Charles Darwin
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Posts posted by Charles Darwin
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In addition to the video file...here comes the screenshot
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Just a proof of concept...a bit slow...and without audio (needs a seperate fix...havent done it yet). Source: https://github.com/myspaghetti/macos-virtualbox
Virtualization has to be activated in the BIOS of the VCS.
The Atari team should really activate AMD SVM (BIOS setting) in the next update!!! ?
EDIT: I just have 8Gbyte in my VCS. MacOS needs at least 4Gb, video takes another 2Gb...and Linux Mint needs RAM too. So I might buy some RAM
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Lots of EFI partitions (recovery, backup) on the eMMC
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When you apply this hack, it's not a reset. You are just connecting the data output pin with the clk pin of the chip. So the Bios is waiting for the password data in memory, but doesnt get any.
Why the Bios opens in virgin mode after that, I dont know. Maybe because it doesnt get any settings data too. So If you changed anything before, it won't display that change.
The temperature control works. My vent is as hyperactive as before ?
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If you want to boot from the M.2 SSD, I think it should work. There is no standard page in the Bios where you can define the boot order, but Andy's approach with the emmc setting might work.
The video settings seem to be very limited. On the other hand, there are many settings, which I dont even know what they are supposed to do.
I did not find any overclocking page. I guess the laptop vent isnt really capable of removing the heat anyway. As far as I can remember, you can increase the frequency of the RAM though and other stuff...
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56 minutes ago, 4ever2600 said:
Haaaa, cpu speed = 2600 on the Atari VCS. How cliche... ?
It goes actually up to more than 3400Mhz...when you start a program...(the screenshot is below 3400...but believe me)
EDIT: oh, I see...2600...?
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Wonderfull!!! Great job! ?
Teamwork is always the best strategy!
A guy above wrote something about hate. No...I dont hate the VCS. It's actually a nice piece of hardware. I like it. Unfortunately the guy who designed it, quit the job more than a year ago...and it seems Atari does not have the manpower to turn this into a success story. I could be wrong though...I am still curious what updates we will see...in the coming months...
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Interesting...good job!
As I said, I cleaned the eMMC completely (with gparted), so my BIOS changes are persistent. Currently, I just want to use the VCS as a Linux PC with lots of VM images and as a streaming client. If the AtariOS ever evolves to something grown-ups can use...I will use my usb recovery stick to restore the orginal state of the eMMC.
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Unfortunately virtualization, AMD SVM support, is currently deactivated in the BIOS of the VCS. Just to show you, how fast it is...once activated...
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Well...on my system I have formatted the main drive with gparted in Linux Mint. I deleted all partitions (lots of EFI partitions). I have an internal M.2 SSD installed, this is my main drive now. Theoretically, it is possible that the Atari team installed some sort of security check on the main drive. On every boot it restores the BIOS....just a guess (dont know if this is possible). I have an AtariOS flash usb stick and already tested it several times. It restores the virgin state of all partitions on the main drive...just in case the current Atari team really comes up with something useful in the future
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There is one option in the BIOS, which you can easily test it with. It's called "silent boot". Deactivate it, press F10 and check if it shows you the specs of your machine at start.
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Just tested it again. Used a paperclip to enter the BIOS. Changed the SVM-support setting to disable (actually you have to enable it first). Pressed F10 and restarted the machine. Once I tried to run my virtualmachine freeDOS I got an error (see attached image). Restarted again....entered the BIOS (same procedure as every...)...changed SVM-support to enable, F10, restart...VM-freeDOS worked (see image).
You just have to play around to understand the behavior of this hack. Every time you enter the BIOS it displays you the virgin settings. So if you want to apply a change, you have to do a disable/enable thing and F10. Next time you enter the BIOS it's a virgin again
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With "persistent" I dont mean that you will see it, when you open the BIOS next time...but the changed behavior of your system should tell you...e.g. legacy boot...
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Here are some more images of the VCS BiOS...in case somebody is interested
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So you did this? If yes...and it didnt work, you might try to change some other setting and check if it is persistent.
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You can try it too. It's Just harder to find the right moment.
And again ... this is dangerous stuff...If something goes wrong you end up with a non-working bios ?
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Try it without the switch...just connect the cables.
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Do not press the enter key continuously...just hit it...but continue connecting the pins. UEFI is tricky. In my case it worked in 2 out of 3 attempts ?
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Here is the source. I had to adapt and change the procedure a bit...
https://davidzou.com/articles/bios-password-bypass
I attached the data sheet of the VCS BIOS chip...in case somebody wants to do more research
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Yes...I also needed the virtualization for VirtualBox...
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Let me know...how it worked. Greetings to my northern neighbor!
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It's not about jumpers...you have to connect the pins of the bios chip. If you connect the wrong pins, you might kill your VCS. I warned you...it's a brute force method!!! I am no expert just a hobbyist!
Took me several hours, but finally I found a way:
Locate the BIOS chip on the motherboard (photo attached). The two pins you have to connect with e.g. a paper clip are marked with red dots.
Connect a keyboard to the VCS.
Switch it on.
Press the ESC button until the (limited) front page of the BIOS appears. Go to the line, where it says setup-utility. Dont press enter yet.
Now shorten the two pins of the bios chip
Next...press the Enter key on your keyboard...and continue shortening the two pins...for about 10 seconds. Stop connecing the pins.
After a few seconds the original BIOS opens...without a password.
It always displays the standard VCS BIOS settings regardless of what you changed the last time. But if you change a setting (e.g. UEFI boot to legacy boot) and press F10 afterwards and restart...the changes are persistent.
You cannot change the password though. It would need some more hacking...but as long as you just want to adjust a few settings once...the solution is good enough.
Again...dont do it...it can destroy your VCS
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Is it allowed here in this forum to post any hacking manuals? Could any of the admins let me know, please?
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The only way to change any bios settings right now is to shorten two pins of the bios chip on the motherboard at the right moment during boot. After that you dont have to enter a password. I was not able to extract the password, but I was able to change bios settings like legacy boot or virtualization (for virtualbox). The procedure is not recommended, because it can destroy your VCS. Here's a screenshot of the BIOS!
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MacOS on the Atari VCS
in VCS PC-Mode Discussion
Posted
Thanks @andymanone
I dont play high res games, I just want to run virtual machines and watch Netflix. So I just ordered 2x8Gb...that should do it