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General Category => Amstrad CPC hardware => Topic started by: wilco2009 on 15:13, 18 October 13

Title: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: wilco2009 on 15:13, 18 October 13
Are there any software like software like Booster to activate ROMs 8 to 15 in CPC 464?


Or Are ther any method to do that manually?
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: TFM on 19:59, 18 October 13
You can update to Firmware 3.1 (see wiki & forum).
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: Bryce on 20:17, 18 October 13
Firmware 3.1 only works with the 6128 BASIC ROM as far as I can remember. So you'll have to swap both.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: redbox on 20:48, 18 October 13
Quote from: TFM on 19:59, 18 October 13
You can update to Firmware 3.1 (see wiki & forum).

The version on the Wiki was 3.1 which was slightly bugged.

I've updated the Wiki (http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROM_List) with version 3.12 (http://cpcwiki.eu/imgs/c/cc/Firmware312.zip) from the forum (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/firmware-3-1-megaflash/) which does intialise ROMs 15-31 properly.
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: Bryce on 21:25, 18 October 13
Will it work with the 464's BASIC too, or will he need to use BASIC 1.1 on his 464?

Bryce.
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: redbox on 22:22, 18 October 13
Quote from: Bryce on 21:25, 18 October 13
Will it work with the 464's BASIC too, or will he need to use BASIC 1.1 on his 464?

Not sure (have to ask TotO/SyX) but I can patch a 464 OS for you to initalise ROMs 0-31 if you like?  You will physically have to put this into your machine though.
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: Bryce on 22:43, 18 October 13
Why? Would it not work on a LowerROMBoard?

Bryce.
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: redbox on 09:21, 19 October 13
Quote from: Bryce on 22:43, 18 October 13
Why? Would it not work on a LowerROMBoard?

Oh yes, should do. Forgot you'd made them!
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: wilco2009 on 11:14, 20 October 13
Thanks a lot, I'll try it now.

Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: wilco2009 on 12:28, 20 October 13

I tried with 3.12 version and Basic 1.1 and the result is as following:

- When system starts shows a message "memory is exhausted", but everything seems to work ok.
- When I insert Megaflash the message at start still there. I can run ROMs (0..31) correctly.
- When I start "Megaflash ROM Manager" from ROM, I can't copy one ROM to another because system restarts when I select the option.
- Firmware 3.12 does not support tape.

Due to the mentioned problems I tried with 6128 OS Megaflash + Basic 1.1, and CPC 464 does not work at all.

Quote from: redbox on 22:22, 18 October 13
Not sure (have to ask TotO/SyX) but I can patch a 464 OS for you to initalise ROMs 0-31 if you like?  You will physically have to put this into your machine though.

Could you patch 464 OS (Spanish version) to try it?

Thank you very much in advance. 
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: redbox on 22:29, 20 October 13
Quote from: wilco2009 on 12:28, 20 October 13
Could you patch 464 OS (Spanish version) to try it?

Well this was a lot more work than I thought it would be (I don't have the 464 OS source code) but I've given it a go.

The first problem was that one of the routines to patch (KL FIND COMMAND) is different in the 464 OS to the 6128 OS and it's also two bytes shorter.  Luckily I noticed that there is an error check to see if the ROM is within the 0,1,2 declaration range and this isn't essential.  So I patched this routine and tried it on WinApe and it appears that the ROMs are all working normally in the 0-7 range with this patch (tried Maxam, Protext and Utopia).

You can try this yourself (and possibly on real hardware to be sure) using the attached file: Os464_(Spanish)_patched.rom

Next step I took was to patch the ROM intialising and checking routines as I did with the 6128 and Plus.  The second problem was I did find another difference in that RST 3 FAR CALL on the 464 only checks up to ROM 6, but I'm assuming this is because a stock 464 doesn't have anything in ROM slot 7 (because it's used by the disc OS).  In theory these additional patches should work but as they don't work in emulators and only on real hardware I have no way of being sure...!

Anyway, give it a go and here is the ROM to burn which will hopefully allow the 464 to use all slots from 0-31: Os464_(Spanish)_patched_megaflash.rom

I'd start with the standard 464 configuration (BASIC 1.0, no disk OS, no additional ROMs) and build up from there.  Let me know if it works, and if it doesn't then let me know what happens (and try the first non-megaflash ROM too to see it that has any problems).

Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: wilco2009 on 23:02, 20 October 13
Thanks very much. I will try it and I will tell you the result.
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: mr_lou on 06:31, 21 October 13
Awesome. I may put in an order for a patch of the danish CPC464 OS some day in the future.  :)
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: wilco2009 on 18:55, 21 October 13
Quote from: redbox on 22:29, 20 October 13
Well this was a lot more work than I thought it would be (I don't have the 464 OS source code) but I've given it a go.

The first problem was that one of the routines to patch (KL FIND COMMAND) is different in the 464 OS to the 6128 OS and it's also two bytes shorter.  Luckily I noticed that there is an error check to see if the ROM is within the 0,1,2 declaration range and this isn't essential.  So I patched this routine and tried it on WinApe and it appears that the ROMs are all working normally in the 0-7 range with this patch (tried Maxam, Protext and Utopia).

You can try this yourself (and possibly on real hardware to be sure) using the attached file: Os464_(Spanish)_patched.rom

Next step I took was to patch the ROM intialising and checking routines as I did with the 6128 and Plus.  The second problem was I did find another difference in that RST 3 FAR CALL on the 464 only checks up to ROM 6, but I'm assuming this is because a stock 464 doesn't have anything in ROM slot 7 (because it's used by the disc OS).  In theory these additional patches should work but as they don't work in emulators and only on real hardware I have no way of being sure...!

Anyway, give it a go and here is the ROM to burn which will hopefully allow the 464 to use all slots from 0-31: Os464_(Spanish)_patched_megaflash.rom

I'd start with the standard 464 configuration (BASIC 1.0, no disk OS, no additional ROMs) and build up from there.  Let me know if it works, and if it doesn't then let me know what happens (and try the first non-megaflash ROM too to see it that has any problems).



OK. I tried both roms and first one is working right in my cpc464.


Second one seems to start initialising all ROMs but at the end hangs.


See picture:


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7b8GFa0a88w/UmVpv37A7DI/AAAAAAABWls/jT4nYfor5wI/w1056-h792-no/2013-10-21 (https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7b8GFa0a88w/UmVpv37A7DI/AAAAAAABWls/jT4nYfor5wI/w1056-h792-no/2013-10-21)
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: redbox on 19:12, 21 October 13
Quote from: wilco2009 on 18:55, 21 October 13
OK. I tried both roms and first one is working right in my cpc464.

That's good news as it means the main patch is working.

Quote from: wilco2009 on 18:55, 21 October 13
Second one seems to start initialising all ROMs but at the end hangs.

I think it's likely to be a problem with the RST 3 FAR CALL.

Can you try the attached two ROMs (fc07 first then fc1f) and tell me what happens?
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: wilco2009 on 19:49, 21 October 13
same efect than previous rom in both cases.


Initialise all roms and then crashes.
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: redbox on 20:54, 21 October 13
Quote from: wilco2009 on 19:49, 21 October 13
same efect than previous rom in both cases.
Initialise all roms and then crashes.

Hmmm, there's something about the 464 that doesn't like initialising ROM 7 and above then, I expect it's due to it being reserved for the disc OS.

The 6128 and Plus don't have this problem though.

Do you have a DDI-1?  And if so, have you tried any of the patched ROMs when it's attached?
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: IanS on 21:07, 21 October 13
Quote from: redbox on 20:54, 21 October 13
Hmmm, there's something about the 464 that doesn't like initialising ROM 7 and above then, I expect it's due to it being reserved for the disc OS.
I can't think of anything in the 464 hardware that should cause any issue. I run my 464 with a 6128 rom, just so it initialises roms 8 to 15.
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: wilco2009 on 21:27, 21 October 13
Quote from: IanS on 21:07, 21 October 13
I can't think of anything in the 464 hardware that should cause any issue. I run my 464 with a 6128 rom, just so it initialises roms 8 to 15.


No. I haven't.


Quote from: IanS on 21:07, 21 October 13
I can't think of anything in the 464 hardware that should cause any issue. I run my 464 with a 6128 rom, just so it initialises roms 8 to 15.


I'll try again with the 6128OS ans Basic 1.1. Perharps we had some problem with the EPROM in my previous test.

Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: redbox on 21:29, 21 October 13
Quote from: wilco2009 on 21:27, 21 October 13
I'll try again with the 6128OS ans Basic 1.1. Perharps we had some problem with the EPROM in my previous test.

Are you putting the ROM directly into the 464 or are you using a Lower ROM board attachment?
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: wilco2009 on 07:36, 22 October 13

I connect the EPROM directly to the 464.


I have tried the 6128 OS patched megaflash + Basic 1.1 again and it works!!!. The problem was bad connections between pins and the socket.


But versions modified by you, still not working, showing the same. All roms are initialized but then system hangs.


Thanks a lot.
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: redbox on 09:47, 22 October 13
Quote from: wilco2009 on 07:36, 22 October 13
I connect the EPROM directly to the 464.
I have tried the 6128 OS patched megaflash + Basic 1.1 again and it works!!!. The problem was bad connections between pins and the socket.

That's good news, glad you got it working.  The 6128 OS MegaFlash patch has no reported problems so far so it should all work ok.

Quote from: wilco2009 on 07:36, 22 October 13
But versions modified by you, still not working, showing the same. All roms are initialized but then system hangs.

I have a socketed 464 too so when I get some EPROMs I'll do some proper testing in the machine.  It would be nice to get a patched 464 OS working as well.

Quote from: wilco2009 on 07:36, 22 October 13
Thanks a lot.

No problem, it was an interesting exercise  :)
Title: Re: Megaflash in cpc464
Post by: TFM on 17:04, 22 October 13
Quote from: wilco2009 on 07:36, 22 October 13

I have tried the 6128 OS patched megaflash + Basic 1.1 again and it works!!!. The problem was bad connections between pins and the socket.



That's good news.  :)
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