Help setting up WinUAE for WHDLoad.

NLS · 28 September 2018, 11:57

It's been years since I did this before and I lost my HDFs.
So I convinced myself to re-build a WinUAE system to easily use WHDLoad games.
I already know a reasonable number of steps (from when I last did this), but I really need to "fill the blanks" as the attached guide is a bit outdated I think?
I'll form this as numbered questions so that it can more easily be followed:

1) What is the most preferable WinUAE configuration to use as base?
I would expect some AGA machine with plenty of RAM and latest Kickstart? A4000/040, 3.1, 2MB chip + 8MB fast? Something else? Is there a point (or issue) to use 68060? How about cycle-exact vs. fastest possible?

2) I believe I need to setup a clean Workbench 3.1 disk, download WHDLoad itself, some extra files and libraries (which?) and can use this as "base". Right?

3) The best scenario for me would be to directly mount as second disk my WHDLoad folder (and subfolders). Ideally NOT extracting all the lha. Is that scenario feasible? Is there a tool to use as middle-ware or front-end so that it can scan and use the lha files directly?
If not, should I just extract and then run the shortcut in the folder of the game?

Hope this will clear things out for others too.

NLS · 30 September 2018, 23:27

??? NOBODY wants to help?

NLS · 18 October 2018, 12:57

Can someone help please???

Toni Wilen · 18 October 2018, 13:06

I think you don't get any replies because your question does not really need an answer. Hardware config is mostly irrelevant ("some AGA hardware"), only CPU speed and JIT can be important.

NLS · 18 October 2018, 13:16

Thanks Toni.
But how can my question not need an answer?
They are very specific questions that I cannot find the answer anywhere I looked.
#1 and #2 are maybe (if they are correct) semi self replied, but #3 is very valid question...

Toni Wilen · 18 October 2018, 13:40

2: No extra libs needed, except if files are packed (xpk etc..)
3: WinUAE can mount lha files as harddrives but it isn't very useful when each slave is separate lha archive..

NLS · 18 October 2018, 13:48

3) So I am looking for a native Amiga solution if it exists.
Is there any "loader", so that I mount the whole folder from WinUAE as a hard disk (so for virtual Amiga it will be a big disk with various lha in folders), scan that "disk", find all lha in the folders and allow the user choose a game and for the loader then to transparently do all the work to run the game? (for example extract the lha and run whdload with proper parameters)
Is there such a thing? I thought there was...

AMIGASYSTEM · 18 October 2018, 14:07

The correct parameters for each game are shown in the Readme of each game, using JIT, powerful CPUs and lots of RAM could speed up the game.
My advice is to use a A1200/020 with 4MB di RAM (if you use the preload in toolypes or other particular parameters add some RAM), then for some more demanding particular game follow the advice of the Readme. Another game board WHDLoad is to configure an "equal button exit game" for everyone, to do this, just edit the file "WHDLoad.prefs" that must be in the S directory

NLS · 18 October 2018, 14:16

Thanks... so no (semi)transparent loader for compressed WHDLoad game packages...

AMIGASYSTEM · 18 October 2018, 14:41

WinUAE automatically unzipped archive files LHA, LZX, Zip and RAR, however I do not recommend using archived games because you may have problems saving game levels.

NLS · 18 October 2018, 15:26

Ah I understand.
So either select some and uncompress them, or try to find if there is any Amiga native "launcher" able to handle autouncompress, autodetect, screenshots etc.
Possibly too much.
Thanks.

AMIGASYSTEM · 18 October 2018, 18:47

You create a nice HardFile and you put all the unpacked games, this will only take a click to play, see screenshot

NLS · 18 October 2018, 20:33

Yeah this is how I'll end up I suspect.
I'll make a clean 3.1 for this, plenty of RAM... CPU? A fast 020?

BTW I saw some of your YT videos today, wanted to enable ethernet (and Internet) on my WinUAE machines. Worked fine (mostly).

AMIGASYSTEM · 18 October 2018, 21:16

Yes, as mentioned above, a system is fine 3.1 CPU 020 4MB/8MB, if you want to enjoy the Colored Icons of the games WHDLoad installs the new one Icon.library of Peter

NLS · 23 October 2018, 11:51

fixed

18 October 2018, 18:47	#12
AMIGASYSTEM Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Brindisi (Italy) Age: 70 Posts: 8,248	You create a nice HardFile and you put all the unpacked games, this will only take a click to play, see screenshot Last edited by AMIGASYSTEM; 21 October 2018 at 23:02.

18 October 2018, 21:16	#14
AMIGASYSTEM Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Brindisi (Italy) Age: 70 Posts: 8,248	Yes, as mentioned above, a system is fine 3.1 CPU 020 4MB/8MB, if you want to enjoy the Colored Icons of the games WHDLoad installs the new one Icon.library of Peter Last edited by AMIGASYSTEM; 21 October 2018 at 23:02.

23 October 2018, 11:51	#15
NLS Ancient User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: GREECE Age: 50 Posts: 757	fixed Last edited by NLS; 23 October 2018 at 13:16. Reason: fixed

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28 September 2018, 11:57	#1
NLS Ancient User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: GREECE Age: 50 Posts: 757	Help setting up WinUAE for WHDLoad. It's been years since I did this before and I lost my HDFs. So I convinced myself to re-build a WinUAE system to easily use WHDLoad games. I already know a reasonable number of steps (from when I last did this), but I really need to "fill the blanks" as the attached guide is a bit outdated I think? I'll form this as numbered questions so that it can more easily be followed: 1) What is the most preferable WinUAE configuration to use as base? I would expect some AGA machine with plenty of RAM and latest Kickstart? A4000/040, 3.1, 2MB chip + 8MB fast? Something else? Is there a point (or issue) to use 68060? How about cycle-exact vs. fastest possible? 2) I believe I need to setup a clean Workbench 3.1 disk, download WHDLoad itself, some extra files and libraries (which?) and can use this as "base". Right? 3) The best scenario for me would be to directly mount as second disk my WHDLoad folder (and subfolders). Ideally NOT extracting all the lha. Is that scenario feasible? Is there a tool to use as middle-ware or front-end so that it can scan and use the lha files directly? If not, should I just extract and then run the shortcut in the folder of the game? Hope this will clear things out for others too.

30 September 2018, 23:27	#2
NLS Ancient User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: GREECE Age: 50 Posts: 757	??? NOBODY wants to help?

18 October 2018, 12:57	#3
NLS Ancient User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: GREECE Age: 50 Posts: 757	Can someone help please???

18 October 2018, 13:06	#4
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,502	I think you don't get any replies because your question does not really need an answer. Hardware config is mostly irrelevant ("some AGA hardware"), only CPU speed and JIT can be important.

18 October 2018, 13:16	#5
NLS Ancient User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: GREECE Age: 50 Posts: 757	Thanks Toni. But how can my question not need an answer? They are very specific questions that I cannot find the answer anywhere I looked. #1 and #2 are maybe (if they are correct) semi self replied, but #3 is very valid question...

18 October 2018, 13:40	#6
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,502	2: No extra libs needed, except if files are packed (xpk etc..) 3: WinUAE can mount lha files as harddrives but it isn't very useful when each slave is separate lha archive..

18 October 2018, 13:48	#7
NLS Ancient User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: GREECE Age: 50 Posts: 757	3) So I am looking for a native Amiga solution if it exists. Is there any "loader", so that I mount the whole folder from WinUAE as a hard disk (so for virtual Amiga it will be a big disk with various lha in folders), scan that "disk", find all lha in the folders and allow the user choose a game and for the loader then to transparently do all the work to run the game? (for example extract the lha and run whdload with proper parameters) Is there such a thing? I thought there was...

18 October 2018, 14:07	#8
AMIGASYSTEM Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Brindisi (Italy) Age: 70 Posts: 8,248	The correct parameters for each game are shown in the Readme of each game, using JIT, powerful CPUs and lots of RAM could speed up the game. My advice is to use a A1200/020 with 4MB di RAM (if you use the preload in toolypes or other particular parameters add some RAM), then for some more demanding particular game follow the advice of the Readme. Another game board WHDLoad is to configure an "equal button exit game" for everyone, to do this, just edit the file "WHDLoad.prefs" that must be in the S directory

18 October 2018, 14:16	#9
NLS Ancient User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: GREECE Age: 50 Posts: 757	Thanks... so no (semi)transparent loader for compressed WHDLoad game packages...

18 October 2018, 14:41	#10
AMIGASYSTEM Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Brindisi (Italy) Age: 70 Posts: 8,248	WinUAE automatically unzipped archive files LHA, LZX, Zip and RAR, however I do not recommend using archived games because you may have problems saving game levels.

18 October 2018, 15:26	#11
NLS Ancient User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: GREECE Age: 50 Posts: 757	Ah I understand. So either select some and uncompress them, or try to find if there is any Amiga native "launcher" able to handle autouncompress, autodetect, screenshots etc. Possibly too much. Thanks.

18 October 2018, 20:33	#13
NLS Ancient User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: GREECE Age: 50 Posts: 757	Yeah this is how I'll end up I suspect. I'll make a clean 3.1 for this, plenty of RAM... CPU? A fast 020? BTW I saw some of your YT videos today, wanted to enable ethernet (and Internet) on my WinUAE machines. Worked fine (mostly).

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