Imperious Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Well I have to disagree about the Author of the code being responsible. He assumed that character >0E was defined as >0000,>0000,>0000,>0000 and used that character instead of using the space character which has that definition by design. It would have been proper programming procedure to define character >0E to his specifications if it was going to be used, and not assume that it had not been previously defined. But the important thing is that the loader was able to be reconfigured to accommodate the game so it displayed correctly, as you stated. You're most welcome, Gazoo That explains it a lot better thanks. I still don't get why the cart doesn't do that, but as already said, it's fixed and that's all that matters. It's interesting as I used a similar principle to figure out exactly what Ram chips were faulty in a Commodore Plus/4. The boot screen had some incorrect characters on screen where there should have been spaces, and from working out how far from space the character was in the character map, I replaced the dodgy chips only. I think 3 of the 8 were faulty, but it was quite a fascinating repair job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ti99user Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Hello, Tried to setup a "TI99/4A 512k Cart v09g" with a M27C4001-10F1 EPROM. Jumpers are set default for 32pin version. Tried 3 different EPROMs with EPROM content from this thread: * 512kUtilities052415a.bin * 053015Gamecart4.bin * Games6.bin Topics are: 1.) Menu is not displayed every time 2.) If displayed and pressing the menu nothing happens Tried it on 2 different european PAL TI99/4A. Any ideas? Is the EPROM content correct? Thank you. ti99user Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperious Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) You haven't mentioned anything about Your system configuration. You need 32k memory expansion for the carts to work, also if You have a nanoPEB make sure You don't have a disk in dsk1 that autostarts with extended basic, although that is more likely to cause problems with the extended basic cart in use. Other than that please post some pics of the cart pcb, it may help. Edited June 21, 2015 by Imperious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKRetrogamer Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) The images definitely work. As Imperious says, the cart images require 32K to run. Either a PEB or nanoPEB is needed. Assuming you have 32K, try "inverting" the image before burning it to EPROM. User RasmusM released a Java-based ROM bank-inverter. If I find a Ti ROM image which doesn't work I find inverting it usually gets it going. Ramsus' Bank-inverter tool can be found in this very thread here: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/193163-512k-cartridge-status/page-16?do=findComment&comment=3025762 Edited June 21, 2015 by UKRetrogamer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 The three images you tried do not need inversion--they are already in the correct format for the 512K boards. One other possibility--have you tested your board to see what the starting bank is for your 74LS378? I have found that some of them do not start in the first or last bank (most do, but I've seen enough that don't that it needs to be mentioned here). Burn a chip with the following bank test program and use it to test your cartridge. If every bank comes up "OK" your cartridge is working properly, from a hardware standpoint. You will see an asterisk between one of the bank addresses and the "OK"--that is the bank your 74LS378 starts in. If it starts in the first bank (or the last one), the regular images should work fine with your board. As others have noted--you must have some form of 32K attached, as the images push the program into the 32K space to execute them. I have also attached an 8K ROM compilation that Acadiel made that executes all of the 8K programs it contains from the >6000 space. That one will not need 32K (and no, the other images cannot be modified to work this way, as the programs contained in them are not written to work this way). banktest512_8.bin 512kROM.BIN 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ti99user Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 You haven't mentioned anything about Your system configuration. You need 32k memory expansion for the carts to work, also if You have a nanoPEB make sure You don't have a disk in dsk1 that autostarts with extended basic, although that is more likely to cause problems with the extended basic cart in use. OK, thanks to all who answered. Didn't find any documentation but 32k memory expansion was needed. Works well now. BTW: Any documentation of the jumpers for the V9g version available? Thank you. ti99user Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 All of the possible jumper settings are identified on the board. I haven't done a separate manual for it, although I'm considering doing a manual that covers all three of the EPROM module boards I've done (Black, Red, and Yellow). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ti99user Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 All of the possible jumper settings are identified on the board. I haven't done a separate manual for it, although I'm considering doing a manual that covers all three of the EPROM module boards I've done (Black, Red, and Yellow). Important information is 32k RAM expansion. I know the jumper settings are documented on the board but documenting there meaning would be great. BTW: Do you offer a schematic, too? ti99user Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Cartridges that are still missing: Championship Baseball Fantasy Munchman prototype with Pac-Man ghosts (http://www.videogame...chmanproto.html) Red Baron Flight Simulator Robotron 2084 Return to Pirates Isle Sorgan II Space Patrol Star Runner Starship Pegasus Super Storm The Attack prototype with different music (http://www.videogame...ypes/theattack/) Treasure Island prototype (http://www.videogame...slandproto.html) Tris-II Wing War (Final version, the other cart has the prototype version) Just thought I'd bump this and see if any more of these titles have been found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMole Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Important information is 32k RAM expansion. I know the jumper settings are documented on the board but documenting there meaning would be great. BTW: Do you offer a schematic, too? ti99user Keep in mind that not all 512k carts will ship software that requires the 32k expansion, most (if not all) of the collections currently available do, but that's a function of the software installed on the carts, not the hardware itself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 (edited) If you are planning to use a ZIF, the only ones with thin pins that fit the board's holes are from Aries. They fit beautifully onto the Black 128Kx4 boards (I'll actually have one of those with me at Chicago), soldered directly to the board. The same strategy does not work with the 512K Red boards due to the positioning of one of the jumpers. For that one, you just insert the Aries ZIF into the regular socket and all is good to go, as that raises it up far enough to make everything work correctly. I had two of those made, but I sold both of them this week. . .I just have to dig out the rest of my Aries sockets to make some more (once I remember which parts box I put them in). Bonus is that the Aries sockets are also just about the highest quality ZIF sockets you can find, so they will last a good while. As of last count, there are eight 512K images out there--seven from Gazoo and one from Acadiel. The one from Acadiel does not require a 32K memory expansion to work, while all of the Gazoo images require it. So I am assuming this will work on the red 512k boards. ARIES ZIF + 32PIN SOCKET or This SOCKET Edited June 28, 2015 by Cschneider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 The pins on the Aries ZIF socket will fit perfectly into the holes in a machine-pin socket, so no need to switch to dual-wipe. I've built several boards that way (and I have several of the ZIF sockets left, as I get requests for ZIF boards on occasion). On the Black 128K boards, there is even enough clear space to install one directly soldered into the board if you carefully place the jumpers after you solder the ZIF connector (I've built four of these so far for folks). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Any news on new games? Also, is there a list of games that have issues or differences from their physical cartridge counterparts like Buck Rogers (different title screen) or the MBX carts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperious Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I have a disk version of Buck Rogers with the proper cartridge style title screen. I'll upload it if anyone wants it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Please do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperious Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Please do! Phew, just remembered before I go to bed. It's in the attached compilation, requires XB to autorun. You could use TI99DIR to extract the dsk files to make it standalone if You wanted, then You would need EA5 to run it. I just tried that and it works fine. Modules Disk 04 (1989)(-)req. PHM 3026USGROP317A.dsk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch666 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 The three images you tried do not need inversion--they are already in the correct format for the 512K boards. One other possibility--have you tested your board to see what the starting bank is for your 74LS378? I have found that some of them do not start in the first or last bank (most do, but I've seen enough that don't that it needs to be mentioned here). Burn a chip with the following bank test program and use it to test your cartridge. If every bank comes up "OK" your cartridge is working properly, from a hardware standpoint. You will see an asterisk between one of the bank addresses and the "OK"--that is the bank your 74LS378 starts in. If it starts in the first bank (or the last one), the regular images should work fine with your board. As others have noted--you must have some form of 32K attached, as the images push the program into the 32K space to execute them. I have also attached an 8K ROM compilation that Acadiel made that executes all of the 8K programs it contains from the >6000 space. That one will not need 32K (and no, the other images cannot be modified to work this way, as the programs contained in them are not written to work this way). I'm having a problem getting the 512k images working.Burned the games pack 1,got the option for the games but pressing 2 just takes me to a blue screen as described by space invader. I do have a nanopeb so I tried the bank test program and a lot of the banks don't say OK. Is this a normal result? I have tried other images and the only one that's worked is the 8k rom compilation that don't need the extra 32k so I'm thinking I might have a problem with my nanopeb.SIZE in extended basic give two results which I think is correct for expanded memory but I haven't run a memory test yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 (edited) If you look carefully at this picture, you will see that there is a definite pattern of failure. Notice that the results line in the first four rows matches the address of the next four rows, and that this repeats for the next group of four rows as well. This tells me that your problem is on the board--not in your NANO PEB. The most likely cause is a bad 74LS378, based on your symptom--assuming it is a board component that is causing the issue. Is this a board you bought ready-built from Arcadeshopper or from me directly? I build and test all of those boards, so if it is one of them, I'd try to put a new 378 on it to clear up the problem. If you bought it as a bare board and built it yourself, check all of your soldering, as a solder bridge between two pins anywhere on the board could be causing your problem. Especially devious are the jumpers, because shorts sometimes get masked by the plastic block connecting the pins together. If there are no chips on the board, no two jumpers should measure anything but infinite resistance with an ohmmeter. I've built a few hundred of these boards now, and it is the first one I've seen with this specific set of symptoms. One note, the 512K compilation only seems to be working perfectly. If you are selecting the first item on the menu, it is probably giving you the item 16 entries further down the list. . .this does help isolate the short though--as it isn't affecting the data lines of the EPROM (it may be one of the other EPROM pins though). Edited September 22, 2015 by Ksarul 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch666 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Well I have just tested saber wulf disk image on my TI and it ran fine so my nano peb memory must be fine like you said. I got the board assembled from arcadeshopper.I'm using 27©040 eproms One thing I'm not sure about is the jumpers.I followed the instructions for the 27512 (jp2,jp3 (1-3) and jp4 (1-2)) but left the other jumpers as they were so jp1 has no jumper at all,jp5 and 6 are jumpered,jp7 has no jumper and jp8 has the middle two pins (1-3) connected. Will have a look through my spares and see if I've got a 74LS378 lying around and give that a try as looking around the board with my magnifying glass hasn't shown any problems with shorts. I have only tried two games from the 512K compilation that you posted with the memory test that worked for me and the correct games appeared that I selected.Will try some others to see if they all work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz442 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 (edited) I think you should be using the 32-pin instructions/jumpers with the 27C040. I set one of my boards to your settings and got the blue screen too. Try moving JP4 to 1-3. Edited September 23, 2015 by Fritz442 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch666 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 I think you should be using the 32-pin instructions/jumpers with the 27C040. And with that correction it's now working fine. Thanks for all your help.I had assumed that the 23C040 was the 27512 referred to in the jumper instructions. I learn something new every day and that's why this retro stuff is so much fun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 And it was the jumpers--they can be insidious, although this time it was the actual settings. You definitely have to make sure you use the settings appropriate for the chip you are using--and make sure the files were made for the board you are using too. The 512K images are for the Red boards--the 128K and below images are set up for the Black boards (or the earlier 16K/64K boards from Jon Guidry, which are compatible with the Black boards). I am glad the problem was so easy to resolve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 I'm bleary eyed after scanning this entire thread... but I never found an image that contained ALL of the Atarisoft games... FOR NON INVERTED CARTRIDGES like the RED & BLUE boards. Was one ever made? If so, could someone be so kind as to direct me to the image? There is one for users of the INVERTED 64K carts << HERE >>, but the NON-INVERTED 512K users seem to be left kicking rocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 . Hi, is the meaning of the "74LS378"-chips that the cart is "non-inverted" ? (Blue-Uber & Red-carts) And does it mean, that Black & Green-boards, using "74LS379", are "inverted" ? If so, what is 74LS377, like on the 2048K-Gamescart (Yellow), yes- or non-inverted ? (Or did I write it down false?) (I have tracked all this data all the time in the "list", if I get it right I could do a fine addition to the list. I have many other (older) SuperCarts & referring "37x-data" there in the list, for them I´ll ask later, if still needed) thanks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmusr Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 I'm bleary eyed after scanning this entire thread... but I never found an image that contained ALL of the Atarisoft games... FOR NON INVERTED CARTRIDGES like the RED & BLUE boards. Was one ever made? If so, could someone be so kind as to direct me to the image? There is one for users of the INVERTED 64K carts << HERE >>, but the NON-INVERTED 512K users seem to be left kicking rocks. If you want a 512K image with just those 4 games, duplicate it 8 times and invert it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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