MS-DOS 5.0 DPMI

MSDOS 5.00A BOOT

MS-DOS 5.00A booting on Neko Project 21

While I’m waiting for my real PC-9821 to arrive, I’ve been playing with various software.  One fun thing was the old DJGPP, as the version 1.x had a customized version of go32 to support the PC-98 hardware.  This is cool, but I’d love to perhaps start down the road of porting something to the PC-98.  There is no VGA adapter, and the I/O is mapped differently so naturally this is why they are only loosely compatible.  So while I was looking for any kind of source code using DJGPP, I found the FCE: Family Computer Emulator (NES).  It includes source code, which is great but it builds against DJGPP 2.x What makes it more interesting is that it has DPMI hooks in place, unlike the old DJGPP 1.x’s DOS extender which is DPMI incompatible.  So how do you magically get a DPMI environment for MS-DOS?  Well one way is to run it under Windows 3.0 or higher.  And certainly with MS-DOS 3.30 that is an option.  However lurking in the disk images of MS-DOS 5.00A was a fun program DPMI.EXE .  Well now that is interesting!

MSDOS 5.00A native memory

MSDOS 5.00A native memory

Using a generic config.sys I have 600kb of low RAM available, and 7MB of extended RAM.

Now the real interesting part is DPMI.INI

[386Enh]
ebios=
display=dddn.386
keyboard=*vkd
network=*vnetbios, *dosnet
device=*vpicd
device=*vtd
device=*vdmad
device=*vsd
device=*vsound
device=d86mgrn.386
device=*pageswap
device=*dosmgr
device=*vmpoll
device=*wshell
device=*vfd
device=*vscsid
device=dpdn.386
device=*parity
device=*biosxlat
device=dmcpd.386
device=*vhd
device=*vcd
device=*combuff
device=*resume
device=*la20hma
device=dpfd.386
Paging=Yes

As you can see this is pretty much the 386 enhanced portion of Windows 3.0!  So you get all of the DPMI services offered by Windows as part of the OS.

MSDOS 5.00A DPMI activated

MSDOS 5.00A DPMI activated

As you can see, with DPMI running I have access to EMS, and XMS memory now available.  Additionally with paging you can even over commit memory.

My only question, is why was DPMI not an added in feature of the English versions of MS-DOS?  Granted there was a LOT of OEM bundling with new machines so you were forced to purchase a copy of Windows along with MS-DOS on all new computers, regardless of what you were going to do with them, and this would have been a bit more interesting.

This kind of environment was extensively documented in the “Unauthorized Windows 95“, by Andrew Schulman that showed how DOSX.EXE could chain load Win386 + command.com achieving the same thing.  The DPMI environment from MS-DOS 5.00A is dated 11/11/1992, I wonder if he knew about this going into the Windows 95 book.  It’s been too long since I’ve read it to remember, but I don’t recall any details about Japanese PC-98 releases of MS-DOS.  There was also a ‘MSDPMI’ environment created for the beta versions of Microsoft C 7.0, but I’ve been unable to find one to verify.  MSC 7.0 was released in 1992, so it fits in the same timeframe, but the shipping products used QEMM’s DPMI server instead.

DooM 1.2j1.0 on NekoProject II

So the first thing you’ll need is Neko Project II.  It can be a little hard to track down downloads, but there is a whole slew of them here:

http://ux.getuploader.com/emu/index/1/date/desc the site has since moved to here:

http://nenecchi.html.xdomain.jp/

https://simk98.github.io/np21w/download.html (it moved again)

So for now this link, is the latest build, which was last updated on

Extract that, and rn np21nt.exe

You’ll want to configure the sound.

MIDI options

MIDI options

If you choose to use the MIDI you’ll have to map them to a MIDI-OUT port, and I used the default Microsoft GS Wavetable.  Of course you could use MUNT, or any other MIDI mapper or port.  Also you may want to setup the serial port MIDI as a backup plan.

Serial MIDI

Serial MIDI

The sound effect settings work best for the PC-9801-86 audio board.

xx

Select the correct board!

I’ll save installing MS-DOS, and installing DooM for another fun episode, but to configure DooM.

Run setup.exe to setup DooM!

Setup menu

Setup menu

The menu is simply:

  • 1 graphics
  • 2 Background Music
  • 3 sound effects
  • 4 not sure
  • 5 controller
Graphics

Graphics

The PC9821A driver works best from what I’ve done in my limited testing.  I guess if you had a different emulator, or a real PC-98 you’ll get more out of this.

Next is the BGM or music

BGM

BGM

You really have 2 options here, #3 for the PC9801 driver which uses the YM2608 chip.  Or the General MIDI either option 4 or 6. I didn’t notice any difference between the two of them, they both sound kinda slow, but workable.

Now for the audio board, select the PC-98

Doom sound drivers

Doom sound drivers

The PC-9801-86 is what you want here.  Now with either a 100% PC-9801-86 config, or a 50/50 of the MIDI/PC-9801-86 we are ready to run DooM!  Selection option 6 and away we go!

Save settings and run DooM

Save settings and run DooM

And all being well you’ll get the start of DooM!

DooM starting up

DooM starting up

Otherwise you’ll get this fun error:

DX386 error

DX386 error

In this case I had emm386.sys in my config.sys which conflicts with the dos extender DX386.

Personally I find it easier to boot off the #1 install diskette which will automatically start DooM!

If you are feeling brave, listen!

As requested, PCem v11 with networking

via SLiRP

via SLiRP

injecting networking was no more difficult than it was in version 10.  It’s only a few changes to pc.c, if you look at the USENETWORKING define you’ll see them.  The best notes are on the forum.

I haven’t changed or improved anything it still requires manual configuration.

Downloads are available on my site as pcem_v11_networking.7z.  You’ll have to defeat the password protection, as always.  I included the source, it ought to be trivial to rebuild.

*For anyone using an old version the ‘nvr’ directory is missing, so PC-em is unable to create new non volatile ram save files, meaning you always loose your BIOS settings.  Sorry I missed that one.

DAEMON Tools Lite is on sale…

$5.99

$5.99

I went all crazy, and loaded up with all the options, but I’ve been wanting a virtual CD burner for a while, and I like being able to mount cue/bin files and not only being able to access the data but playing music.  It’s really cool to mount up a virtual disk, and then assign it out to a VM, so you can launch an older and more temperamental emulator…

UNZ in VMWare

UNZ in VMWare

Anyways, I don’t work for them, I have no affiliate, no ads etc, but I think this is interesting enough to pass on.

WinUAE 3.3.0 released

WinUAE 3.3.0 (06.06.2016)
=========================

New features:

- New optional "indirect" UAE expansion trap system, fully compatible
  with OS 4.x, virtual memory and some debugging programs.
- PC Bridgeboard disk drive raw image support. (ipf, ext adf,...)
- Monochrome video out emulation, including A1000 color/mono video
  out software control (BPLCON0 COLOR bit).
- Dark palette fix option to correct colors of badly ported Atari ST
  games (Midnight Resistance etc..)
- Official CSPPC/BPPC flash updater can be used to install full ROM
  image without having existing ROM image file.
- Custom input events can execute Amiga-side commands and scripts.
- Windows clipboard to emulated Amiga keyboard paste support.
- Variable refresh rate optimized vsync mode (G-Sync/FreeSync).
- Black frame injection is supported in variable refresh modes.
- IVS Trumpcard Pro/GrandSlam SCSI emulation.

OS4.x supported UAE expansions:

- Directory harddrives, including on the fly insertion/removal.
- CDFS CD mounting.
- Clipboard sharing.
- uaegfx RTG.
- uaehf.device hardfiles.
- Virtual mouse driver/magic mouse/tablet mode.
- uaenet.device.
- uaeserial.device.
- uaescsi.device.
- uae.resource.
- uaenative.library.

Thanks to all who donated.

NOTE: Performance is not (and can't be) as fast as with m68k AmigaOS,
especially with directory harddrives, due to slower, much more
complex UAE to/from native code context switch trap system.

Updates:

- Game Ports panel input customization is finally very intuitive.
- On the fly input device insertion/removal improvements.
- Many input device handling updates and fixes.
- Faster screenshot/capture in after filtering mode.
- Continuous screenshot mode.
- CD32 Akiko chip low level emulation compatibility improved.
- Nero .nrg CD image support.

Bug fixes:

- Hardware RTG emulation rendered same frame twice in some situations
  causing slow performance.
- Amithlon partition type (0x78/0x30) support works again.
- Some storage devices failed to mount as a harddrive.
- AGA subpixel scrolling glitches.
- Miscellaneous custom chipset emulation fixes.
- AGA mode HAM6 colors were not 100% accurate.
- Some programmed custom chipset display modes crashed.
- Direct3D mode DirectX9 not installed warning corrupted memory.
- Fullscreen + paused + enter GUI: GUI was invisible.
- Display panel gamma value calculation fixed.
- CDFS automount didn't mount CDs with empty label.

Download WinUAE 3.3.0 [installer] [zip-archive] [zip-archive, 64-bit version] [PPC core plugin, WinUAE 3.0 or later]

Download WinUAE extension packages [1.5.1+ Direct3D Pixel Shader filters](Latest DirectX required) [Improved drive sounds] [Portaudio library]

Download translation DLL: [Default (English)]

Xkeropi v0.65

Sigh so much I wanted to do with this….

Splash frog

Splash frog

Keropi on the wrong bit depth

Keropi on the wrong bit depth

It’s a x68000 emulator.  What made me jump was looking was the license on github:

/*
* Copyright (c) 2003 NONAKA Kimihiro
* All rights reserved.
*
* Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
* modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
* are met:
* 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
* 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
* documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
* 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software
* must display the following acknowledgment:
* This product includes software developed by NONAKA Kimihiro.
* 4. The name of the author may not be used to endorse or promote products
* derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
*
* THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR
* IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
* OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
* IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
* INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
* NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
* DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
* THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
* (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
* THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
*/

Which is the normal BSD license… But the other v0.65 source code makes no mention.  Oh well, I guess it’s really not BSD licensed then?  I need to keep banging on system16 anyways…

But in this case the graphics are for GTK of all things, and are hard coded to only run on 15/16bit displays.  SO by removing the requirement I got it to display something.  Also the IPL roms need to be in $HOME/.keropi .  It plays R-Type well enough, but at the same time so does MAME.

PCem v11 released

I haven’t had time to follow it, but great news!

PCem v11 released. Changes from v10.1 :

  • New machines added – Tandy 1000HX, Tandy 1000SL/2, Award 286 clone, IBM PS/1 model 2121
  • New graphics card – Hercules InColor
  • 3DFX recompiler – 2-4x speedup over previous emulation
  • Added Cyrix 6×86 emulation
  • Some optimisations to dynamic recompiler – typically around 10-15% improvement over v10, more when MMX used
  • Fixed broken 8088/8086 timing
  • Fixes to Mach64 and ViRGE 2D blitters
  • XT machines can now have less than 640kb RAM
  • Added IBM PS/1 audio card emulation
  • Added Adlib Gold surround module emulation
  • Fixes to PCjr/Tandy PSG emulation
  • GUS now in stereo
  • Numerous FDC changes – more drive types, FIFO emulation, better support of XDF images, better FDI support
  • CD-ROM changes – CD-ROM IDE channel now configurable, improved disc change handling, better volume control support
  • Now directly supports .ISO format for CD-ROM emulation
  • Fixed crash when using Direct3D output on Intel HD graphics
  • Various other fixes

Thanks to Battler, SA1988, leilei, Greatpsycho, John Elliott, RichardG867, ecksemmess and cooprocks123e for contributions towards this release.

Downloads are available for Windows & Linux.