ZX-Spectrum emulation on PC.
Questions and answers.
RUSH>
Even having powerful and expensive Amiga and PC in their hands, many do not want to part with their beloved Speccy, even if virtual - emulated in one or another emulator. Several articles in this issue of "RUsH" are dedicated to this very question - material from Slider discusses the reverse conversion of emulator files to a real Spectrum, while this article, compiled by Grunge, may help to understand various aspects of using emulators on the PC platform.
Grunge>
It can be said that access to PC is now available to almost every second person. It is quite likely that you can be counted among them. So, let's say at work you spend hours at the PC and sometimes you find a free minute to play Quake, but still, you would prefer your native Kolobok Zoom 2 ;-) Or you want to make a small gift for a friend - an old Spectrum user who switched to PC a few years ago, but still remembers Elite on Speccy. In short, there can be many situations where you need to use a virtual Speccy. In this case, you may encounter some problems, which I hope you can solve with the help of the following FAQ from the Fido conference ZX.SPECTRUM.
Edition from May 26, 1998.
Where can I find the latest versions of the FAQ on ZX-Spectrum emulation?
A: This FAQ is always available on ZX_Server. By sending a netmail to the address 2:465/98.17@fidonet, to the name 'ZX_Server' (without quotes), writing in the %subj% field %HELP or %LIST - you will receive reference information about the server or a list of available topics respectively. For all questions regarding ZX_Server, contact Tim Kelly (2:465/157.15).
A: Arseniy Astapenko (ekoz@ns.igs.ac.by): There is a FAQ on the internet! http://www.uniyar.ac.ru/museum/zx/faq/index.html IG: I just checked. It really exists. :) Just the speed... z-z-z... And the authorship is not indicated, but that's a minor detail. :)
Which Sinclair emulators are the most convenient and from which you can get games?
A: Convenience is a rather slippery question... The most popular emulators among the people are those that support TR-DOS:
- Lunter emulator, adapted to work with TR-DOS; (imho, one of the first emulators working with this OS)
- UKV v1.2 emulator (also works with real TR-DOS disks); (its advantage is the presence of a built-in debugger, plus a fairly wide support for non-standard TR-DOS formats)
- Shalaev emulator (works with disk images). (This one is still the leader among emulators, as it does not require a powerful computer to work) Recently, several quite original emulators have appeared (both from our authors and foreign ones), and their support for Scorpion256, Pentagon128 was a pleasant surprise. However, they have not yet become very popular, as they require at least a Pentium for full operation. However, it depends on the person. ;)
By the way, the author Nikolay Shalaev has a Fido address and even /;) reads the echo ZX.SPECTRUM. His address is 2:5020/378.40
A: (Michael Markowsky, 2:5020/378): Nikolay is not reading the echoes now. You can contact him by e-mail: nshal@usa.net Or continue writing to /378.40 - it will still be forwarded to my e-mail through gate 5020/128.
What are the files with the extensions *.$b, *.$c?
A: Hobeta file. That is, a file copied by the hobeta program from a TR-DOS disk. The letter usually denotes belonging to a certain type. (.$w - text in the format of Sinclair's ZX-Word, .$s - picture for a screen printer...) The extension can basically be anything. It depends on the authors of the program that uses these files.
A: (Michael Kondratyev 2:5030/362.1) Its (hobeta file) structure: The first 13 bytes - an exact copy of the TR-DOS header. Then two bytes of length - in sectors; since it is a multiple of 256, the first is always zero, and the second is the number of sectors. And the last two bytes are the checksum. It is calculated simply - all previous 15 bytes are summed, the number is multiplied by 257 and the sum of the numbers from 0 to 14, i.e. 105 is added. Here is the procedure in Z80 Asm:
; input de = header address
ld hl,0
ld b,15
m1: ld a,(de)
add a,l
ld l,a
jr nc,m2
inc h
m2: inc de
djnz m1
add a,h
ld h,a
ld c,105
add hl,bc ; hl = Hobeta sum
Extension .$z
A: Hobeta file packed on the Spectrum by the zxzip program (by Michael Kondratyev), which has become the de facto official packer for ZX. To unpack it, zxunzip is required. The author still wrote zxunzip for IBM. An analogue of zxzip on IBM exists, but in a messy form.
How to read the format?
A: Dmitry Grigoryev (2:5020/689.31): So. There is one or more files with the extension .$? How to run them depends on the emulator you have, which supports TRDOS format (formats similar to .z80 or .tap will not help - most programs now have sub-loads, which cannot be automatically converted to tap) Let's say the file name is online80.$b ;-) Option 1. You need the Z80TRDOS emulator and the hobeta and hofrmt utilities.
1) Take a diskette, insert it into drive A and format it: hofrmt a: /80d
2) Start hobeta - copy online80.$b to this diskette by pressing F5.
3) Start z80trdos.
4) In the menu that appears, select the TR-DOS option and enter RUN "ONLINE80". Note: special versions of utilities are needed to work with 3 ~ disks.
Option 2. You need Shalaev emulator and zcop utility.
1) Create a disk image and copy the program to it: zcop trdos.trd online80.$b
2) Start the emulator with the "inserted" image: spectrum trdos.trd [or select the disk image in the emulator by pressing F5 after launch :IG]
3) Press "Start emulator".
4) Similarly to point 4 of option 1.
Option 3. You need UKV emulator and zcop utility version 1.0 or higher.
1) Create a disk image and copy the program to it: zcop -f trdos.fdi online80.$b
2) Start the emulator with the "inserted" image: sp_emu -vatrdos.fdi
3) Similarly to point 4 of option 1. If there are several files, they must be copied all and in logical order :( [but this is not always a necessary parameter :IG :)]
How and in which emulator can you work in iS-DOS?
A: (Roman Alexandrov, 2:5030/446.11):
1) The simplest and slowest method: Take UKV and work with a real disk. Advantages: simple. Disadvantages: slow, you cannot format a new (bootable) disk, you cannot rewrite to TR-DOS (MS-DOS).
2) Advanced method (published by Igor Gruzdev): Take UKV, a native IS-DOS disk (as drive A, for example) and an empty FDI (as drive B, for example) Boot up, using create.com create a non-bootable 640-kilobyte IS-DOS disk on FDI, copy what you need from the real disk to it. After that, configuring the system as you need (drivers, tables, electronic disks, residents, etc.) send it to Z80 (by the way, you do not need to copy the system image files is-dos.sys and electronic disk image file image.sys or image.img to FDI - the disk is still non-bootable and space will be freed). Then write a batch file for all this, so that when starting UKV it loads Z80 and connects FDI. Advantages: Works quickly. Disadvantages: requires preliminary preparation, no possibility to work with MS-DOS and real TR-DOS disks.
3) A tricky method: Take Scorpion emulator (from MOA). Using ANADISK program create a dump of the IS-DOS disk, shove it into the emulator (it will convert it to its own FDD format). If needed, enable hard drive emulation and create the required number of IS-DOS partitions of the desired size. The ability to work from IS-DOS with TR-DOS disk images has not been tested, but imho it should work. Advantages: evident. Disadvantages: no possibility to work with native disks.
4) Perform the sequence described in p.2, convert FDI to TRD and launch the whole construction from Z80, TRD under Shalaev emulator (using Z80.add). Advantages: obvious for those who prefer Shalaev's emulation over UKV. Disadvantages: the same as in p.2, plus the lack of a debugger and working with real disks.
A: (Vladimir Frunze, 2:469/32.7) I have it simpler -- run makefdi.exe -c -d isdos.fdi and telemarketing! With the -d key (detailed analyses) the disk is successfully created, without -d - no. /IG: I couldn't make it work. :( It constantly complains about disk error/
Conversion of .Z80 files to .$* and back
A: Recently a program appeared: unZ80 v0.1b (c) 1998 by HalfElf. Converts Z80 to a set of Hobeta format files. It came through the zx.spectrum echo. With its help and a few movements you can convert .z80 to hobeta. Or you can use the method described below and work manually. ;)
A: (Vyacheslav Mednonogov, 2:5030/461.12): Quick conversion of .z80 to magic file format is done as follows:
- load UKV 1.x
- press ESC
- select snapshot type = z80 (in the first menu)
- load snapshot name.z80 (in the same menu)
- press F9 to continue working in the emulator
- press F10 (analog of the magic button)
- that's it
(I'll also add: if you need to convert to .z80 in particular, then after loading UKV 1.x and starting the required program in it (from a diskette or disk image), a similar sequence is performed, only after selecting the snapshot type and entering the name, it is necessary to save it. The Lunter emulator also allows saving snapshots. To convert hobeta-.z80, you need a version of the Lunter emulator with TR-DOS support.)
Files with the extension .fdi
A: TR-DOS disk image in the format of UKV emulator. You can work with it just like with .trd using zcop v1.2. There is also a utility from Mikhail Kondratyev fdi2trd, designed for converting from one disk image to another.
Problems with UKV emulator
Q: The UKV emulator (the executable file is named sp_emu) complains about no disk in the disk drive, although it sees hobeta perfectly...
A: (Ilya Vasilyev 2:5030/461.22) Just on fast machines for UKV you need to add a delay for the drive to spin up, i.e. you need to start it with the -d key (and here you need to specify a number from 1 to 255 - the delay time); For example, on P133 UKV starts only with the -d255 key: sp_emu.exe -d255. Another problem may be with WIN95, this Mazda controls all direct disk access (even if it is not booted, then these functions are performed by dos7.0, which the aforementioned Mazda installs instead of others). Sometimes this option helps: boot from a disk that has a system from dos 6.22 or similar, bypassing all configs and start subj with the -d key (see above).
How to get a clean disk image file (.trd) for Shalaev emulator?
A: Use zcop (Rick Murrey). Launched with the name of a non-existent file (*) the disk image creates it. After that, you can simply copy this file. There is also a small program by Mikhail Kondratyev (trdisk.com), which is designed to format the disk image.
We have Shalaev emulator, a clean disk image (.trd), how to write a hobeta file to it?
A: Use zcop. Specifically - zcop name.trd 1.$c 2.$c ... Where name.trd is the (*) name of the disk image file. 1.$c are the names of the hobeta files.
Is there a utility that does the reverse action: extracts files *.$b *.$c, etc. from *.trd?
A: Use zcop. zcop name.trd extracts all files from the disk image (*) to the current directory. Although you can take another route: The disk image is dumped by the emulator (up to 2.04 it was possible...) to a formatted TR-DOS 5'25 disk, then copy the necessary files with hobeta to MS-DOS.
A: Regarding the last three questions: recently, a sufficient number of various zx-ibm-commanders have passed through the ZX.Spectrum echo, listing them all is excessive, especially since most of them are beta versions, but nevertheless, hobeta files and .trd can be processed in a very large number of ways.
In August 1996, Enlight'96 - a gathering of demo makers took place in St. Petersburg. For the first time, the Speccy platform was presented there. The results shocked the world. But where can you find all the works that participated in the zx-compo? Preferably internet servers...
A: (Peter Sobolev 2:5030/84) All releases are located at ftp.enlight.ru/pub/demos/enlight96/zx. The results and other information can be found at www.enlight.ru
Is there a Russian ZX-oriented FTP or WWW server?
A: (Sergei Novikov 2:5020/689.1; Dmitry Grigoryev 2:5020/689.31) http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/8003 ftp.ogre2vsk.edu.lv/acid-nature/speccy/ http://www.uniyar.ac.ru/~fantom/museum/zx/
URL of the FTP of the Belarusian ZXNet, I was asked: URL: ftp://ftp.telecom.grodno.by/zxspectrum/
A: (Alexey Ivanov 2:5020/689.100): www.corbina.ru/~recalder/spectrum/ www.chat.ru/~fatality www.chat.ru/~liroy www.uniyar.ac.ru/museum/spectrum/
/IG: there is often a more complete table running through the echo conference, which collects FTPs dedicated to the Spectrum
Are there any file echos dedicated to ZX-Spectrum?
A: Yes. This is the SPECTRUM file echo. Its moderator is Nicolas Rodionov (2:5030/25.0) Distributed in St. Petersburg, Moscow and several other regions.
A: (eugene@mavlin.vt.rovno.ua): here are many questions about the echo for the Spectrum, so I am ready to make you happy! After long and persistent searches, I found an FTP where many echos are stored, including SPECTRUM, here it is: ftp://bbs.ogo.ru/spectrum/*.*
I can't read any Spectrum disk with hobeta. :( Help me!
A: Well, what can be said here... The multi-card on IBM is not perfection. The recommendations are as follows - use FUT (this is on Speccy), do not format in fast, in turbo. Or you can use DCU 2.32. There is also a possibility to format disks under TR-DOS on IBM with hoformat. If this does not help, try to cover half of the index hole on the 5'25 diskette. In some cases, it helps.
Has anyone connected a Spectrum floppy drive to PC on 5.25? And it (the bastard) is 800 kilobytes, hence all the difficulties with connection. If anyone knows how, please describe the process in detail.
A: (Evgeny Milun 2:5057/18.73) To make the 720 floppy drive work properly on IBM, first you need to disconnect pin 2. Second - return the jumpers to their normal state, as they were on ZX. Third - in some BIOSs, set: "5'25 drive 1.2Mb".
HoBeta refuses to read/write 3.5" disks. What to do?
A: (Danil Ermakoff 2:5080/43.30) Indeed, by the author's whim, HoBeta cannot work with 3.5 disks. Fortunately, this problem can be resolved easily: just replace one byte, like this: HoBeta v2.15 uncompressed length - 48014. At offset #0000B7C2 replace #01 with #04, and that's it! For normal operation of HoBeta, disks on Speccy must be formatted with programs DCU 2.32, FUT or similar, but not with the DOS command format "xxxxxxxx"!
/
P.S. real Speccy rulez 4e\/ er!
RUSH>
Dear readers, if you have your own comments on this issue, we will be happy to publish them on the pages of "RUsH". This topic will undoubtedly remain relevant in the future, as the number of virtual Spectrums increases every day, and understanding all the new emulators and formats becomes more and more difficult.
Contents of the publication: Rush #01
- AMIGA NEWS
Amiga Inc works on Amiga OS 3.5 with enhancements like CD drive and PowerPC support. Split development for M68K and PPC processors. Delayed release to late 1999 or early 2000.
- AMIGA NEWS
Description of the 'Fast JPEG 1.10' viewer for Amiga, focusing on its features, installation, and usage. It highlights advantages like fast processing without quality loss and provides user tips. Readers are encouraged to share their software experiences.
- AMIGA NEWS
Basic programming for classic Amiga, discussing challenges and sharing knowledge in Amiga coding. Overview of Amiga graphics capabilities and processor features. Introduction to Amiga assembly language specifics.
- AMIGA NEWS
Overview of events related to the Amiga platform from early to mid-1998. Highlights include new hardware, software releases, and notable company collaborations. Future updates and developments are scheduled for the next issue.
- AMIGA NEWS
Collection of cheats and secrets for classic Amiga games compiled by Postcard Man. Readers encouraged to share their findings on complex games. Selection of tips and level codes provided for various games.
- AMIGA NEWS
Discussion of Phase-5's graphics cards and Permedia 2 processor capabilities. Details on Permedia 2's 2D/3D acceleration and compatibility. Mention of GLINT Delta processors and comparison of prices and availability.
- AMIGA NEWS
Analysis of Amiga's survival in the 90s, highlighting community efforts and technological advancements. Discussion on hardware improvements and software development. Encouragement for further exploration and learning about the Amiga platform.
- Spectrum Programming
Explanation of a fast method for real-time 3D graphics on the ZX Spectrum. Introduces efficient rotation and deformation techniques for 3D objects. Emphasizes improvements over traditional methods with practical examples.
- Spectrum Programming - Ticklish Jim
Discussion of combining sound effects with music for Spectrum's AY chip. Examples from development of 'CSC: Deja Vu' and technical challenges faced. Contains practical guide and code examples.
- Spectrum Programming
Discussion on byte mirroring and background restoration in ZX Spectrum programming, with examples.
- Spectrum Programming
Comprehensive guide for system programmers with practical tips for creating efficient and user-friendly software, including coding techniques, device compatibility, and program testing strategies.
- Spectrum Programming
Advanced coding techniques and modern graphics methods for ZX Spectrum. Tips for optimizing graphical procedures and coding on assembly. Useful advice for programmers to improve performance and efficiency.
- The End
Reflections on the creation of the first issue of the magazine 'Rush', its goals, audience, and future development.
- ZX-SOFT - Вячеслав Медноногов
Development updates on Vyacheslav Mednoy's new game 'Black Raven II', including gameplay changes, new spell introductions, and performance improvements.
- ZX-SOFT
Overview of new features in the updated commander from REAL software for ZX Spectrum, including file management, autodetection, and media viewing. Improvements in text, font, and music handling. Questions addressed regarding future updates.
- ZX-SOFT
Debate on which demo deserved the top spot at Funtop'98: Forever by DR or Refresh by XTM. Discussions in the demoscene community highlight the clash between technical prowess and conceptual depth. Different opinions reflect on the evolution of demoscene preferences.
- Authors
Acknowledgment of contributors and partners in creating Rush magazine. Detailed roles of each author and collaboration insights. Recognition of technical support and media partnerships.
- Virtual Specky
Discussion on converting graphics from PC to Spectrum, featuring insights from various experts. Techniques for improving conversion quality and tools like Photoshop are detailed. Emphasis on post-conversion refinement in Spectrum graphics editors.
- Virtual Speccy
Discussion on the CBSpeccy emulator for ZX-Spectrum on Amiga, highlighting its features, community opinions, and technical performance. Criticisms and praises for its emulation capabilities, particularly compared to PC emulators. Examination of potential improvements and community debates around version updates.
- Virtual Speccy
FAQ on ZX-Spectrum emulation on PC, covering popular emulators and file formats. Instructions for using different emulators and managing file types like Hobeta and TR-DOS. Discussion on Russian ZX-oriented servers and resources for enthusiasts.
- Introduction
Introduction to the Rush magazine, emphasizing creativity, progressive scene, and the goal to create a superior information source. The magazine seeks to gather promising groups and offer a unique perspective. Focuses on content and atmosphere, welcoming creators to contribute.
- Introduction - Grunge
Introduction to Rush, a new scenemag for Speccy/Amiga enthusiasts, aims to provide quality content and news while encouraging reader feedback.
- Interview - Konex
Interview with ANTARES group after FUNTOP-98. Discussion on their demos, challenges, and future plans. Insight into the group's formation and dynamics.
- Interview - Kvazar, DUX
Interview with Alexander Seleznev (KVAZAR), discussing his history with computers, the state of the ZX Spectrum scene, and future plans.
- Interview - Kvazar
Interview with Vitebsk group POWER on demo 'Crazy Love', development experiences, and future projects.
- Informatorium
Exploration of a CD with emulators for various platforms, highlighting Spectrum. Details the content organization and diversity. Concludes with insights from the CD-ROM Project's Spectrum software collection.
- Informacrium
Compilation of interesting and useful Internet addresses related to Amiga resources, including magazines, hardware manufacturers, and software companies.
- Informacrium - Viator
Overview of existing and upcoming publications on the Amiga platform. Discussion of the availability and distribution challenges for Amiga literature. Appeal for collaboration with new publications.
- About the Magazine
Discussion on creating a multi-platform magazine focusing on Spectrum, Amiga, and PC. Emphasis on broader understanding of computer scene. Encourage professionalism and adaptation to changing technology.
- Parallel Worlds
Overview of the evolution of Windows OS and PC processors from 1981 to 2000. Development milestones of MS-DOS, Windows, Intel processors, and competition with AMD and Cyrix. Challenges in maintaining compatibility with new processor technologies.
- Parallel Worlds
Overview of Macintosh models and their relevance in design and graphics fields, covering prices and specifications from 1997-1998. Discussion includes the evolution of Apple's hardware, notably the PowerMac series, and compares new G3 processors with PC counterparts. It highlights the resurgence of Macintosh post-crisis and its ongoing influence in the market.
- Development of the Spectrum - Slider
The article discusses a new graphical extension for the ZX Spectrum that enhances color palettes without increasing resource demands. By using a modified flash signal, new colors are created without interfering with existing software compatibility. The article provides implementation details and addresses practical usage concerns.
- Development of Spectrum
Connecting a CDOS modem to the 'Compact-128' computer by addressing keyboard port conflicts. Description of hardware modifications to solve the issue. Solution includes automatic blocking using a transistor inverter.
- Development of Spectrum - Ars
Discussion on AZX-Monstrum 512K development, its hardware compatibility, processor options, and potential enhancements in graphics and OS.
- Development of SPECTRUM
Discussion of Clive Sinclair's new computer platform, the ZX2000, designed to outperform PCs with enhanced speed, affordability, and battery efficiency.
- Development of Spectrum - Андрей Савичев
Examination of the evolution and ongoing relevance of the Z80 processor, and its role in embedded systems. Comparison of Z80 with its successors, highlighting advantages like energy efficiency and command enhancements. Overview of integrated Z80-based CPUs and their peripherals.
- Advertisement
This article is an advertisement for Scorpion products including hardware for ZX Spectrum and Amiga software, along with pricing and ordering details.
- Advertising
Collection of advertisements for Amiga and ZX Spectrum hardware and software, with contact information for sellers and details about the new Amiga magazine subscription.
- Advertisement
Advertisement for X-TRADE's General Sound music board. Includes pricing, technical details, and purchase instructions. Features a FAQ section and compatibility info.
- Meaning Without Meaning - Viator
Philosophical reflections on existentialism, immortality, and human destiny. The narrative weaves through stories of ambition, the quest for eternal life, and a utopian downfall. A blend of introspection and speculative fiction.
- Scene vs Professionals
Exploration of the demoscene's creativity versus commercial game development. Discussion of potential for professional-quality programs by scene members. Call for collaboration with leading scene groups.
- Scene Chronicle - Андрей Савичев
Reflections on ZX Spectrum's enduring appeal, its community's resilience, and its potential resurgence in Russia.
- Scene Chronology
Overview of the Rush group's activities, including past projects, current endeavors, and future plans, with emphasis on software development and gaming.
- Scene Chronicles
The article discusses various ZX Spectrum scene news, including game releases, demoparties, and updates from developers and teams.
- Chronicles of the Scene
The article discusses the FUNTOP'98 international computer art festival held in Moscow, highlighting key events, notable attendees, and the various competitions held during the event.
- Scene Chronia
Discussion on Amiga scene development through collaboration, addressing user isolation and promoting network expansion.
- Shell Management
Статья описывает управление оболочкой для ZX Spectrum и Amiga, включая клавиши и функции для навигации. Упоминаются особенности работы на Amiga с PAL монитором и предоставляется контакт для поддержки. Также отмечено, что текстовые файлы имеют стандартную MS-DOS кодировку.
