MSX USB | MSX Resource Center (Pagina 13/24)

Champion (420)

13-06-2020, 13:48

I managed to program that altera, when added that external 5v. By the way, how would usb keyboard support started during startup if user has no keyboard to type in and start that usb keyboard driver (for example original external keyboard is missing)?

Van S0urceror

Master (220)

13-06-2020, 14:24

Good to hear you managed to program it.

About starting the keyboard driver. That’s a classic chicken and egg problem that I solved by putting the startup in autoexec.bat. This way it starts automatically.

Btw. I recently made some fixes to the driver which is faster and solves some double-stroke issues. Also you can continue to use the original MSX keyboard at the same time. Will push the changes online later today.

Van popolon_

Champion (420)

13-06-2020, 16:20

So you need hub, and usb stick where that autoexec.bat is, and also the usb keyboard right? So there is no solution for only usb keyboard and this module only?

Van Pencioner

Scribe (1611)

13-06-2020, 16:42

popolon_ wrote:

So you need hub, and usb stick where that autoexec.bat is, and also the usb keyboard right? So there is no solution for only usb keyboard and this module only?

If you have another disk drive or device which can run Nextor, then you don't need hub and usb stick.

If you have no Nextor device and want use it with diskless computers... then it ispossible to make a ROM without Nextor, which will directly speak to USB kbd, for use with diskless computers. But that's some piece of work... remove all calls to Nextor device and replace with direct I/O etc, something not routine

Van popolon_

Champion (420)

13-06-2020, 20:02

Is the flash utility now only working for AM29F040B chips, and not for SST39SF040? Because it did not detect my module, and I have that SST39SF040.

Van popolon_

Champion (420)

13-06-2020, 20:20

I tried to flash the nextor.rom with minipro software in linux, but then with that rom, "disk driver not found, system halted" text shows up during boot. Is this because I wrote only 1/4 of the rom capacity, so I shuold have created 4x larger file from this nextor.rom by copying it 4 times to file?

Van S0urceror

Master (220)

13-06-2020, 20:22

The flash utility indeed looks for AM29F040. I can make it recognise the 39SF040 as well. Have to add the identifiers to the code and make a new build. Can you then test it for me?

Also made a new build of USBKEYBD.COM. This is a much better release. Works on a hub or directly connected. In this release you can also use MSX keyboard alongside the USB keyboard. DOS and BASIC works fine on USB but a lot of software goes around the BIOS and talks directly to the PPI.

If you want to use MSXUSB as a keyboard you have the following options:

Connect it directly to the MSXUSB cartridge. If you have flashed the cartridge with the firmware you have both Nextor and the UNAPI USB driver on board. Boot from a separate medium like a floppy with Nextor.sys and Command2.com. Put auto exec.bat on the floppy to run the keyboard directly.
Connect it to a hub with USB Storage and USB keyboard connected. With the new firmware from the USB Storage branch you can boot from USB storage (formatted FAT16). And use the keyboard at the same time.

Van popolon_

Champion (420)

13-06-2020, 20:31

yes, I can test that flash util for SST chip.
by the way, it is certain that hub+keyboard and usb stick would need external power?

Van popolon_

Champion (420)

13-06-2020, 20:33

and what are the actual rom sizes that would work with this flash? 010, 020, 040 ?

Van popolon_

Champion (420)

13-06-2020, 20:35

I am just asking, because I have one AM29F010 from sunrise ide clone work. but not that AM29F040