Old Spectrum core with esxDOS support

[desUBIKado]

I have installed the old Spectrum core with esxDOS support

https://github.com/sorgelig/ZX_Spectrum ... esxdos.zip

because I wanted to enjoy of these two compilations on MiST:

• ZX-Uno Pack
• MyDivMMC pack

Both of them need esxDOS to work, and they have worked without problems.

I saw a issue on OSD Menu. There was a blank row, and the options were shifted.

Spectrum-esxdos-OSD.jpg

If it's simple, could someone fix it?


On another hand, It would be cool if this core had support for the +3e rom, and the Workbech +3e could be used.

One more thing... if for this core the spectrum.rom file was changed, by example, to speccy.rom, both of them spectrum cores, the old one and the new one could be on the same SD card.

[DanyPPC]

The DivMMC compilation is amazing, I'd like to make one with my personal collection.

[slingshot]

Supporting an MMC card interface for +3e (or ResiDOS) is not hard, but how do you share the SD card between MiST and +3e? It's not that straightforward, +3e cannot read the FAT filesystem.

[desUBIKado]

On ZX-Uno fpga are two forms:

• When core is working, eject SD card, insert a new SD card with +3DOS formatting and make a warm reset.
• With a SD card with two partitions: the first one with FAT32 / FAT16 format, and the second one with +3DOS format. That's how I got it (in spanish): http://www.zxuno.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 9668#p9668

[MasterOfGizmo]

Supporting an MMC card interface for +3e (or ResiDOS) is not hard, but how do you share the SD card between MiST and +3e? It's not that straightforward, +3e cannot read the FAT filesystem.

Many cores had the same problem. That's why i implemented the fake SD card quite some time ago. The MIST then uses the SD card and the core uses an image file stored on the SD card and thinks that image file is the SD card. The C64 floppy works that way. The C64 core (and many others) thinks it's directly accessing an SD card while in fact it's only accessing a single file stored on the SD card.

[slingshot]

The MIST then uses the SD card and the core uses an image file stored on the SD card and thinks that image file is the SD card.

Yeah, the .vhd file and sd_card.v is a good solution for using +3e.

[MasterOfGizmo]

The MIST then uses the SD card and the core uses an image file stored on the SD card and thinks that image file is the SD card.

Yeah, the .vhd file and sd_card.v is a good solution for using +3e.

But i am confused. I am sure i implemented exactly that for the speccy core running esxdos a few years ago ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KloBbW6Qc

[slingshot]

But i am confused. I am sure i implemented exactly that for the speccy core running esxdos a few years ago ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KloBbW6Qc

That was removed from Sorgelig's core when it got disc support (there were usabiltiy reasons - ESXDOS didn't have LFNs - and also technical reasons - disc and sd card emulation both uses the same slot for disc access, so you either have a disc mounted, or use the SD card, but not both). I started to resurrect it (as you can use 2 disc slots now), just write support doesn't work reliably yet (did it work before?). I guess the core at mist-board still has it, but it doesn't have +3 support, so no +3e there.

[slingshot]

This Workbench +3e is strange, I've enabled MMC support with +3e ROMs (it works), then I click on hd0, and the system is reset. Maybe wait for 2.0.

[desUBIKado]

Another very cool project with +3e support: Spectrum +3 CP/M en disco duro interfaz 8 bits, DivIDE, DivMMC y ZXMMC (spanish)

[desUBIKado]

This Workbench +3e is strange, I've enabled MMC support with +3e ROMs (it works), then I click on hd0, and the system is reset. Maybe wait for 2.0.

I see changes in your repository https://github.com/gyurco/ZX_Spectrum-128K_MIST but I don't see a new realease. Are you going to make it?

The creator of Workbech +3e wrote me this today:

Well this new version 2.0 detects the ZX-Uno and goes full steam, nothing to do with the 1.1.

It is almost completed, but due to lack of time and trying to polish it as much as possible, it has been delayed much longer than expected. There are things to improve in future versions, but at some point I have to pause and publish.

If someone make a CORE for the MIST that supports + 3e it would be interesting to detect the machine and be able to use the extra speeds of the CPU as in the ZX-Uno. If there is an opportunity I will, I will be attentive to the subject.

[slingshot]

I see changes in your repository https://github.com/gyurco/ZX_Spectrum-128K_MIST but I don't see a new realease. Are you going to make it?

I've already submitted the change to Sorgelig's repo, maybe he'll do a new release if you ask him Didn't try the MMC drivers for CP/M yet, but that looks interesting. +3e worked for me, could format a disk, created partitions, copied some files on it. One issue is write support become unreliable at 56MHz turbo speed.

[Sorgelig]

The binary with DivMMC has been released.
Probably you will need a special ROM for +3e.

[slingshot]

Here's a spectrum.rom with +3e.
I suggest to create a spectrum.vhd file in the root folder (should be a 64 MB empty file for example) so you won't format the SD Card accidentally.

[desUBIKado]

Thank you very much Sorgelig and slingshot

You are greatest men. I'm going to test it in a couple of hours.

[desUBIKado]

Here's a spectrum.rom with +3e.
I suggest to create a spectrum.vhd file in the root folder (should be a 64 MB empty file for example) so you won't format the SD Card accidentally.

Thank you for this rom. I test it with a SD image with a lot of games and works like a charm.

I notice this rom only work with ZXMMC interface. Could you make other version for divMMC interface? I can not start the CP/M up with ZXMMC

And another question, What is the structure of spectrum.rom file? What roms and in which order are inside?

And finally, Would there be any possibility that * .VHD files could be loaded from the OSD menu instead of always being spectrum.vhd?

Thanks in advance.

[slingshot]

Thank you for this rom. I test it with a SD image with a lot of games and works like a charm.

I notice this rom only work with ZXMMC interface. Could you make other version for divMMC interface? I can not start the CP/M up with ZXMMC

And another question, What is the structure of spectrum.rom file? What roms and in which order are inside?

And finally, Would there be any possibility that * .VHD files could be loaded from the OSD menu instead of always being spectrum.vhd?

Thanks in advance.

Here's another I created previously, hopefully it's the divMMC version
The ROM format is: GLUK + TRDOS + 128K + 48K + 4xPlus3 + PlusD + MF128 + MF3, 8k ROMs are padded to 16k.

[desUBIKado]

This SD image raw with CP/M for +3DOS works on ZX-Uno but don't on MiST

spectrum-cpm.vhd.zip

Perhaps the problem is on the driver for DivIDE and it is not a core problem.

[slingshot]

This SD image raw with CP/M for +3DOS works on ZX-Uno but don't on MiST

spectrum-cpm.vhd.zip

Perhaps the problem is on the driver for DivIDE and it is not a core problem.

DivIDE is a completly different hardware, also ATA protocol is completely different from MMC SPI, so don't expect it to work.

[desUBIKado]

DivIDE is a completly different hardware, also ATA protocol is completely different from MMC SPI, so don't expect it to work.

Yes, yes, it was a mistake. ZX-Uno only support DivMMC amd ZXMMC as MiST.

This is a start up on a ZX-Uno with the CP/M SD card image:



And now, two more on MiST






On ZX-Uno the driver detects a DIvMMC interface, but don't on MiST. Perhaps isn't a core problem, and the author of the driver made specific code for ZX-Uno.

[slingshot]

On ZX-Uno the driver detects a DIvMMC interface, but don't on MiST. Perhaps isn't a core problem, and the author of the driver made specific code for ZX-Uno.

Doing LOAD "LOADER" from the CP/M partition always writes Driver: DIVIDE

[slingshot]

Is the driver available on a separate DSK image? So the original CP/M can be booted and then see if loading the driver works.
Ok, so using ZXMMC mode, CP/M says: interface DIVIDE, in DIVMMC mode it says interface: not found.
Something wrong with the interface detection, I think.

[desUBIKado]

Is the same image on zxuno and mist. There are zxmmc.bin and divmmc.bin files inside too.

[slingshot]

Is the same image on zxuno and mist. There are zxmmc.bin and divmmc.bin files inside too.

I've used your image. But the detection code is probably in the loader. What I read on the forum you linked (with google translator), the detection works by reading the ports of the interfaces, and if it returns FF, then it considered as 'not found'. Don't think it's a correct way. But if it is, it wouldn't mix interface types. So needs either the source code of the loader, some explanation from the author, or a longer debugging session...

[desUBIKado]

I am going to write in spanish forum. Maybe there will be lucky.