Breakthrough for the ao486 core announced - Cache

[NML32]

Thanks all for your hard work. Managed to install Windows 95 with zero problems. I need help to transfer the MisterFS exe - can't get a secondary HDD to mount unfortunately. Any other ways? Thanks

I added it to a Floppy image.

MiSTerFS.zip

(527.69 KiB) Downloaded 239 times

[Shaneus]

I hate to be one to complain, but there's a difference in how joysticks are seen (I think) between the Cache41 build and the final build. For example, a USB joypad calibrates and works perfectly with Tempest 2000 with the older build, but with the new main one I don't think it registers inputs properly.

[thorr]

Just tried the new official core, and my SVGA monitor connected via direct video on the HDMI port with a VGA adapter complains about the signal being outside of sync range when I try to run Doom and the sound is choppy in the menu that I can't see. I also tried second reality and it just does nothing with a black screen. I am using the ET4000 bios. I am not sure if that matters. When I switch to Cache 43, it works fine, but only with variable refresh rate. With 60Hz, I get an outside of sync range error on my monitor. Edit, just tried Second Reality on Cache 43 and it is also blank, until I selected No Sound during the startup. I then tried it with No Sound on the official core and it also worked with no sound. This was working yesterday with Cache 43 but not anymore.

[cursedverses]

I've been reading through the patches, and something caught my eye that I don't understand in the independent clock for VGA patch.

In ao486.sv, the VGA clock seems to be assigned to outclk_0 (in place of sys, which is moved to three) but everything else refers to outclk_3...?

Don't quote me on this. I absolutely don't know the code and relying on diffs.

[pgimeno]

I need help. I've updated Main and the ao486 core to try the new features, but it doesn't work at all for me:

- The monitor goes to sleep mode.
- On the MiSTer, all three LEDs go off and the Reset (or any other) button does nothing. Pressing Ctrl+Shift+Alt+AltGr does nothing either.
- I can however still access the MiSTer via SSH, so I can type in 'reboot' and regain control.

Some settings (I can give more if necessary, I just didn't want to make the post too big):

Code: Select all

forced_scandoubler=1
composite_sync=0
vga_scaler=1
vscale_mode=0
dvi_mode=0
video_mode=8
vsync_adjust=1
video_mode_ntsc=8
video_mode_pal=9

Edit: Actually the previous ao486 core (from May 10) is not working either, so this isn't really new. I have to go back to the April 21 release.

My MiSTer OS is from April 29, I didn't dare to update it for fear of bricking it. Is an OS update required?

Update: Both images were corrupted. I've re-downloaded them and now it's running.

[NightShadowPT]

My MiSTer OS is from April 29, I didn't dare to update it for fear of bricking it. Is an OS update required?

Yes, you need to update.

[IAmParadox]

I need help. I've updated Main and the ao486 core to try the new features, but it doesn't work at all for me:

- The monitor goes to sleep mode.
- On the MiSTer, all three LEDs go off and the Reset (or any other) button does nothing. Pressing Ctrl+Shift+Alt+AltGr does nothing either.
- I can however still access the MiSTer via SSH, so I can type in 'reboot' and regain control.

Some settings (I can give more if necessary, I just didn't want to make the post too big):

Code: Select all

forced_scandoubler=1
composite_sync=0
vga_scaler=1
vscale_mode=0
dvi_mode=0
video_mode=8
vsync_adjust=1
video_mode_ntsc=8
video_mode_pal=9

Edit: Actually the previous ao486 core (from May 10) is not working either, so this isn't really new. I have to go back to the April 21 release.

My MiSTer OS is from April 29, I didn't dare to update it for fear of bricking it. Is an OS update required?

I don't know if this will fix all of your problems, but, for me, to fix the out of sync issues, I had to change
vsync_adjust=1
to
vsync_adjust=0
I have one HDMI TV that worked, no problem, but, the second one, had issues with 70Hz mode, and, changing this value, fixed it, here, and some other places that were having sync issues.

[pgimeno]

Updating the OS didn't help. I'm now on OS v200618 and main v200814 and the same is still happening.

After more digging, I've realized that Main is terminating (crashing, most likely). That explains the symptoms.

Before executing ao486:

Code: Select all

/root# pidof MiSTer
1208
/root# 

After executing ao486:

Code: Select all

/root# pidof MiSTer
/root# 

As I noted in an edit to the previous post, this is happening in the previous version too (ao486_200511.rbf) so it's not really a new issue. It works fine with ao486_200421.rbf.

Any clue as to what could be making Main crash?

Update: Both images were corrupted. I re-downloaded them and it started to work. Sorry for the noise.

[thorr]

After trying to make the new core work with my SVGA monitor, I found the trick was to set direct_video=0. Then, I put these in my .ini:
[ao486]
direct_video=0
vga_scaler=0
vsync_adjust=2
vscale_mode=0
video_mode=1600,64,192,304,1200,1,3,46 ; 1600x1200x60Hz

Doom works with these settings, but the sound still breaks up and when holding the right mouse button to move around (after changing it to move forward in the setup.exe), the gun fires off on its own occasionally (left mouse button).

Second Reality still doesn't work.

Cache 43 worked much better for me (probably along with a slightly older MiSTer main file than the official latest one). It works with Direct Video and I don't have the sound and other problems.

EDIT: Changing my config.sys to this fixed Second Reality:
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS /TESTMEM:OFF
DOS=HIGH,UMB
LASTDRIVE=Z
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 28000 RAM D=64 X=A000=C7FF FRAME=C800 I=D000-EFFF

After more testing with Cache43, I also have choppy sound in Doom (shareware version) and my left mouse occasionally fires when I don't tell it to. I don't know if it is a crappy mouse or a bug. So basically, the major difference between 43 and the official core, is the official core doesn't work with direct video in Doom Shareware. The official core does work with Second Reality with directvideo.

[dano]

Any of the sega titles able to run on DOS?

VF1/2,HotD, OR VR?

[NightShadowPT]

Any of the sega titles able to run on DOS?

VF1/2,HotD, OR VR?

See that "Pentium" sticker on top of the image you just posted?

You have your answer

[ZigZag]

Any of the sega titles able to run on DOS?

VF1/2,HotD, OR VR?

See that "Pentium" sticker on top of the image you just posted?

You have your answer

They may very well run on DOS even if they need a Pentium. They probably won't run though, at least not playable, on ao486 !

[IAmParadox]

Any of the sega titles able to run on DOS?

VF1/2,HotD, OR VR?

See that "Pentium" sticker on top of the image you just posted?

You have your answer

They may very well run on DOS even if they need a Pentium. They probably won't run though, at least not playable, on ao486 !

More importantly, see that MMX sticker? definite no.

[Solskogen]

Second Reality still doesn't work.

I got it to work. What happens when you run it?

[Schyz]

Any of the sega titles able to run on DOS?

As far as I remember those games were for Windows 95.

[Chris23235]

Virtua Fighter 2 was a Win95 game, surprisingly enough it doesn't seem to need a 3D-Card to work, but at least a P90. It used MMX.

[RealLarry]

Second Reality still doesn't work.

I got it to work. What happens when you run it?

Same here...2nd Reality is just running fine (along with other fine demos).

[Solskogen]

Acme 303 (https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=44) does not.

[thorr]

Second Reality still doesn't work.

I got it to work. What happens when you run it?

Thanks. I posted a bit later that I got it to work by editing my config.sys and changing the EMM386 line. I think I had something else there after it was working previoiusly and I broke it. The main problem I am having now is with direct video turned on and trying to run Doom shareware. Also, I noticed changing the CPU speed affects the video quality on the the VGA monitor.

[Cebion]

So did anyone create an excel comptatilbity list with comments yet?

[Caldor]

So did anyone create an excel comptatilbity list with comments yet?

Oh yeah, good idea. I have started one here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

Its set to anyone with the link can edit it, so I will make a backup now and then, but I think there is a revision history on it as well.

[thorr]

Thanks! I added a comment to Doom.

[Chris23235]

I added some games too.

[robng15]

So did anyone create an excel comptatilbity list with comments yet?

Oh yeah, good idea. I have started one here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

Its set to anyone with the link can edit it, so I will make a backup now and then, but I think there is a revision history on it as well.

Theme Park works under DOS 6.22 using shsucdx to mount the CD. SimCity 2000 works on DOS and Win95.

[jordi]

cache43 looks to have broken keyboard input. Doing a 'keyb sp' does not fix it.
I didn't updated again the Mister file, I'm not sure if it's required again.

Fixed this just going into settings and configuring again the ao486. I guess there some weirdness in my ao486 configuration that self-fixed reconfiguring it.

[jordi]

So did anyone create an excel comptatilbity list with comments yet?

Oh yeah, good idea. I have started one here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

Its set to anyone with the link can edit it, so I will make a backup now and then, but I think there is a revision history on it as well.

I fixed some games thanks to this spreadsheet! great. I added some games.

Not sure if it's a clue, but after patching with
sb -r GAME.exe

The games that crashed now don't crash but show (on dos/32A):
"real mode interrupt vector has been modified: INT 00h"
"real mode interrupt vector has been modified: INT 1Fh"
"real mode interrupt vector has been modified: INT 22h"

[sibbi]

Hi,

First of all, excellent work on the core by FPGAzumSpass, Sorgelig and many others, thanks guys, it's really appreciated

I'm glad to find that my Win95 installation is way faster after these changes, that started me on another mission to install Win98SE on the Mister.

I got pretty far without issue, all the way to the hardware detection phase. On launching it would crash pretty consistently either just before building the driver database or during the building. Slowing the CPU speed down to 30 Mhz helped me get a little further but it would still crash during the non plug-and-play hardware detection. I then tried turning off all the caches but still couldn't get it through the detection phase.

Has anyone successfully installed Win98SE on their MiSTer and has some tips and tricks for me?

[Caldor]

I have always kept having some issues installing Win98SE. I have one where I set it up with PCem on my PC emulating a PC similar to AO486, but it has audio problems. I have won that I managed to install fully on the AO486, but it is unable to install Daemon Tools. The installation itself went without problems though. I think if I take that Win98SE installation and use PCem to install Daemon Tools on it, it might be the best working on of them so far.

But Windows 95 OSR25 is the Windows that works best for me so far with this core.

[ZigZag]

I have always kept having some issues installing Win98SE. I have one where I set it up with PCem on my PC emulating a PC similar to AO486, but it has audio problems. I have won that I managed to install fully on the AO486, but it is unable to install Daemon Tools. The installation itself went without problems though. I think if I take that Win98SE installation and use PCem to install Daemon Tools on it, it might be the best working on of them so far.

But Windows 95 OSR25 is the Windows that works best for me so far with this core.

Install Win98 on MiSTer (copy install CD files to a 2nd VHD). After 1st hardware install reboot go into safemode (press F8 at boot time) and right click "My Computer" icon. Navigate to device manager, select the floppy drive & disable it in H/W profile. Reboot & finish setup. Everything else should work. If you need floppy you can disable 32bit drive caching in filesystem's/troubleshooting, but the OS & HDD will be a bit slower. I recommend disabling Virtual Memory at same time as disabling floppy. With 256mb RAM it's unnecessary, will slow things down and shorten MicroSD lifespan.

[Caldor]

Install Win98 on MiSTer (copy install CD files to a 2nd VHD). After 1st hardware install reboot go into safemode (press F8 at boot time) and right click "My Computer" icon. Navigate to device manager, select the floppy drive & disable it in H/W profile. Reboot & finish setup. Everything else should work. If you need floppy you can disable 32bit drive caching in filesystem's/troubleshooting, but the OS & HDD will be a bit slower. I recommend disabling Virtual Memory at same time as disabling floppy. With 256mb RAM it's unnecessary, will slow things down and shorten MicroSD lifespan.

That is just about how I got Windows 98SE installed, except I did setup virtual memory. I just set it to automatic. I guess maybe I should try just disabling it complete and see how that works given the system does have a large amount of RAM. The problem I have is getting Daemon Tools or similar installed... similar having audio CD support of some kind. That is where with W98SE it seems I might have to take my image to PCem to get that installed, because it has some issues. Disabling floppy is probably also a good idea, I saw that mentioned somewhere before, and it sounds like floppies might still work anyway? Not that floppies seem especially necessary for Windows once you got it up and running.