Ok, now that the Megaflash is under production I've been doing a little wet-dreaming (ahem), and would like to ask you, which ROMs will people be installing?
My list, in no particular order:
- TMF's ROManager, once it exists in ROM form
- QuickCMD (of course!)
- SymbOS
- FutureOS (along with bryce's mouse adaptor these should be brill)
- Some word-processor, because word-processing on the CPC is extra-geeky (which one though? Protext? Brunword?)
- Discology (hell yeah)
- Routeplanner (when they release maps for Greece, I've been waiting for ages)
- Xexor
- ...?
Additionnally to your list, actually, I see two kind of ROMs :
- the real ones, that extend the system with new functionalities, executed from ROM :
Arnor ones of course (Protext, Maxam, Utopia, Promerge if you are a Protext hardcore user)
Oddjob (old utility from 1985, but still useful and pleasant from times to times)
Parados (of course !)
Arkos ROM is useful too if you are also a CPCBooster owner
- the ones that actually are programs stored in ROM as simple storage :
the "big" tools : OCP Art Studio, Starkos, Soundtracker..
You mentionned Discology, do you have a "proper" version of the software ? I found ones, but they were missing presentation screen etc..
HxC Floppy Emulator Manager if you have an HxC device
WHERE TO DOWNLOAD ?
For both HxC Floppy Emulator & QuickCMD, they can be downloaded from www.norecess.net (http://www.norecess.net)
Genesis8 and CPCRulez are also great source for download
Most of interesting ROMs are available on the cpcwiki anyway
I would flash:
Parados
BDos
HxC Floppy Manager
BDos Addon 1 & 2
Maxam
Done ;-)
Kindly Regards
Pentagon
Ah yes, I forgot to mention the HxC loader, of course, though I did think about it. Programming utilities are not for me...
What do you mean, "proper" Discology? All the versions I've seen have the central screen (is there a loading/presentation screen?). I do have an original Discology disk (but earlier version, around v3), though I haven't tried loading it yet.
Oooh yeah, some nice ideas here.
Can't wait to get mine. The speed of turning on the Arnold, typing |WHATEVER and having a program instantly is just awesome[nb]Yeah! F*ck PCs! I got me a CeeePeeeCeeee!!![/nb].
Well because every MegaFlash goes through a sequence of read / write tests to check that everything works, the MegaFlash you receive will already have MAXAM 1.5 in ROM Position 4 and ParaDOS in ROM Position 7 when you get it, but you can delete these if you don't want them obviously.
Bryce.
Hello :) ,
What would I flash ? ? ?
I think the following setup might be a nice start :
PROTEXT (4 ROMS) (Protext, Promerge+, Prospell and Proprint)
MAXAM 1.5
UTOPIA
ParaDOS
SYMBOS (4 ROMS)
CPM+ ROMS (4 ROMS)
DES (2 ROMS)
NIRVANA
SILIDISC (Dk'tronics)
Just to mention a few nice ROMS
Yours
Terje Grind
NORWAY
I would flash:-
1. HDOS (for a better file system and device handler, IMHO :D )
2. HDOS Driver (obviously)
3. TCP/IP (ROM version) - Currently under development.
4. Utopia (wonderful suite of utilities)
5. C compiler (Arnor)
6. Laser Basic Compiler.
7. Wordprocessor (Protext)
8. Promerge
9. Prospell.
10. Some sort of email program to work with TCP/IP.
11 Some sort of chat program to work with TCP/IP.
I already have programs 1-9 (although 6 is a disc version), but 10 and 11 would make the CPC a super-CPC.... ;D
rpalmer
Ah yes, Utopia, too.
Terje, the Silicon Disk AFAIK has both the software ROM and the RAM in the same package? Or am I wrong? Because if so there's no meaning in loading the software this way...?
Hi,
If I was using both a dk'tronics 256K memory extension and a dk'tronics 256K silicon disc I would have a Amsdos RAM disk of 254K. Under CPM+ it would be 444K. ;) (According to a test with WinApe)
I have to agree that a RAMdisk under Amsdos is a bit useless, but it would be faster than a real disc for slideshows and perhaps music I think ! !
Yours
Terje Grind
Norway
PS The complete dk'tronics pack has originally THREE units.
1. dk'tronics 256K Memory Extension
2. dk'tronics 256K Silicon disc
3. dk'tronics Silicon disc (1 slot ROM board)
Ah, so you'll be using the SDisk software on ROM in conjunction with a simple mem expansion?
Yes, thats right ;)
Since the Megaflash doesn't have any through connectors, additional memory has to be connected BEFORE it. The dk'tronics memory is the only one I can think of that has these through connectors.
Other memory extensions like "Inicron RAM-Box" doesn't have through connectors either :o .
Yours
Terje Grind
NORWAY
Good thinking; you've really maxed it out there!
Hi (again)
My present setup consists of a CPC6128 with a green screen.
- 1 x HxC B-drive,
- 1 x Rombo Rombox (Protext, Promerge+, Prospell, Utopia and Parados)
- 1 x Inicron 512K RAM-Box. :D
The rest of my CPC goods are stored away at the moment ! ! !
(It is a HUGE lot of both hardware and software, but that's another story)
Yours
Terje Grind
Norway
Quote from: Bryce on 16:35, 07 August 11
Well because every MegaFlash goes through a sequence of read / write tests to check that everything works, the MegaFlash you receive will already have MAXAM 1.5 in ROM Position 4 and ParaDOS in ROM Position 7 when you get it, but you can delete these if you don't want them obviously.
Bryce.
Hey, and don't forget the other ROMs we have been talking :D :D :D
Quote from: Terje_Norway on 21:20, 07 August 11
Since the Megaflash doesn't have any through connectors, Terje Grind
NORWAY
Just press a second adapter on the cable, or let the cable flow throu the adapter of the MegaFlash. That keeps it compact. You can even pack a MegaFlash and a RAM expansion in one case and let the expansioin-port-cable flow out of it.
Here my configuration:
1: RDOS (provides 444 KB RAM disc)
3: Promerge
4: Maxam
5: Protext
6: XD-DOS
7: Amsdos (parked, umparked of some games)
10: FutureOS (ROMs B,C,D at 20,21,22)
15: ROM-Booster (enables ROMs 16-31 to be expansion ROMs)
The others are filled dynamically, when needed.
Hm, I really would like to put DISC'o'MAGIC into the MegaFlash... I found it packed for the Inicron-Box, but don't like the RSX |magic. I ever prefered the filename "dom.", but every attempt to recreate it with |dom with Softbrenner resulted in a corrupt file :(
Quote from: Ythcal on 13:09, 08 August 11
Hm, I really would like to put DISC'o'MAGIC into the MegaFlash... I found it packed for the Inicron-Box, but don't like the RSX |magic. I ever prefered the filename "dom.", but every attempt to recreate it with |dom with Softbrenner resulted in a corrupt file :(
Send me that file to futuresoft@gmx.de. I can adapt that for you. But only when you promise to use FutureOS *hehe* :laugh: Ok, the latter one is just an option ;)
To change the name of the RSX will be no problem. (MAGIC 2 DOM).
Quote15: ROM-Booster (enables ROMs 16-31 to be expansion ROMs)
I did not know about that. Can you tell us more about this ROM ? Where to download, how to use it, manual ?..
Thank you !
You can download it here http://genesis8.free.fr/frontend/roms.php (http://genesis8.free.fr/frontend/roms.php) (it's in the RRB.zip file) or from the WSX Inicron site here: http://inicron.gmxhome.de/downloads.html. (http://inicron.gmxhome.de/downloads.html.) But there's not a lot of documentation available for it. It doesn't need any though, because it's a simple as mentioned above: Save it to ROM 15 (doesn't work on a Classic 464) and when you restart, the CPC will initialise all 32 ROMs instead of just 16.
Bryce.
On a CPC464 maybe ROM slot 6 may work though, but I never tried.
BTW: In the Booster ROM, there is about 15 KB free space. So you can add own apps in that ROM too.
Mine so far:
1: DISC'o'MAGIC
2: QuickCMD
3: Protext
4: Maxam
5&6: Starkos
10-13: FutureOS
I have some problems with the HxC-Software. While running from disc perfectly, when starting as ROM it accepts the HxC-SD as Drive B only!? But as long as it is just one button press more to get to the HxC-Manager I can live with that.
Well, slowly I like to realize one of my ideas... I try to create a 0.7 MB (Vortex format) DSK / disc that contains the ROManager and a LOT of ROMs. Means the ROMs that people use the most / or like the most... Such a disc can contain roughly 40 ROMs. What do you think? Which ROMs are wanted?
Hi :)
Top "40s list of ROMs" should contain at least the following ROMs (in my humble opinion). ;)
These ROMs are taken from memory, and I haven't personally tested all of them, but they have all been useful at their time.
That does of course means that some of them has been superseded, by now. They are not listed in any particular order :
01-PROTEXT
02-PROMERGE+
03-PROSPELL
04-PROPRINT
05-UTOPIA
06-MAXAM 1.5
07-BCPL
08-PARADOS
09-NIRVANA
10-DES (ROM 1)
11-DES (ROM 2)
12-CPM (ROM 1)
13-CPM (ROM 2)
14-CPM Accessory ROM-Nsweep/Format/PCW/Unera/D
15-CPM Accessory ROM-Cruncher
16-DISCOLOGY
17-DOSCOPY & CRIME
18-EXTENDED BASIC V1.1
19-JL UTILITIES
20-LOCKSMITHS ROM
21-DISC'O'MAGIC
22-MASTERFILE 128 ROM
23-MUZAK ROM
24-NIG DOS
25-ODDJOB22
26-CPC PROCOPY V1.2
27-PROTEXT HELP ROM
28-RODOS V2.15
29-SILICON DISC ROM
30-SUPER V1.0 ROM
31-SYMBOS-ROM A
32-SYMBOS-ROM B
33-SYMBOS-ROM C
34-SYMBOS-ROM D
35-FutureOS-ROM 1
36-FutureOS-ROM 2
37-FutureOS-ROM 3
38-FutureOS-ROM 4
39-VORTEX DOS V2.11
40-ARKOS ROM V1.0
41-BUNNYDOS V1.72
I'm probably already out of space on that Vortex formatted disc. Perhaps it should be made up as TWO discs ? ? ?
Yours
Terje Grind
NORWAY
Thank's for compling the list!!! Yes better 2-3 disc's ;)
I'll copy & paste that 8)
Good Morning!!! :)
Terje, you have forgotten the last rom in appears and one of the best ... QuickCMD!!! ;)
Quote from: Terje_Norway on 00:09, 17 August 11
41-BUNNYDOS V1.72
You can remember that many ROMs from memory, but you can't count to 40? :D
Yes QuickCMD should definitely be there, but with modern ROMs you will have to regularly update the disc when newer versions are released. With old ROMs this obviously isn't a problem.
According to my ROM Database, there are only around 60 ROMs in total at the moment, so you may as well just include them all.
Bryce.
I assume everyone who ordered a Megaflash is probably searching for amstrad roms. A while back i downloaded every rom i could get from a emulator site (one at a time of cause). To save everyone else a bit of time ive uploaded all 76 of em in one "Planetemu" pack here (next to my old original dumps):
http://www.4shared.com/folder/YFMvbdqW/ROM.html (http://www.4shared.com/folder/YFMvbdqW/ROM.html)
Do note that some of them are either internal hardware roms or need hardware in some other way and so wont work with the Megaflash.
Cool idea. Thanks.
Bryce.
Hi :)
Quote from: Bryce on 08:56, 17 August 11You can remember that many ROMs from memory, but you can't count to 40? :D
Yes, I agree I miscalculated a bit. Only exceeded the 'budget' with 2.5 %, that should actually be accepted in Europa in these days.
Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy and
Ireland are exceeding their budgets with a much worse ratio than I did :o
Quote from: Bryce on 08:56, 17 August 11Yes QuickCMD should definitely be there, but with modern ROMs you will have to regularly update the disc when newer versions are released. With old ROMs this obviously isn't a problem.
According to my ROM Database, there are only around 60 ROMs in total at the moment, so you may as well just include them all.
I have searched my PC harddrive, and I seems to have found 129 ROMs. I have picked out the system ROMs and duplicates, and ended up with a list of over 100 ROMs. This list probably contains more duplicates than those I have spotted, but have a look at it :
(
YES, I know several of them refers specific hardware, and would be useless with the Megaflash 8) )
720KAMSD.ROM
Addon1.rom
Addon2.rom
AksROMv10.rom
AMRAM2.ROM
AMSPAT++.ROM
arcs16.rom
BAS-CHE.ROM
bcpl.rom
BDOS172.ROM
BOOSTER.ROM
BOS21.ROM
CAGE1.ROM
cage11.rom
CAGE2.ROM
COMSTAR1.ROM
COMSTAR2.ROM
COPYL60.ROM
copymatp.rom
CPC X-DDos v2.10 (1990)(Dobbertin).rom
cpm1.rom
cpm2.rom
cpmacc1.rom
CPMCRCH.ROM
dbreed1.rom
DDEMON.ROM
des1.rom
des2.rom
DISCFILE.ROM
discpowe.rom
DKSPEECH.ROM
DOLOGY6.ROM
DOSCRIME.ROM
exbasic.rom
fbasic.rom
flteprm.rom
HACKEUR.ROM
jlutilit.rom
jmpeprm.rom
KNSROM.ROM
KSERIAL.ROM
LOCKS.ROM
MAGIC.ROM
MAIL.ROM
mastsave.rom
maxam.rom
MAXAM150.ROM
MFILE128.ROM
MFILE464.ROM
MMC1.ROM
MMC2.ROM
MULTFACE.ROM
MUZAK.ROM
NIGDOS.ROM
NIRVANA.ROM
nwcutili.rom
ODDJOB22.ROM
parados.rom
piadr.rom
promerge.rom
proskey.rom
prospell.rom
protext.rom
protexth.rom
pt12a.rom
rdosxl40.rom
rdosxl48.rom
rob3rom.rom
RODOS211.ROM
RODOS215.ROM
ROMDOS.ROM
ROMDOSXL.ROM
sbasic.rom
SB-D-127.ROM
SILIDISC.ROM
SNArkosv14.rom
soundtr1.rom
soundtr2.rom
starkos1.rom
starkos2.rom
starkosg.rom
STYLE.ROM
SUPER.ROM
Sym-RomA.ROM
Sym-RomB.ROM
Sym-RomC.ROM
Sym-RomD.ROM
SYSX21.ROM
T3MROM.ROM
TMAT21.ROM
TOOLBOX.ROM
TOOLKIT.ROM
UTILITY.ROM
utopia.rom
vdos20.rom
vdos211.rom
vdos211x.rom
VORTEX20.ROM
vortramd.rom
VRAMID.ROM
XDDOS111.ROM
XROM.ROM
I'll also include the following ROMs :
FutureOS (Rom A,B,C & D)
QuickCMD
HxC ROM
Any more ROMs I have missed ? ? ?
Yours
Terje GrindNORWAY
Great list! Some of the Hardware specific ROMs aren't as useless as you might think though. If you own for example the disc based version of the DKTronics speechSynth, you can install the Speech ROM on the MegaFlash and it will work there too, enhancing your existing Hardware. There were several other expansions, that also had a low-cost disc-based version like this that can be enhanced in the same way.
Bryce.
Actually, an installed ROM without documentation is useless.. (cf. which RSX to call ?).
Keep that in mind,... because most of those ROMs are useless, as we don't know how to use them.
Just use the !HELP command of MAXAM.
!HELP,rom will display all RSX of the rom.
However, good point, so documentation shall be included.
Indeed, the Utopia rom has the same command too.
Like if you want to know the RSX in rom no. 6 you type:
|HELP,6
and you get the names.
In half the roms its probably enough just having the name(s) as its just used to load the main programs interface. Of cause with the "basic extending" roms you really need manuals to get to know they work.
Also probably a good idea to test any rom combination in Winape first as some roms have very specifik rules on where they need to go to work with others.
Bouncing back on Terje post, where can we download all those ROMs ? (url..). Is that available on the wiki ?
Otherwise, how do you manage your "roms on dsk" on the CPC ? I advise using a huge 80-sector single-sided format (Parados) and put all .ROM files on it... instead of always switching through your disc / disc images.
I always feel stupid coming here. I have no idea what any of this stuff means. The techie side of the CPC is quite beyond me no matter how much I try to understand.
Hi Carnivac,
here's a quick introductory lesson to ROMs with the important bits you need to know:
1 ) The CPC hardware is designed to (theoretically) take up to 256 external ROMs
2 ) Each ROM can be up to 16K and are numbered starting from 0.
3 ) The ROM can contain a program or utility.
4 ) The programs are started using an "RSX" command: ie: A command with the bar "|" in front - Such as |M to start Maxam.
5 ) Standard ROMBoards or the MegaFlash allow you to install these. Older ROMBoards usually only supported 6 or 8 ROMs and each ROM was an individual EPROM chip. Whereas modern versions (SF2, Inicron, RamCard, MegaROM, MegaFlash) support up to 32 ROMs and have combined several virtual ROMs within a single larger chip.
6 ) Many programs and utilities were released on ROM for three good reasons:
A) They start instantly, because they don't actually need to be loaded.
B) They are always present in the background and can be called/started without needing to insert a disk or tape.
(useful for utilities such as Basic extensions or Disc utilities)
C) They usually run directly from the ROM, not from RAM, so the RAM is still 99.9% empty.
(useful for text editors and compilers because the RAM is free to be used for data)
7 ) The Hardware: The CPC can choose which ROM chip is associated with the 16K area starting at &C000. This is usually the reserved for the contents of the screen (RAM), but the address range is shared with ROM Memory.
On start up, the CPC checks whether any ROMs are installed. The CPC464 only checks for ROMs in positions 7-0, but the 6128 checks for ROMs in positions 15-0. (I write 15-0 because they really are scanned in the reverse order). If a ROM is present, the CPC checks what commands the ROM offers and saves them in a table in RAM (This is why I said the RAM is 99.9% free and not 100%).
8 ) There are two special ROM positions: ROM 0 is reserved for Basic (known as a type &80 ROM), ROM 7 is reserved for the Disc Operating System - Not present on a 464, AMSDOS on a 6128.
9 ) The CPC464 has one internal ROM (0) which can be overwritten by a ROMBoard to replace Basic. The 6128 has internal ROMs 0 and 7 (0 can be overwritten but not 7). The CPC Plus series can overwrite both 0 and 7.
10 ) The Plus CPCs don't have internal ROMs, it was "out-sourced" to the Cartridge. The cartridge is actually situated in ROM positions 128 onwards, but the ASIC in the Plus re-maps the cartridge ROMs to 0 and 7 for compatibility.
Any further questions - ask away...
Any corrects, mistakes, let me know?
Bryce.
Edit: Before I get corrected, yes there IS another ROM inside the CPC. The Firmware ROM is also present in all CPCs, but this gets mapped to a different area of memory and also doesn't have a ROM Number. It's also possible to overwrite this ROM externally, however most ROMBoards can't do this (as far as I know).
Oh ok. So this be why emulated games from cartridge based consoles are referred to as roms? Cos a rom is a like a cartridge game and you can plug in what you want or need and they because they are more like memory packs than discs or cassettes they appear to load instantly. I think I sorta get it and I can see the advantages.
Well programs on a disc or tape are saved in a specific format to suit the media. ROMs are just like physical memory, so the raw data needs no conversion. Inside a cartridge there's also just a ROM chip, exactly like the ones seen one a ROMBoard.
You can see the individual physical ROMs in this picture of a standard ROMBoard:
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:Rom_Expander.jpg (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:Rom_Expander.jpg)
The single ROM inside a cartridge:
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/imgs/f/f7/Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Installed.jpg (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/imgs/f/f7/Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Installed.jpg)
And the combined ROM of the MegaFlash (the small square at the back is a 512K ROM split into 16K chunks)
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:MegaFlash_Final.jpg (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:MegaFlash_Final.jpg)
Bryce.
Well, the "ROM" term has prevailed from the days when the games images were actually ROM dumps from arcade boards. Now many people call every image - be it a disk image, a tape image or what have you - a ROM. But yeah, technically it's correct to call these "ROMs".
@Bryce: excellent summary! Can I add it to http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Category:Expansion_ROM (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Category:Expansion_ROM) ?
@Terje, Cholo, norecess: these packs would be awfully nice to include in the Megaflash page...
@Terje: Balanced budgets are not always the way to go. Of course, it's always about *how* you use the money (yes, I know you were just kidding!).
Yeah, sure, add it wherever you like.
Do we have a ROMs section (like the games section: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Games (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Games)) anywhere on the Wiki? It would be handy to have the description there, with a list of all know ROMs beneath and a seperate page for each ROM (again like the games with Author / Year / reviews etc)
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 15:07, 18 August 11
Yeah, sure, add it wherever you like.
Do we have a ROMs section (like the games section: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Games (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Games)) anywhere on the Wiki? It would be handy to have the description there, with a list of all know ROMs beneath and a seperate page for each ROM (again like the games with Author / Year / reviews etc)
Bryce.
Well, I had this in mind: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Category:Expansion_ROM (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Category:Expansion_ROM) . But no games (yet)... maybe we should.
Well Terjes list could be used as a starting point (possibly sorted into catagories - Utility / Compiler / Basic Extension) for the list, then we just need to link the ROM names to any existing ROM pages (maxam/utopia etc). The description (with some editing) could be put as an intro at the top of the page.
Bryce.
Quote from: norecess on 20:35, 17 August 11
Otherwise, how do you manage your "roms on dsk" on the CPC ? I advise using a huge 80-sector single-sided format (Parados) and put all .ROM files on it... instead of always switching through your disc / disc images.
Hehe! Well, that's waht I do. I got five Discs of 0.7 MB (Vortex format) and they are stuffed with ROMs.
Quote from: Gryzor on 14:57, 18 August 11
@Terje, Cholo, norecess: these packs would be awfully nice to include in the Megaflash page...
Sure, go ahead ;)
Quote from: Carnivac on 14:40, 18 August 11
Oh ok. So this be why emulated games from cartridge based consoles are referred to as roms? Cos a rom is a like a cartridge game and you can plug in what you want or need and they because they are more like memory packs than discs or cassettes they appear to load instantly. I think I sorta get it and I can see the advantages.
Indeed, a rom = a chip dump. So unlike the GX4000 game roms .. the roms we talk about here is "extension" or "program" roms that dont execute automaticly. Its easy to explain if you have ever tried hooking up a extension to your amstrad .. like a SPEECH module, DDI 3" drive or a Multiface 2. All you do is smack the black box onto your amstrads port. Then turn on the amstrad and .. nothing happens .. to the naked eye. Of cause something has happened as you have gotten some more commands. Like if you added a DDI 3" drive to a 464 you will notice that you have gotten a new set of new disc commands available like |Disc, |Tape, |A and |B etc. that wasnt there before.
These "program" roms can be quite different. Some is just like a extension of Basic and you get a lot of small commands but others only have one command just to launch one large program.
Then there are the system roms that either replace (like if you want a different language keyboard) or extend functionality (like support for larger floppies).
Of cause the nice thing is the speed of it all. Even tho 3" floppies load really quickly then having a "instant" loading program from rom is really nice.
Well, an extension ROM can start automaticly (since I lack another example: If you place a copy of FutureOS ROM A to ROM slot 0 it will start automatically). It all depends on the software.
Quote from: Cholo on 12:01, 17 August 11
I assume everyone who ordered a Megaflash is probably searching for amstrad roms. A while back i downloaded every rom i could get from a emulator site (one at a time of cause). To save everyone else a bit of time ive uploaded all 76 of em in one "Planetemu" pack here (next to my old original dumps):
http://www.4shared.com/folder/YFMvbdqW/ROM.html (http://www.4shared.com/folder/YFMvbdqW/ROM.html)
Do note that some of them are either internal hardware roms or need hardware in some other way and so wont work with the Megaflash.
Hey, I only see 8 files?
Btw, file uploads works again in the wiki :)
[Edit] Erm... I missed the zip file!
[Edit2] Hm, I can't download the zip file, it always give me a "not valid" error... could you up it someplace else? Or even send me an email?
Quote from: TFM/FS on 22:02, 07 August 11
Here my configuration:
1: RDOS (provides 444 KB RAM disc)
3: Promerge
4: Maxam
5: Protext
6: XD-DOS
7: Amsdos (parked, umparked of some games)
10: FutureOS (ROMs B,C,D at 20,21,22)
15: ROM-Booster (enables ROMs 16-31 to be expansion ROMs)
The others are filled dynamically, when needed.
You mention, in the FOS doc, that it should be installed in ROM slots 11-13. How do you do what you say?
Also, which version of the ROM Manager is specific for FOS?
Quote from: Gryzor on 17:06, 19 August 11
You mention, in the FOS doc, that it should be installed in ROM slots 11-13. How do you do what you say?
Right, in a regular ROM board / ROM-RAM-card/box with 16 ROMs you just install FutureOS to &A, &B, &C and &D which is 10,11,12 and 13. Because the ROMs are hardcoded.
Now, the MegaFlash has 32 ROMs and it's an advantage to use the upper ROMs too. Only FutureOS ROM A does need a ROM number between 1 and 15. So the others can be placed anywhere else.
Now this is possible, because the new automatic Installer adapts the ROMs, so all ROM numbers can be used.
If you like a FutureOS version with special ROM numbers, just let me know and I send you the adapted intaller.
Well, at the moment the installer doesn't ask you for the ROM numbers (why bother the user with that?) It just tells you where the OS was installed.
Quote from: Gryzor on 17:06, 19 August 11
Also, which version of the ROM Manager is specific for FOS?
Actually the MegaFlash ROManager is being developped in parallel for FutureOS and BASIC. If you download the ZIP archive, then you will find a DSK for both OS.
Quote from: Gryzor on 10:48, 19 August 11
[Edit2] Hm, I can't download the zip file, it always give me a "not valid" error... could you up it someplace else? Or even send me an email?
Sure, here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G4S3ZVGQ (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G4S3ZVGQ)
or here:
http://www.fileserve.com/file/Kz3jydB/PlanetEmuRoms.zip (http://www.fileserve.com/file/Kz3jydB/PlanetEmuRoms.zip)
@TFM: Ahhh got it, thanks; maybe silly question, but, after all, you don't need the Booster ROM at slot 15 to enable the upper 16 slots?
Also, I think it'd be great if you could release a FOS version with the Manager incorporated to it. It's somewhat awkward to have to run FOS from ROM and then load the Manager from disk... What do you think?
@Cholo: thanks mate, much appreciated. I'll add the archive to the MF page! Full credit will be given, of course :)
The booster ROM will initialise the upper 16 ROMs automatically when the CPC is started. But it's possible to initialise them with a routine afterwards if that's what you mean. If you don't use Booster OR initialise them manually afterwards, the RSXs won't be registered, so the commands won't work. You can still switch the ROM on and view the contents, just the CPC isn't aware of what they can do. This has it's advantages too of course, because it's possible to store generic data there (Screens, music, etc) in any format you want, without it causing the CPC to crash at startup.
Bryce.
So, basically, the simplest way to use it if you don't want anything fancy is to use Booster indeed if I'm getting this right. Fair enough :)
Quote from: Gryzor on 11:57, 20 August 11
@TFM: ... need the Booster ROM at slot 15 to enable the upper 16 slots?
Well, like I know the BOOSTER shall be loaded into ROM 15. This makes sense since the CPC-OS initializes the ROMs from 15,14,13 to.. 3,2,1,0. So if the BOOSTER is a 15 then the ROMs get initialized from 31 to 0. (I guess the BOOSTER may be working at other ROM numbers between 0 and 15 too, but I never did place mine there).
Quote from: Gryzor on 11:57, 20 August 11
Also, I think it'd be great if you could release a FOS version with the Manager incorporated to it. It's somewhat awkward to have to run FOS from ROM and then load the Manager from disk... What do you think?
Yes, right, it's crazy. The OS is in ROM instead of disc. And the ROM is on disc. Actually I intend to create a FutureOS expansion ROM that contains the ROManager. Yes there are expansion ROMs for FutureOS too ;-) But actually nothing worth to mention ;-) But thanks for pointing that out, and thanks for the interrest :-)
That would be sweet if you could do it, it'd be really much more functional.
Oh, also, how about installing a Drive picker in the Manager as I outlined in an earlier post? Right now it only CATs the disk in the drive it runs from...
Hi all,
I've now uploaded my entire collection of extension ROMs (107 in total) to the Wiki and added them to the ROM Table here: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROM_Table (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROM_Table) There's still some known missing ROMs, such as HxC and PhrozenC and I'm sure a few others too. I haven't added any lower ROMs / Basic ROMs or Original AMSDOS ROMs yet. If anyone has any other ROMs hanging around on their hard-drive, please add them to make the list complete.
Some entries I'm not sure of: JM MaxiDOS, ROM DOS (non-XL version), JL Utilities 1.2 - I'm not sure any of these were ever released on ROM, does anyone have copies of these? Edit: I've now found and added all of these to the table.
@MegaFlash owners: That should keep you all busy for a while :D
Bryce.
Quote from: Gryzor on 10:06, 21 August 11
That would be sweet if you could do it, it'd be really much more functional.
Oh, also, how about installing a Drive picker in the Manager as I outlined in an earlier post? Right now it only CATs the disk in the drive it runs from...
Right, I didn't forget that, so beginning with 1.34 you have that drive picker :-)
And since today the documentation (-RMA.TXT on DSK) is updated too (a bit).
QuoteI've now uploaded my entire collection of extension ROMs (107 in total) to the Wiki and added them to the ROM Table here: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROM_Table (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROM_Table)
Really cool, thanks!
PS. PhrozenC ROMs can be found here : http://www.norecess.net/phrozenc.html (http://www.norecess.net/phrozenc.html)
I added a few more ROMs today, including PhrozenC and HxC 2.2 with direct links to your web page.
Bryce.
Ohhh fantastic...
must...send...wife...away...
Added my OS/BASIC/AMSDOS ROM collection to the ROM Table (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROM_Table).
Robot PD had a nice selection of ROMs (http://www.cantrell.org.uk/mirrors/robot-pd/index.html) back in the day. Do you think it's worth asking if CRTC has any dumped?
Why not? ROMs are rare enough, any additions would be greatly appreciated. Are there any known applications or utilities that we don't have in the list, but existed? (Other than Brunword, but I'm working on that ;) ).
Bryce.
Auntie John's ROM
Invaders and Pacman available at the touch of a button, plus loads of extra commands for programmers and printer users. |
|
Hacker's BASIC
David Wild's simple hacking suite in ROM format. |
|
Amstradxtra
A set of extra commands similar in concept to Auntie John's ROM - good for programmers. Put together by Dave Gorski of the Aspects BBS. |
|
| Paul Martin's ANSI-compatible terminal emulator, plus an excellent set of commands to read from and write to PC discs (360k format only). |
|
S-DOS 2
The next best thing to ParaDOS - a large-format DOS with auto-detection, disc utility, and support for different formats in each drive. Does not require you to replace your AMSDOS chip. By Rob Scott and Simon Matthews, this is the program on which ParaDOS was based, and is still the best choice for CP/M users. XC |
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AMSDOC
Doc Bartoc's patched version of AMSDOS adds support for sub-directories and other such features. |
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MS800
The ROM version of Phil Craven's clumsy 800k DOS. XC: 6128 only |
|
Charley's Comms ROM
A highly advanced comms system, providing both terminal modes and RSXs for you to construct your own utilities - even bulletin boards. Includes support for YModem (batch) transfers. XC |
|
|
Looks interesting. Do you have them?
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 21:21, 01 September 11
Looks interesting. Do you have them?
Nope, but I'll ask CRTC if he does.
Found some more not on the wiki list here: http://genesis8.free.fr/frontend/roms.php (http://genesis8.free.fr/frontend/roms.php)
I'd like to have Auntie John's ROM and be able to play these "at the touch of a button" :) Please, do ask... as Bryce said, aside from the PD realm this is probably the last unexplored territory!
Quote from: Gryzor on 15:17, 04 September 11
I'd like to have Auntie John's ROM and be able to play these "at the touch of a button" :) Please, do ask... as Bryce said, aside from the PD realm this is probably the last unexplored territory!
I asked and unfortunately he doesn't have them :(
I too really wanted Auntie John's ROM. The idea of programming a ROM game does appeal to me though, especially one that actually runs from ROM and doesn't copy itself into RAM - you'd have the challenge of fitting everything in, especially as you'd only have a few bytes of workspace RAM available if you wanted to do it properly.
Here you have a copy of auntie John's rom.
The games is not really rom game but ram games copied from rom &d172 and &de34 to &8000 in ram.
For instructions press F0 or |help.me
Quote from: Johnny Olsen on 20:20, 04 September 11
Here you have a copy of auntie John's rom.
The games is not really rom game but ram games copied from rom &d172 and &de34 to &8000 in ram.
Excellent, thank you!
Shame games copy themselves into RAM - Auntie John was a worse programmer than I expected ;)
Excellent! Thanks, I'll try it right away. Would you happen to have any other such obscure ROMs?
Thanks again :)
PS I like the key mapping: f9 for CAT, f4 for RUN"DISC etc...
I just added 9 more ROMs to the table :
DRAUGHTS - (C) 1986 Probably a BASIC listing converted to a ROM MAXAM v1.14 - (C) 1985 Arnor PROPRINT v1.52 - (C) 1993 Campursoft PROSPELL v1.04 - (C) 1985 Arnor SiliconDisc v2.12 - (C) 1986 Dk'tronics SDOS V2.10 - (C) 1993 STS Software TOOLKIT v1.1x - (C) 1985 Beebugsoft UTOPIA v1.07 - (C) 1985 Arnor VIDI ROM v2.02 - (C) 1986 Rombo Production
Thanks to the anonymous donator ;)
Bryce.
Anonymous? Ooh, mystery and intrigue on the CPCWiki :D
I know who it is, but I'll let him reveal his identity himself if he chooses to.
Bryce.
The plot thickens...
Btw, it just occurred to me that, now, people who only have some pieces of hardware can use them again by loading their relevant ROMs... Nice!
If they have the hardware, don't they already have the ROMs too? Or have I completely misunderstood your comment (most likely).
Bryce.
Is it my idea, or were there packages where the ROM was separate from the actual hardware expansion?
Ah, now I understand. Some companies such as DKtronics had two versions of their expansions: The ROM version where the ROM was built into the device and a low-cost version where the software was on Disk. MegaFlash owners of the disk version will now have the luxury of using the ROM with their hardware, but I don't know how many that really is. I own a DK speech synth and lightpen in ROM version, both of which I bought from my pocket money back in the 80's, so the ROM version mustn't have been that much more expensive (otherwise I would have bought the disk version).
Bryce.
I also seem to remember ads, especially in the later years, about such software being sold on actual EPROM chips, so you had to have a ROM board too - that added to the cost significantly. And I don't think the difference in price was small to begin with - I seem to remember (bis) thinking how overpriced those pieces of silicon were...
Also, hardware is now being sold on ebay without software, as an example, I have just bought an amstrad speech synthesiser (I think that is what it is) on it's own, no software, no speakers, no manual or anything other than the hardware unit.
Quote from: steve on 20:45, 11 September 11
Also, hardware is now being sold on ebay without software, as an example, I have just bought an amstrad speech synthesiser (I think that is what it is) on it's own, no software, no speakers, no manual or anything other than the hardware unit.
Yes, that was my original thought...
@steve: Did you buy the one that was on co.uk where the seller said he didn't know what it was? If so, congrats, it is a DK speech synth. The speakers can be any 8ohm passive mini speakers (with seperate mono jacks). Open it and check that the SPO256 is definitely there. If it has a ROM inside, you already have the software, if it's the ROMless version you'll need to install the ROM on a ROMBoard for it to work. It works from disc too, but it's very annoying having to install the software every time you want to use it and it uses up lots of the RAM too.
Bryce.
Yes, that one :D , I don't have the space to do anything with it yet, it has simply joined the pile of hardware that I have, I would like to set it all up but real life means I have more urgent things to do. :)
By the way, I uploaded some new roms:
KDS Comms Pack 5 v4.2 and 5.0
Cage v1.21 Comms ROM for the KDS serial interface
Nirvana 2.1+
They are all in their rightful places, and I update the ROM table page.
Edit: Level Up! 6128+ 8) Hail to the king, baby!
How can you spot the difference between the ROM DK speech synth and the ROMless one ?
I have one myself.
Well you could open it and look whether there's a ROM inside. In the ROMless version there is only one large IC - The SPO256, in the ROM version there are two large ICs. Or easier, connect it to the CPC, type |speak and hit enter. If it starts waffling on about "DK'tronics speech synthesiser" then there's a ROM inside, if you just get an unknown command error, then it's the disk version.
Bryce.
Quote from: robcfg on 22:23, 18 September 11
Edit: Level Up! 6128+ 8) Hail to the king, baby!
Hell yeah! Shall I give you my Paypal address now? :D
Well, it's been almost 5 years here, and I know that 100 posts/year is not too much ;D But, I think I've added a lot of stuff to the wiki, hehe!
I met Deepfb and CPCManiaco (and many more nice and interesting people) because of these forum, so I'm quite happy! 8)
Sorry to disturb your completely off-topic discussion :D , I'd just like to mention here, that norecesses Quickcmd (v2.2) now supports the MegaFlash. I know it has been mentioned in other threads, but maybe some people missed it. Three new commands allow you to list the ROMs, write a ROM or Delete a ROM directly from the command prompt. So now it really should be an essential on your MegaFlash (if it wasn't already there).
Bryce.
@Rob: even though you may not post much (and 500 posts is not exactly a low number) it doesn't mean a thing; everyone may contribute whatever he will, be it a new game or a joke to make our day...
@Bryce: that's the stuff, I can finally start using it as a standard ROM :)