4. Also I don't think it will be easily possible, well yes for plain file loading games, patching the firmware should be OK, but I guess most tape loaders use direct access to the I/O.

@AxelStone: M4 is in production still as you know, but I seem to be always hopelessly behind. And when I finally catch up, I run out of something that takes longer than expected to arrive.

[cosa_nostra-6128]

I have tried loading the r type new version and it does not load when being protected .... is there any way to load it with the M4? If it can not, will it be possible in the future with some hardware update? Thank you

[Duke]

I have tried loading the r type new version and it does not load when being protected .... is there any way to load it with the M4? If it can not, will it be possible in the future with some hardware update? Thank you

A quick look, and it's using custom FDC loading. It is not going to work with a hardware update, only way is if the game was patched to firmware sector reading.

[rpalmer]

Any game which has a custom FDC handler can be overcome with a patch to AMSDOS, but even then if the game's FDC Handler itself directly access the hardware then no amount of effort short of hardware will overcome that scenario.

If the former is possible, then there is the issue of RAM usage as that may become corrupt for the re-directed handler.

All of which which makes it complicated to handle games with special FDC requirements.

rpalmer

[keith56]

A quick look, and it's using custom FDC loading. It is not going to work with a hardware update, only way is if the game was patched to firmware sector reading.

Back when I was looking for disk routines, user 'fano' gave a source which he said was the one used to direct read the disk in R-type - maybe this will help work out how to patch the game?

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/programming/what-is-the-lowest-memory-method-of-reading-from-disk/

[XeNoMoRPH]

Hi !!! , My M4 Board has been working good until now .. The CPC is reset continuously , I have cleaned the connectors, but I have not solved anything ... 

[Duke]

Hi !!! , My M4 Board has been working good until now .. The CPC is reset continuously , I have cleaned the connectors, but I have not solved anything ... 

Try remove the mircroSD card and see if it then works.

[XeNoMoRPH]

Try remove the mircroSD card and see if it then works.

LoL .. removing miscroSD .. M4 Board Boot again 

But when insert microSD and Switch ON CPC .. The CPC is reset continuously

[Duke]

LoL .. removing miscroSD .. M4 Board Boot again 

Good, now insert the microSD to a PC and delete the files romslots.bin and romconfig.bin from m4 directory. Most likely you uploaded a ROM to slot 0 (replacing basic) or altered another setting in the romconfig (like lowerrom replacement).

[XeNoMoRPH]

Good, now insert the microSD to a PC and delete the files romslots.bin and romconfig.bin from m4 directory. Most likely you uploaded a ROM to slot 0 (replacing basic) or altered another setting in the romconfig (like lowerrom replacement).

That's the problem !!! .. now boot again .. ok Thx for support

[XeNoMoRPH]

Hi Again .. i just downloaded some ROM games from here: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROM_List , and upload to M4 Rom Slots ... by example:

Arkanoid ROM - Launch from ROM with |ARKANOID , but ... game not boot ... Unknown Command error .. 

[Duke]

Hi Again .. i just downloaded some ROM games from here: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROM_List , and upload to M4 Rom Slots ... by example:

Arkanoid ROM - Launch from ROM with |ARKANOID , but ... game not boot ... Unknown Command error .. 

Sounds like the ROM is not initialized. On CPC464, normally only roms 0-7 are initialized and CPC664/6128 roms 0-15, so if you used a rom slot outside that area it wont be initialized, unless you use booster rom or FW316 (lowerrom replacement).

[XeNoMoRPH]

But Arkanoid it's on Slot 8 and LightForce it's on Slot 6 & 7

[Duke]

But Arkanoid it's on Slot 8 and LightForce it's on Slot 6 & 7

Show a screenshot from you rom settings and what machine are you using?  Overwriting rom 7 may be a bad idea...

EDIT: Just tried arkanoid rom and it works perfectly here on a CPC6128. See romconfig.[attachimg=1]