SX-1 and SofaRun: those 128k+ roms (also long file name app?)

Master (152)

16-11-2018, 22:06

You might want to consider using some extensions, which are built into the SX-1, by flipping dip switches 4 or 5 (and/or 6) to enable them. Then, just use SofaRun as you're used to and let it handle loading up even the bigger ROMs. From the sound of it, you're not using any external cartridges right now, so you wouldn't really lose anything from not having the cartridge ports themselves available (as they get turned off). And when you do need to use those, you can always flip the dip switches back.

Check the SX-1 manual for more detailed information, regarding the dip switches and their functionality.

As for long files names, look into organizing/packaging your ROMs using zip-files. SofaRun has built-in support for long filenames inside of zip-files, so that sounds exactly what you are looking for. On every first run of an image, SofaRun will extract this to a temporary folder, but afterward it will use the previously extracted file as long as you pick it again from within the zip-file.

By Louthrax

Prophet (2496)

16-11-2018, 22:05

Hi Swami,

And welcome here!

Check the message displayed by SofaRun before launching the ROM. The name of the device used to launch the ROM should be displayed. SofaRun can launch games that are bigger than the normal RAM (RAM is used like a "cache" for the ROM), but this mechanism can slow down a bit the games.

SofaRun can also display long file names inside of ZIP files (just put your files inside a ZIP file and open it with SofaRun).

By Swami

Expert (91)

16-11-2018, 23:16

Haze & Louthrax wrote:

You might want to consider using some extensions, which are built into the SX-1, by flipping dip switches 4 or 5 (and/or 6) to enable them. Then, just use SofaRun as you're used to and let it handle loading up even the bigger ROMs.

Check the SX-1 manual for more detailed information, regarding the dip switches and their functionality.

As for long files names, look into organizing/packaging your ROMs using zip-files. SofaRun has built-in support for long filenames inside of zip-files, so that sounds exactly what you are looking for. On every first run of an image, SofaRun will extract this to a temporary folder, but afterward it will use the previously extracted file as long as you pick it again from within the zip-file.

Check the message displayed by SofaRun before launching the ROM. The name of the device used to launch the ROM should be displayed. SofaRun can launch games that are bigger than the normal RAM (RAM is used like a "cache" for the ROM), but this mechanism can slow down a bit the games.

Okay. Thanks for the clarification. I had checked out the manual, but the whole cart slot/Mega extension relationship was a little unclear to me. I see now there are two functionalities being toggled through with switch 4 and four more with switch 5/6 combinations. Honestly, when I got the SX-1, the only DIP switches I understood were 2,3 and 8, so I forgot the DIP switches had anything to do with MegaRAM/MegaSCC+, but I've been figuring a lot out the last couple days.

I'll try some of this out tonight. Thanks!

By Swami

Expert (91)

17-11-2018, 06:10

Louthrax wrote:

Hi Swami,

And welcome here!

Check the message displayed by SofaRun before launching the ROM. The name of the device used to launch the ROM should be displayed. SofaRun can launch games that are bigger than the normal RAM (RAM is used like a "cache" for the ROM), but this mechanism can slow down a bit the games.

SofaRun can also display long file names inside of ZIP files (just put your files inside a ZIP file and open it with SofaRun).

Thanks! I think some of my files that had *.MX1 extension, which I changed to *.rom, may only work for MSX-DOS 1, if that is possible. If so, can you recommend whatever is closest to sofarun for MSX-DOS 1?

By Swami

Expert (91)

17-11-2018, 07:28

(missed edit window)
So far, it sounds like maybe Ease and Execrom in combination with the MegaRAM and mapper of the SX-1 may be it.

By KdL

Paragon (1485)

17-11-2018, 10:07

https://twitter.com/ocm_pld_news/status/917913184077598720?s=19

By zett

Hero (608)

17-11-2018, 15:48

I do to need to install sofarun on my sx-1

By Swami

Expert (91)

18-11-2018, 03:47

I've tried out the suggestions listed above and the large roms and long names are all much better now. I have a disk image that loads with the keyboard controls all screwed up, but in MSXBlue, I have to set it to MSX1 machine, as it will not load in when set to MSX2. Thanks again for the suggestions.

By Swami

Expert (91)

18-11-2018, 08:36

Found an answer and explanation for the disk image that was giving me problems. It was a disk image of Pyro-Man and apparently the original French version only worked on European MSXs and gave screwed up keyboard and joystick on NTSC machines. The Japanese made a rom cart and someone named GDX made an NTSC ROM in French and English. I found that on planetemu and it worked.

By ssfony

Expert (84)

18-11-2018, 13:27

The SX1 can run almost any rom image that you can find. I supports scc and fmpac sound too.
All you have to do is enable the megarom mappers with the dipswitches.
Then you can use mglocm.com to load roms.
I suggest that you dive deeper into MSX and try to figure out how msxdos2 works.

Make sure that you use fat16 formatted sdcards and dont’t use long filenames. Just 8.3 with capitals only.
Hint: put msxdos2.sys and command2.com on the sd card to boot to dos

In google search for ‘kdl ocm’. There you can download the ocm-pld pack. It contains many stuff, look for the mglunch folder in the msxtools folder of version 3.6.2. It contains mglocm.com
Put roms and mglocm.com onto the sd card and experiment to see how it works.