MSX Megaflashrom restoring kernel getting "kernel too big" error

[palmheads]

Hi

 

I had purchased the Megaflashrom for my SVI-738 (MSX1) few years ago. Hadn't used it in a while, then the other day  stupidly deleted the kernel from the recovery menu  and the romdisk. So now I can't run OPFXSD, call fdisk erc etc. Get no A: on bootup of the megaflashrom in MSX Basic.

 

Thought no problem, I remember there being a way to recover the kernel.

 

This site does a good job at describing process

https://blog.falvarez.es/2013/04/megaflashrom-scc-sd-tutorial.html

 

Essentially with a blank microsd card, you copy the kernel.dat file to it, jump into recovery mode on the megaflashrom, choose "F4 - Install microsd kernel" & it should work. 

With me I run that, it scans the card fine, eventually finds the kernel file, but when installing it gets an error "kernel too big". Have tried multiple sized cards, even used archive.org to find an older version of the kernel.dat file. Nothing works. Always get "kernel too big".

 

Does anyone know what I need to Todo here?

 

cheers

Daryn

 

 

[+nanochess]

On 1/6/2024 at 5:29 PM, palmheads said:

Hi

 

I had purchased the Megaflashrom for my SVI-738 (MSX1) few years ago. Hadn't used it in a while, then the other day  stupidly deleted the kernel from the recovery menu  and the romdisk. So now I can't run OPFXSD, call fdisk erc etc. Get no A: on bootup of the megaflashrom in MSX Basic.

 

Thought no problem, I remember there being a way to recover the kernel.

 

This site does a good job at describing process

https://blog.falvarez.es/2013/04/megaflashrom-scc-sd-tutorial.html

 

Essentially with a blank microsd card, you copy the kernel.dat file to it, jump into recovery mode on the megaflashrom, choose "F4 - Install microsd kernel" & it should work. 

With me I run that, it scans the card fine, eventually finds the kernel file, but when installing it gets an error "kernel too big". Have tried multiple sized cards, even used archive.org to find an older version of the kernel.dat file. Nothing works. Always get "kernel too big".

 

Does anyone know what I need to Todo here?

 

cheers

Daryn

 

 

Hi.

 

I have an unrelated problem that I'm trying to decipher with my Sony HB-F1XDJ and the cartridge. I found also that the current KERNEL.DAT available at the manufacturer website triggers a "Kernel too big" error in my MSX MegaFlashROM SCC+ cartridge.

 

So I also searched for a smaller kernel. Eventually, I found archive.org has a copy from 2021 whose size is smaller (current one is 1 MB, old one was 864 KB).

 

You can download it from here: http://web.archive.org/web/20210410173749/https://msxcartridgeshop.com/bin/kernel.zip

 

Or alternatively I'm attaching it here in case it disappears.

 

Use CALL FDISK in your MSX to reset the SD (just delete, recreate the partition) and copy the single uncompressed KERNEL.DAT to the root. Then use F4 to update the kernel.

 

This hasn't solved my problem, but I hope yours gets solved

 

 

kernel.zip

[+nanochess]

Trying to solve my problem I found an even older KERNEL.DAT file that also restores the internal programs (older versions from 2013). I got it from http://www.msxcartridgeshop.com/bin/kernelD.dat

 

In this version once Multimente appears (MM file manager) you need to execute SDTODC in order to enable the SD memory to appear in drive C before logging onto drive C.

 

Use this only as a last resort if the first one doesn't work.

 

KERNEL.DAT

[palmheads]

Sorry took so long to reply to the thread @nanochess.

 

I actually had to go one step further in fixing mine. Just got it all working again today. To install the kernel.dat file I had to download & flash an SD image to a SD card using this:
SD card image for recovery

Then I was able to flash kernel.dat, then I could use OPFXSD to install dskrom.rom & romdisk.dsk.

Can finally load roms & desks again!

 

I think the SD card image for recovery gives you a FAT12 formatted card pretty much which allows you to install all the software you need if in my situation.

If you Google flashing SD image to SD card there are tons of wikis Todo it. I followed one for a Chromebook. Worked great!

 

Thanks for your help btw, this was a tricky one!

cheers

Daryn