Bridgeboard emulation (x86 CPU, for example A2286)

[AMIGASYSTEM]

With updated winuae.7z I could start with A2286 xtide Universal BIOS, only problem is that FDISK can not save the partition!

[AnnaWu]

Originally Posted by AnnaWu

I will do it tomorrow because I have to prepare the dinner.

Here the log + config file(s) after using FDISK

checksum error on sectors?
weird sector numbers?

[AnnaWu]

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

I think I solved A2386SX invalid configuration BIOS message.

It seems to happen if monochrome mode is configured, I guess it isn't supported anymore? (EDIT: hmm.. it looks like A2386SX has different default mode config than other boards) (Also some other "wrong" BIOS settings trigger it) Boot delay also seems to be normal, it is some extra initialization.

winuae.7z updated, it has some tweaks to support VLSI chipset init registers (used only on A2386SX)

A good start for the A2386SX expansion.
The BIOS Setup is now configurable.
Are you able to boot successful a floppy- or hard disk image which is working too?
It hangs for me after trying to run DOS commands.

[Toni Wilen]

Shadowing does do nothing and himem.sys probably breaks if it thinks it is enabled. Try setting 16M RAM which disables shadowing (chipset limit)
(I am not sure if dosbox memory handling stuff supports this in low level)

xtide log is weird, it sets very large multiple transfer mode (128) without checking if it is supported. Then formatting writes are even weirder, writes only one block every 128 blocks.. (Like it tries to use multiple transfer mode without actually using it)

Try pre-v2 xt ide bios. Or perhaps it is configured incorrectly. (I'll do more test later, i think I used 1.x version when I previously tested it)

winuae.7z updated, A2386SX default video mode selection works now correctly, it is fully software controlled in A2386SX (PCPrefs configures it), previous models had jumpers.

[AnnaWu]

Thanks Toni, the x86 Bridgeboard emulation is a nice playground for me.

[AnnaWu]

A2386SX (same config)
If I set the memory to 16MB RAM (4MB ok) I get a crash.

[AnnaWu]

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

winuae.7z updated, A2386SX default video mode selection works now correctly, it is fully software controlled in A2386SX (PCPrefs configures it), previous models had jumpers.

A2386SX (same config)
I think the new ..../b/winuae.7z is not very stable compared to the previous ..../b/winuae.7z version.
Some problems with the A2386SX BIOS setup.
I get always an "Invalid configuration information" error, so I am not able to save a correct flash file.

Unfortunately, I have overwritten the previous version. : (

[Toni Wilen]

Originally Posted by AnnaWu

A2386SX (same config)
I think the new ..../b/winuae.7z is not very stable compared to the previous ..../b/winuae.7z version.
Some problems with the A2386SX BIOS setup.
I get always an "Invalid configuration information" error, so I am not able to save a correct flash file.

Unfortunately, I have overwritten the previous version. : (

Works for me. Note that pcprefs default video must match BIOS video mode. "invalid configuration" if they don't match. If you use VGA board, pcprefs emulation modes must be disabled and BIOS mode must be VGA/EGA (or else: "invalid configuration")

It does not prevent BIOS CMOS save. It is only a warning.

[AMIGASYSTEM]

Hello Toni, I do not know if they are important, I noticed some oddities:

- If you disable DF0 and DF1 and any system is loaded slowly and flashing light on the keyboard (A)
- I accidentally loaded as HD for MS-DOS from a normal Hardfile 200M used for the Amiga A2886 is I noticed that he sees it, FDISK allows you to partition and save partitions, sin that will not be seen by the system to format
- In emulation 386 to me is not seen Floppy

[Toni Wilen]

Originally Posted by AMIGASYSTEM

Hello Toni, I do not know if they are important, I noticed some oddities:

- If you disable DF0 and DF1 and any system is loaded slowly and flashing light on the keyboard (A)

Always have at least DF0: enabled or you get slow boot. I think I already said it. (Do you have floppy leds enabled?)

- I accidentally loaded as HD for MS-DOS from a normal Hardfile 200M used for the Amiga A2886 is I noticed that he sees it, FDISK allows you to partition and save partitions, sin that will not be seen by the system to format

Non-RDB mode hardfile? Don't do it

- In emulation 386 to me is not seen Floppy

I already noticed. I was just checking wd37c65c specs (fdc used in 2386sx) and it seems to have different bit rate control bits than previous bridgeboards.

[AMIGASYSTEM]

Originally Posted by T oni Wilen

Always have at least DF0: enabled or you get slow boot. I think I already said it. (Do you have floppy leds enabled?)

I do not know where you disable "floppy leds" ?

Non-RDB mode hardfile? Don't do it

Do not worry I always 3 copies of my [ Show youtube player ] , however the HarFile Os as not set RDB, but as "XDTIDE Universal HD Bios" Automatic Geometry

[Toni Wilen]

I looked at wrong diagram, A2386SX floppy controller has 16MHz crystal and 1.4M floppy control rate register should have value of 0 but BIOS sets 2 (which equals 720k floppy). For some odd reason both 720k and 1.4M BIOS settings use rate value 2. (1.2M and others use correct values)

My guess is that there is some hidden non-emulated IO bit that BIOS uses to detect if drive is Amiga 1760k drive (which runs at halved speed = 1.4M floppy bit rate equals 720k floppy) or real 1.4M PC drive and BIOS thinks 1760k drive is in use, not real PC 1.4M drive.

(btw, if you take screenshots from VGA mode display, please untick "scale if smaller than display size" checkbox to get 1:1 pixel mapping)

[Toni Wilen]

winuae.7z updated, added hack that allows A2386SX 1.4M floppy access. (I have no idea how A2386SX floppy switcher hardware state is reported to PC side)

[Toni Wilen]

Another winuae.7z update, now IDE formatting should work with universal XT IDE bios if port width is 16 bits (AT system). Reason was wrong byte swapping mode.

EDIT: Universal XTIDE BIOS base address is now configurable, automatic selection removed.

EDIT2: A2386SX MS-DOS6.22 Janus hardfile and Universal XTIDE install was successful and both booted correctly, no himem.sys hang.

[AnnaWu]

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

Another winuae.7z update, now IDE formatting should work with universal XT IDE bios if port width is 16 bits (AT system). Reason was wrong byte swapping mode.

EDIT: Universal XTIDE BIOS base address is now configurable, automatic selection removed.

EDIT2: A2386SX MS-DOS6.22 Janus hardfile and Universal XTIDE install was successful and both booted correctly, no himem.sys hang.

I think I will keep to use the IDE Primary instead of the XTIDE Universal because I have still the same problems.
Maybe the reason is WinXP or/and my old hardware, who knows.

[Toni Wilen]

Originally Posted by AnnaWu

I think I will keep to use the IDE Primary instead of the XTIDE Universal because I have still the same problems.
Maybe the reason is WinXP or/and my old hardware, who knows.

Attach your XTIDE bios image and log and config again. (I want to get this fixed, if there is still problems remaining)

Host OS or hardware won't make any difference when using hardfiles.

[AnnaWu]

Same procedure (Dinner) like yesterday.
Tomorrow ...

[Toni Wilen]

Ok

I also noticed A2386SX + normal AT IDE hangs when attempting to boot from dos install disk. Normal IDE read command is executed but it seems no one is listening for the interrupt (interrupt 14). Previous boot phase IDE accesses hang if interrupt is disabled = interrupt probably is working correctly.

A2286 works.

EDIT: Must be something to do with ISA interrupts being edge triggered. It works if I only generate single interrupt request per command.

[AMIGASYSTEM]

With the latest update floppy it works now, but I still can not use the Hardfile!

[Toni Wilen]

Originally Posted by AMIGASYSTEM

With the latest update floppy it works now, but I still can not use the Hardfile!

Did you create new HDF from scratch with newest version? Which universal bios driver did you use?

(and switch off "scale if smaller than display size setting" in RTG panel, it makes your screenshots horribly ugly)

A2386SX built-in AT IDE works now.