Need help to try Evo features

ZX evolution software and hardware

Postby zboszor » 02 Feb 2016, 23:29

Hi,

I am writing a comprehensive introductory article about the ZX Evo for the Hungarian ZX Spectrum community.
I already covered the usage of ERS in about 10 pages, including screenshots using Unreal Speccy and I am just writing about ProfROM.

I have a few questions to fill the gaps in my knowledge.

1.
How to use TRD (or SCL, FDI) images with the ProfROM? There are those "Hard disk utility -> Mount on A/B/C/D" entries in the Shadow Monitor but they don't do anything.
Do I need a different IDE controller, like SMUC, to work with ProfROM?

2.
I have a harddisk (well, SSD) in my Evo with an IDE2SATA adapter with a FAT32 partition, but it seems it's not good enough for ProfROM.
Can I partition it in a way that both ERS and ProfROM can share it? Also, what about using a part of the disk for about IS-DOS, CP/M?

3.
Speaking about IS-DOS, is there a manual or at least a short introduction about it in English? Like: how can I start it, what can I do with it, etc.

4.
Same questions about CP/M as the IS-DOS. I can find a CP/M manual in English, but how can I load a disk image on the Evo?
E.g. how can I use the CP/M system disk from http://atmturbo.nedopc.com/download/cpm ... ys/sys.zip ?
This ZIP contains a TRD image, but after mounting it in ERS and starting CP/M, the system still looks for a real floppy in the drive.

5.
GLUK questions. What are the "R.c #17", "STS #57" and "XAS #51" menus? "R.C" may be Real Commander, but how can I start it?

Thanks in advance.
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Postby lvd » 03 Feb 2016, 19:31

Some answers from Alone Coder:

3.
The biggest iS-DOS manual in English so far is in Info Guide #11.


5.
Real Commander and XAS (or ALASM) must be loaded in RAM to use these options.
Многого нет здесь: http://lvd.nedopc.com
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Postby lvd » 03 Feb 2016, 23:05

Answer from savelij (translated) on q.1 and q.2

ProfROM uses its own and incompatible partition format, where it stores own tr-dos disk images. ProfROM is able also to create that partition on a standard, MBR-formatted HDD (of course some unpartitioned space is required).

ProfROM in ZX Evo is adapted to work with nemoIDE interface instead of SMUC.
Многого нет здесь: http://lvd.nedopc.com
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Postby DimkaM » 04 Feb 2016, 00:36

zboszor wrote:Same questions about CP/M as the IS-DOS. I can find a CP/M manual in English, but how can I load a disk image on the Evo?
E.g. how can I use the CP/M system disk from http://atmturbo.nedopc.com/download/cpm ... ys/sys.zip ?
This ZIP contains a TRD image, but after mounting it in ERS and starting CP/M, the system still looks for a real floppy in the drive.

Use new ERS http://svn.zxevo.ru/dl.php?repname=pent ... 99&peg=699
And mounting TRD(FDI) as RAM-Disk.
Last edited by DimkaM on 04 Feb 2016, 00:45, edited 1 time in total.
ZX-Evo rev B, ZX-Evo rev C, ZXNetUsb rev A, ZXNetUsb rev С
http://nedoos.ru/ http://ti6.zxevo.ru/
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Postby DimkaM » 04 Feb 2016, 00:39

Use RAMDiskSaver http://svn.zxevo.ru/listing.php?repname ... k_saver%2F for saving RAM-Disk
ZX-Evo rev B, ZX-Evo rev C, ZXNetUsb rev A, ZXNetUsb rev С
http://nedoos.ru/ http://ti6.zxevo.ru/
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Postby zboszor » 04 Feb 2016, 00:47

Thanks for the answers so far. I would like to clarify some things.
The biggest iS-DOS manual in English so far is in Info Guide #11.

Are we talking about this diskmag? http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=66207

Answer from savelij (translated) on q.1 and q.2
ProfROM uses its own and incompatible partition format, where it stores own tr-dos disk images. ProfROM is able also to create that partition on a standard, MBR-formatted HDD (of course some unpartitioned space is required).

I would like to know more about the second choice. How should I partition a disk then? Where does ProfROM expect the unpartitioned space?
Also, how can I get TRD images on it? Is there a utility to read / write the ProfROM filesystem?
E.g. something similar to inTRD / inTAP plugins in Total Commander or something more low level, i.e. a command line utility in Linux or Windows? Linux is preferred.

But for testing, I can throw away the contents of my disk to try virtual disks stored on HDD with ProfROM. It's for the sake of the article I am writing.

Real Commander and XAS (or ALASM) must be loaded in RAM to use these options.

The question is how? In detail:
a. Do I need to use a real floppy for that, or can I use virtual disks just like with ERS?
b. What is the actual procedure to load RC, XAS and STS into memory, without starting them?
c. Or starting them is enough? Will all three copy themselves into the proper RAM pages: #17, #51 and #57 so these GLUK menus will become useful automagically?

Sorry for the dumb questions, but don't let my stupidity stop you from answering. :beggar: :D
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Postby zboszor » 04 Feb 2016, 01:27

DimkaM wrote:
zboszor wrote:Same questions about CP/M as the IS-DOS. I can find a CP/M manual in English, but how can I load a disk image on the Evo?
E.g. how can I use the CP/M system disk from http://atmturbo.nedopc.com/download/cpm ... ys/sys.zip ?
This ZIP contains a TRD image, but after mounting it in ERS and starting CP/M, the system still looks for a real floppy in the drive.

Use new ERS http://svn.zxevo.ru/dl.php?repname=pent ... 99&peg=699
And mounting TRD(FDI) as RAM-Disk.

DimkaM wrote:Use RAMDiskSaver http://svn.zxevo.ru/listing.php?repname ... k_saver%2F for saving RAM-Disk

So, these mean that you cannot switch disk and you must use a single RAM-disk with CP/M?
One subtle detail is hidden implicitly in your instructions: the RAM-disk will be intact after reset to ERS from CP/M. Good info.
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Postby CHRV » 04 Feb 2016, 12:07

I translate documentation of EVO service: http://www.nedopc.com/zxevo/rom/evo_res ... ce_eng.pdf
Please tell me about errors :)
Многое есть здесь: www.nedopc.com
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Postby DimkaM » 04 Feb 2016, 13:00

zboszor wrote:So, these mean that you cannot switch disk and you must use a single RAM-disk with CP/M?

К сожалению только один диск, но можно использовать hdd.
Нужно использовать модифицированный fdisk http://svn.zxevo.ru/filedetails.php?rep ... ISK_PE.zip
ZX-Evo rev B, ZX-Evo rev C, ZXNetUsb rev A, ZXNetUsb rev С
http://nedoos.ru/ http://ti6.zxevo.ru/
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Postby zboszor » 04 Feb 2016, 23:39

CHRV wrote:I translate documentation of EVO service: http://www.nedopc.com/zxevo/rom/evo_res ... ce_eng.pdf
Please tell me about errors :)

Thank you very much, now I have something to read for a few days. :wow2:
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