Routine to bypass a firmware

Champion (469)

28-07-2022, 08:49

Without. This is the C2 in slot 1 directly alone, no CF , nothing. The middle screenshot only happens when I press F5 and usually when it was able to save my settings that is when fmpac works. If it goes from bootmenu right to game fmpac does not work, I need to execute nextor first and get the middle screeshot appearing before fmpac works.

This is where I am annoyed. I have to keep pressing f5 to get fmpac to work, I just wished nextor/fmpac etc will auto start automatically. Problem I have now is pressing A does nothing. Does not check mark the auto start nor it is saving my settings.

So starting from today I removed the c2 and went back to square one with no fmpac, nothing and no benefit of my c2.

Very annoying, especially since I paid 100+ for it in hopes I get it's benefits.

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3597)

28-07-2022, 10:26

foody wrote:

Because if I don't press F5 it goes right to basic...nextor and cf boot is ignored! It is when I keep holding on F5 that it actually works...ok..let me follow your instruction again.

Did you go into Configuration menu and reset to defaults, like I asked you to do? I see that you went to Dual Slot menu instead. The settings there are not remembered as there's no need for them. Why do you press Enter and try to boot your machine using Dual Slot instead of just pressing ESC in the Boot Menu or selecting DefConfig and pressing SPACE, like all other people do? Dual Slot is only needed when you want to start 2 ROMs at the same time or SCC+ and ROM.

From what I see, your CF card's detection fails, that's why Nextor doesn't boot to DOS. Try to find another card that would be properly identified by Nextor's BIOS. The CF card must be formatted as FAT (FAT16), not FAT32 or NTSC.

Type call fmpac in Basic and see if FMPAC BIOS comes up. Please confirm that you see the BIOS interface and hear music.
Type call fdisk in Basic and see if FDISK utility comes up. Please confirm that you see the FDISK utility. Is your CF card visible by FDISK?

By foody

Champion (469)

29-07-2022, 04:22

hmmm, I typed call fmpac and got syntax error. Let me try running from megaflash while c2 in slot 2 and see if audio comes out regardless. One second.

By foody

Champion (469)

29-07-2022, 04:30

k,yeah, you don't need the dual thing I agree. I left it as is...without pressing anything, I enter in the menu selectinon of course and then press enter...go right to megaflash, select pumpkin adventure 3 play the game zero music.

I decided..hmm..what if I press and hold on f5 after restart..it made a ding sound coming from c2 audio port, I knew then that music is back or fmpac working. It did the search for cf of course, couldn't find it...reverted back to megaflash in port 1 (slot 1). I play pumpkin adventure 3 and lo..behold the audio side works.

Like I am happy it works the audio seriously. The only thing I wanted to know if there is away to skip on holding on f5 to get the audio working that is all. But I guess not. I aint going to complain or ruin what works...I hope the new carnivore you will release will have everything automatic though. You put the cartridge and all the bells and whistles on fly without me having to press f5 to activate them....

By Manuel

Ascended (19463)

29-07-2022, 08:03

Can you make a video to show what you are doing exactly? E.g. what happens if you just boot with the C2 inserted, without doing anything else?

By foody

Champion (469)

29-07-2022, 08:51

Sure. Tomorrow. Today I am exhausted

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3597)

29-07-2022, 12:30

If call fmpac doesn't bring the FMPAC BIOS, then you need to put the BIOS into C2 with the help of C2MAN utility. Also put the FMPCCMFC.BIN in the same folder with the C2MAN.

Holding F5 only skips the Boot Menu and allows Nextor to boot to DOS2, nothing else. All audio should work even with F5. Normally you don't need to use F5 at all.

By Manuel

Ascended (19463)

29-07-2022, 20:22

I never use F5 since I enabled the autostart.

By foody

Champion (469)

30-07-2022, 01:23

my problem I have is I am unable to enable autostart

that is the problem.

I am unable to enable it. I press A and does not work...at all...

By foody

Champion (469)

30-07-2022, 01:51

Now...I have ventured into a larger problem the very problem I wanted to avoid since I was content with pressing F5 now I have ruined something that is not broken. I attempted to flash the bios fmpac again...it frooze...when flashing...it refused to progress or do anything...and when I restarted the msx2 with c2 been frozen with flash it bricked my c2 beautifully mind you.....now it goes straight to basic...skipping all together the menu or anything else...now I no longer even have fmpac...how is that for a good ending lol.

Now I am baffled what to do? How do I access the IDE or flash the bios when it goes immediately to basic as if the c2 is not hooked into slot2? Ppplease don't tell me I need to use the USB blaster again...please I beg you don't tell me that!