AmigaOS ROM Update

[rbm]

Anyone knows how can create a new "AmigaOS ROM Update" files ? I am using the attached one, downloaded some years ago and would like to do a new one using new libraries and modules available.
I have used Remus to make new ROMS but i think ROM updates is not possible. Or maybe yes ...

[HanSolo]

This is a old patch for "amiga rom update" by Cosmo. He make this by reverse engineering, with Remus you cant do that.The guy currently decided not to share his work with others.

[rbm]

For anyone interested, this is the latest available exec library.

I can not get it to work in a new ROM. Only works using the command loadresident.

[HanSolo]

The lastest is 45.25.30, if you try to create 1mb kickstart you need romheader by cosmo.Also if you use custom kickstart you must delete/move devs:amiga rom update.

[rbm]

This is my attempt to do a fully updated AmigaOS ROM Update (A4000) using the latest free available modules and libraries.

This version installs the following list and boot and works fine with UAE:

exec.library_45.24
battmem.resource_40.0
bonus_40.2(A4000)
bootmenu_44.7(68020)
cia.resource_40.0
console.device_44.10
disk.resource_38.1
dos.library_42.2
FileSystem.resource_46.0
filesystem_45.16
graphics.library_40.26b3
input.device_50.26
intuition.library_40.86b7
layers.library_45.24
mathffp.library_41.0
mathieeesingbas.library_41.1
misc.resource_38.0
morelibspace_module_47.1
potgo.resource_38.0
ram-handler_44.24
ramlib_41.0
scsi.device_46.0(A4000)
shell_45.27
trackdisk.device_40.2
utility.library_41.0
workbench.library_45.134
Kingcon-handler_40.4
happy-env.handler_1.3

Available for download as a patch file because include some modules from the ROM Update 44.57 (bb2).

I had also to include the Happy-Env handler because it is the only solution found to avoid the "Insert volume ENV in any drive" message caused by the King-Con handler when booting.

The exec.library used is the version 45.24 because any other version 45.25 fails to boot causing a yellow screen continous reboot.

Installation using spatch:

extract the file wherever in the Amiga HD.
rename "DEVS:AmigaOS ROM Update" "DEVS:AmigaOS ROM Update.bb2"
spatch -oDEVS:AOS -pAOS_4461.pch "DEVS:AmigaOS ROM Update.bb2"
rename "DEVS:AOS" "DEVS:AmigaOS ROM Update"

[gulliver]

It would be really cool to have a program (even a simple CLI one) that could build "DEVS:AmigaOS ROM Update" files with user selectable modules.

Not everyone has an eprom burner you know

Hopefully some day, someone with the skills creates it.

[rbm]

Yes, would be great if someone creates a tool, but meanwhile isn´t difficult to do with a hex editor bearing all of this in mind:

The "AmigaOS ROM Update" file is composed of the index, separators and modules.

The first block is the index, and the size will depend of the quantity of modules included.

The first index word contains the quantity of modules included.

The second index word points to the end address + 1 of the index block.

Each one of the next index words point to the end address + 1 of each module (in order).

The index block and all modules are separated by 16 blank bytes.

The first module must be the "ROM update" module (from bb2 or any other from cosmos, doesn´t matter all are the same) and the second must be the "exec.library" if included.

It´s that easy !

[thomas]

Originally Posted by rbm

It´s that easy !

How do you tell it for which Amiga model a module is? The original ROM update contains several scsi.device, one for each Amiga model.

[rbm]

OK. Easy if you do it for a specific Amiga model.

[gulliver]

Originally Posted by rbm

OK. Easy if you do it for a specific Amiga model.

Easy for you

Whilst I understand the concept, in practice it is chinese for me

@Thomas

Is there a slight chance, you could be so kind to aproach a solution to this?

I bet lots of users could benefit from such a useful tool.

There is no shame in asking

[thomas]

For quite a long time I am planning to examine Piru's romupdatesplit and to develop a tool which does the opposite (i.e. romupdatejoin). But I never found the time to actually begin yet. The information collected by rbm are valuable, too. As it seems the 16 bytes between modules are not always blank but contain the information I asked for.

[gulliver]

Originally Posted by thomas

For quite a long time I am planning to examine Piru's romupdatesplit and to develop a tool which does the opposite (i.e. romupdatejoin). But I never found the time to actually begin yet. The information collected by rbm are valuable, too. As it seems the 16 bytes between modules are not always blank but contain the information I asked for.

That is really great
I am really looking forward to see the outcome of this.

Thanks in advance.

@rbm

Could you please post more detailed information about the "AmigaOS ROM Update" file format? So that it remains accesible to all of us.

[rbm]

Originally Posted by thomas

As it seems the 16 bytes between modules are not always blank but contain the information I asked for.

Yes, you are right. The first word of the 16 bytes between modules contains the model information (from ROM Update bb2):

00 00 06 00 .... exec A4000
00 00 00 10 .... exec A3000
00 00 01 00 .... exec A1200
00 00 20 00 .... exec unknown
00 00 08 00 .... exec CD32

00 00 37 1f .... bootmenu (68020)
00 00 00 20 .... bootmenu A500
00 00 08 00 .... bootmenu CD32

00 00 01 00 .... scsi A1200
00 00 00 20 .... scsi A600
00 00 04 00 .... scsi A4000T
00 00 06 00 .... scsi A4000
00 00 00 10 .... scsi A3000

I tested some modules and only are loaded if the code matches the ROM model.

[rbm]

The attached version installs the following modules according the Amiga model A600/A1200/A4000:

exec.library_45.25.26
battmem.resource_40.0
bonus_40.2(A4000)
bootmenu_44.7(68020)
cia.resource_40.0
console.device_44.10
disk.resource_38.1
dos.library_42.2
FileSystem.resource_46.0
filesystem_45.16
graphics.library_40.26b3
input.device_50.26
intuition.library_40.86b7
layers.library_45.24
mathffp.library_41.0
mathieeesingbas.library_41.1
misc.resource_38.0
morelibspace_module_47.1
potgo.resource_38.0
ram-handler_44.24
ramlib_41.0
scsi.device_46.0(A600)
scsi.device_46.0(A1200)
scsi.device_46.0(A4000)
shell_45.27
trackdisk.device_40.2
utility.library_41.0
wbtag_40.0
workbench.library_45.134
con-handler_40.4
HappyENV-Handler_1.3

I have used the ROM Update module from bb1 because is the only one that installs the exec libraries version 45.25, but it have the problem that not updates the kickstart version internally.

WinUAE tested and works fine.

[Hedeon]

I'm guessing this was resolved? I used to build custom ROM updates for my KickFlash which didn't accept the seperate modules or a whole kickstart (I seem to remember).

[rbm]

Nobody has made an Amiga tool yet. Meanwhile you can use the attached excel spreadsheet to build the update.
It´s easy to use:
Fill the light blue cells only (number of modules, size, filename and the separator name between each module).
Copy and paste all the values inside the box below the "Index Hex" in the index file attached (I use the Hex Editor Neo and works fine).
Copy and paste all inside the box below the "Filename" in a batch file (.bat).
Run it and that´s all !

[gulliver]

@rbm

I was testing your tool, but the excel spreadsheet doesn´t update the "Index Hex" column (which is letter F) and throws errors. To reproduce this error, just change the size value of any module in your already made 45.25 or 45.24 sheet and you will see it for yourself.

By the way, you are missing the A4000T separator

I hope you can fix it

[rbm]

Originally Posted by gulliver

@rbm

I was testing your tool, but the excel spreadsheet doesn´t update the "Index Hex" column (which is letter F) and throws errors. To reproduce this error, just change the size value of any module in your already made 45.25 or 45.24 sheet and you will see it for yourself.

By the way, you are missing the A4000T separator

I hope you can fix it

Works fine for me. If you are using excel 2010 or 2013 you have to "enable editing" when loaded.

https://support.office.com/en-us/art...3-2bbcdbcb6653

Attachead again including the A4000T separator.

[gulliver]

Originally Posted by rbm

Works fine for me. If you are using excel 2010 or 2013 you have to "enable editing" when loaded.

https://support.office.com/en-us/art...3-2bbcdbcb6653

Attachead again including the A4000T separator.

Thank you.

And yes, I needed to enable editing on excel.

[McTrinsic]

May I revive this?
I am currently setting up my Amiga from scratch and it would be awesome if I could create such an update file for use with setpatch.
Unfortunately, I failed using the excel-method when I wanted to create a file with just 4 files inside (e. g. icon.library).
Would anyone be able to a small script that does this??