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Using TR-DOS software on real hardware +2e, DIVMMC

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 9:20 am
by Pobulous
Is it possible to run TR-DOS software on UK hardware?

I have a +2e (+2a with +3e BIOS) and a DIVMMC. If it's possible, what would I need to do?

The specific game I am wanting to run is Viking Quest 3.

Re: Using TR-DOS software on real hardware +2e, DIVMMC

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 9:40 am
by arkannoyed
As long as the DivMMC is running ESXdos as its system, then yes, TR-DOS calls are supported. Its just timing issues with running certain things that will still cause issues, as the Pentagon and Scorpion don't have contended memory as far as I know.

I also have a +2e sitting on a shelf gathering dust. I never really got into using it much. I do have a DivIDE too, but I've not actually ever tried the two together.

Re: Using TR-DOS software on real hardware +2e, DIVMMC

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 10:03 am
by djnzx48
A game using TR-DOS doesn't imply it's designed for Russian machines like the Pentagon, and many such games aren't. In fact TR-DOS and the Beta disk system were developed in the UK.

Re: Using TR-DOS software on real hardware +2e, DIVMMC

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 10:05 am
by arkannoyed
Yes, indeed, its just a disk system really, however its lack of popularity in the UK means that most stuff available in the TRD format is likely to be of Russian origin. It is only timings with Demos etc that suffer

Re: Using TR-DOS software on real hardware +2e, DIVMMC

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 11:01 am
by Ast A. Moore
It is, of course, possible. However, the Beta Disk interface itself doesn’t work with +2A/+3 machines without modifications, because a few signals on the edge connector were changed, compared to 128K/+2 and the original 48K Speccy.

Not sure how the DIVMMC or the +2e ROM will affect things, though. TR-DOS is normally activated when a call to a certain address appears on the bus (15616, for instance). Then the TR-DOS ROM takes over. In normal operation, no calls are made to that address (it contains character bitmaps).

Re: Using TR-DOS software on real hardware +2e, DIVMMC

Posted: Sat May 25, 2019 7:53 pm
by Alessandro
In my experience, machine code TR-DOS file management, performed by using the "tokenized" commands as well as direct calls to the interface's own ROM, is possible with the DivMMC interface and ESXDOS v0.8.5 and later. My games released as .TRD files employing both methods ran without any issue on a +2A (precisely a +2B, i.e. a +2A with a smaller motherboard and ROM v4.1) equipped with a DivMMC Enjoy.

I don't know if the modified +3E ROM will interfere with the interface and/or ESXDOS, however.

Re: Using TR-DOS software on real hardware +2e, DIVMMC

Posted: Thu May 21, 2020 3:06 pm
by Pobulous
Only took me a year to get round to trying some TRDs
Some random TRDs from the internet seem to partially work. I got the loading screen and cracktro menu up for Zynaps for instance, but then it didn't load the actual game. They also did the same running under Scorpion and Pentagon mode in Spectaculator, so not sure the score with that bunch of files.

However, I tried Alessandro's ADB.trd and it works perfectly.

Re: Using TR-DOS software on real hardware +2e, DIVMMC

Posted: Thu May 21, 2020 3:19 pm
by Alessandro
My own games are designed for compatibility with real hardware. Again, those I distribute as TRD files are tested with the DivIDE/DivMMC and ESXDOS before release.

TR-DOS hacks are a different matter, some won't work with the DivMMC, some other will. It's largely a matter of trial and error.

Re: Using TR-DOS software on real hardware +2e, DIVMMC

Posted: Thu May 21, 2020 3:56 pm
by Pobulous
Yep, I was just confirming that the +2e ROMs are compatible with your TRDs 8-)

And also, Viking Quest 3 works fine.