DM2 in PC-9800/9821 and in WinUAE and general emulation also

[Lunever]

hmm, seems that changing all refs to c only makes the syses and bats not find their files anymore - because upon booting the hd is set to be a:

[Lunever]

But aside from being a:, the hd boots now fine and properly calls up the mainly english starting menu.

I'll try to get the games running now. Main problem will probably the copy protection. I'll show a screenshot later.

btw: What exactly are the buffers and files commands for?

[Lunever]

Seems dm1 can be at least started from the booting hd, however, entering the dungeon ends here:

http://dmweb.free.fr/Stuff/AnexDMII/Anex_HD_DM1.JPG

[Lunever]

CSB is the same as dm1.

DM2 for PC-9800 looks like this:

http://dmweb.free.fr/Stuff/AnexDMII/Anex9800_HD_DM2.JPG

[Lunever]

Still the same.
Can start DM1, CSB and DM2 for 9800 from floppy disk and play them.
Can't run them from HD.
Can properly boot the hd as a:

Can't start DM2 for9821 (copy protection?)

All files from the DM2.9821 are in the HD root directory, the data directory has also been copied properly.

If I start skull.bat all I get is a black screen with a white blinking cursor, then the system hangs.

If I start the command line and enter necio21 fire.exe +x%1, I get the FTL-swoosh and then a black screen with a white blinking cursor, but nothing else.

[kentaro-k.21]

Hi.
--

No matter whether I do this or not, if I boot from the hdi file it is considered to be A:, not C:

you are right. booting from harddisk, harddisk assigns to A: drive, floopy follows like B: drive. it is pc98 specific habit.

--

Seems dm1 can be at least started from the booting hd, however, entering the dungeon ends here:

http://dmweb.free.fr/Stuff/AnexDMII/Anex_HD_DM1.JPG

"ダンジョンマスターディスクを"
"ドライブA:にセット"
{set dungeon master disk at drive A:}

It seems to be copy protection working. I have no idea how to avoid this. sorry.

--

CSB is the same as dm1.

DM2 for PC-9800 looks like this:

http://dmweb.free.fr/Stuff/AnexDMII/Anex9800_HD_DM2.JPG

"ディスクＡ　起動ディスクをドライブ１に入れて下さい" {DISK A Startup disk, insert it at drive 1}
"ディスクＢ　キーディスクをドライブ２に入れて下さい" {DISK B Key disk, insert it at drive 2}
"用意が出来たら何かキーを押して下さい" {Press any key if you are ready}

DM2 PC9801 supports running on HD boot.
I have an image running on HD.

How would you boot up skullkeep?
Try running SKULL.BAT at the startup. It joins GRAPHICS.DAT and GRAPHIC2.DAT files into one GRAPHICS.DAT file. This is needed only once.

If you have GRAPHIC2.DAT in DATA folder, it'll be identified as floppy booting.

Also cracking will be needed to avoid floopy protection checking.
--

If I start the command line and enter necio21 fire.exe +x%1, I get the FTL-swoosh and then a black screen with a white blinking cursor, but nothing else.

Black screen with white blinking cursor? It seems hanging up!

I'm afraid that HD image may be broken.

DiskExplorer earlier than 1.68 sometimes breaks other files, when we repeat deleting fragmented files and inserting files.

I checked download site of English version, the latest version is 1.65! Ahh sorry.

If you are using editd165e2.zip (Ver 1.65E2) at the site, it is considered that important files (such as fire.exe/graphics.dat) are damaged, while disk image operations.

You can test it by "SCANDISK C:" command. boot from dos62 fd (with both of dos62 FD and DM2 HD image attached), then "q" to exit file manager, then type it.

http://kkdf2.sakura.ne.jp/dmfiles/scandisk.png

If broken part is found, fix it. And then supply missing files in HD image. Please take the backup the disk image before fixing them.

--

btw: What exactly are the buffers and files commands for?

FILES: count of files that can be opened simultaneously.
BUFFERS: disk buffers per one file.

Set their values to low, and leave free memory as much as possible. IMHO swoosh and movies will be skipped, when available memory is not enough.

EDIT: rewrote obscure description

Here is a good reference site about CONFIG.sys:
http://users.cybercity.dk/~bse26236/bat ... CONFIG.HTM
http://users.cybercity.dk/~bse26236/bat ... FFERSS.HTM
http://users.cybercity.dk/~bse26236/bat ... ILES_S.HTM

BTW: Is there a way to use some keyb=gr command for the anex?

sorry. I don't have good idea about it.

I'm interested in your keyboard type. does your keyboard have keys start with "qwerty"?

Thanks.

[Lunever]

Have to test the other specifications later on.

However, yes, it is a qwerty keyboard. "y" and "z" are exchanged compared to US, as are some non-letter characters. The "\" would normally be <Alt+Shift plus the key beside the "0" ("ß/?" on a German keyboard). In MS-DOS or DosBox I'd use keyb=gr to settle this. No idea whether that can be done in PC98 though.

[Gambit37]

I never looked in to the PC98 emulations, but between you, I think you'll break new ground on the DM emulation front. Keep it up!

[Lunever]

Gambit: Well, I got every dm-relevant emulation running. Except DM2 for PC 9821 and except for X68000 mouse position.
I very much hope that these obstacles can be overcome too.

But I really wonder whether no one ever got the 9821 version running.

[kentaro-k.21]

hi.
pc9821 ver crack has done.

unlzexe fire.exe to decompress compressed fire.exe

then modify 4 bytes.

0002090E: 16 EB
0002090F: 8D 44
000225B1: 16 EB
000225B2: 8D 41

it'll skip "Insert CD-ROM" checking at loading and saving.

disasm codes:

Code: Select all

LOAD_NEW_DUNGEON
1A89:2B19|c8 12 00 00         | |enter 0012,00
1A89:2B1D|c6 46 ff 00         | |mov  byte [bp-01],00
PROTECTION_START:
1A89:2B21|16                  | |push ss --> jmp 2B64
1A89:2B22|8d 46 ee            | |lea  ax,[bp-12]
1A89:2B25|50                  | |push ax
1A89:2B26|ff 36 a4 5f         | |push word [5FA4]
1A89:2B2A|c4 1e 34 5e         | |les  bx,[5E34]
1A89:2B2E|26 ff 5f 50         | |call far word es:[bx+50]
1A89:2B32|83 c4 06            | |add  sp,0006
1A89:2B35|1e                  | |push ds
1A89:2B36|68 93 3b            | |push 3B93
1A89:2B39|16                  | |push ss
1A89:2B3A|8d 46 ee            | |lea  ax,[bp-12]
1A89:2B3D|50                  | |push ax
1A89:2B3E|9a 69 00 cd 06      |R|call 06CD:0069
1A89:2B43|83 c4 08            | |add  sp,0008
1A89:2B46|0b c0               | |or   ax,ax
1A89:2B48|74 1a               | |je   00002B64 ($+1a)
1A89:2B4A|8a 46 ff            | |mov  al,[bp-01]
1A89:2B4D|50                  | |push ax
1A89:2B4E|6a 13               | |push 0013
1A89:2B50|9a fc 02 d6 04      |R|call 04D6:02FC
1A89:2B55|59                  | |pop  cx
1A89:2B56|59                  | |pop  cx
1A89:2B57|50                  | |push ax
1A89:2B58|9a 6b 00 d6 04      |R|call 04D6:006B
1A89:2B5D|59                  | |pop  cx
1A89:2B5E|c6 46 ff 14         | |mov  byte [bp-01],14
1A89:2B62|eb bd               | |jmp  short 00002B21 ($-43)
PROTECTION_END:

Code: Select all

PROTECTION_START2:
1A89:0E7E|16                  | |push ss --> jmp 0EC4
1A89:0E7F|8d 86 78 ff         | |lea  ax,[bp-0088]
1A89:0E83|50                  | |push ax
1A89:0E84|ff 36 a4 5f         | |push word [5FA4]
1A89:0E88|c4 1e 34 5e         | |les  bx,[5E34]
1A89:0E8C|26 ff 5f 50         | |call far word es:[bx+50]
1A89:0E90|83 c4 06            | |add  sp,0006
1A89:0E93|1e                  | |push ds
1A89:0E94|68 88 3b            | |push 3B88
1A89:0E97|16                  | |push ss
1A89:0E98|8d 86 78 ff         | |lea  ax,[bp-0088]
1A89:0E9C|50                  | |push ax
1A89:0E9D|9a 69 00 cd 06      |R|call 06CD:0069
1A89:0EA2|83 c4 08            | |add  sp,0008
1A89:0EA5|0b c0               | |or   ax,ax
1A89:0EA7|74 1b               | |je   00000EC4 ($+1b)
1A89:0EA9|8a 46 eb            | |mov  al,[bp-15]
1A89:0EAC|50                  | |push ax
1A89:0EAD|6a 13               | |push 0013
1A89:0EAF|9a fc 02 d6 04      |R|call 04D6:02FC
1A89:0EB4|59                  | |pop  cx
1A89:0EB5|59                  | |pop  cx
1A89:0EB6|50                  | |push ax
1A89:0EB7|9a 6b 00 d6 04      |R|call 04D6:006B
1A89:0EBC|59                  | |pop  cx
1A89:0EBD|c6 46 eb 14         | |mov  byte [bp-15],14
1A89:0EC1|e9 88 fe            | |jmp  00000D4C ($-178)
PROTECTION_END2:

it is very similar to ps/v version's approach:
http://dmweb.free.fr/?q=node/861

Thanks.

[Lunever]

Great! Many thanks so far. Gotta leave now so I'll have to try this later, however -

If you already have successfully modified the fire.exe - can you just upload it or email it (I can upload it on the Encyclopaedia then)?

I'd only have to import it to the hd image then, that'd be much easier.

[kentaro-k.21]

ok.

here it is
http://kkdf2.sakura.ne.jp/dmfiles/fire_pc9821ver.7z
pass 2

[Lunever]

Hmm, I have all the dm pc9821 files copied to the hd, I have overwritten the fire.exe with yours, still, only a white blinking cursor.
However, before I lowered the buffers and files values I still got at least the FTL-Swoosh, so this might have an influence.

Can you please verify what values you are using for buffers and files?

Fire upload: http://dmweb.free.fr/Stuff/AnexDMII/Fire.zip

EDIT: Or maybe - what am I to do with the anexx21.e86 file (aside from copying it into the anex directory)?

EDIT: Can you maybe provide your config.sys and autoexe.bat file so I can verify, whether some difference in them might be relevant?
(I'll test it with yours - if the game starts then, something is wrong with mine)

[kentaro-k.21]

Hi.

---

EDIT: Or maybe - what am I to do with the anexx21.e86 file (aside from copying it into the anex directory)?

noop. it is all.

In my anex86, there are changes by installing it.
[Config] button, [Manager] tab,

...
Graph anexx21.e86 2.78
...
Video anexx21.e86 2.78
VMode anexx21.e86 2.78
VSync anexx21.e86 2.78
...

all other items are: "... anex86.exe 2.78"

---

EDIT: Can you maybe provide your config.sys and autoexe.bat file so I can verify, whether some difference in them might be relevant?
(I'll test it with yours - if the game starts then, something is wrong with mine)

ok. my ones are simple for now.

CONFIG.sys

Code: Select all

DOS=HIGH
DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=EMM386.EXE

AUTOEXEC.bat

Code: Select all

PAUSE
SKULL.BAT

In these settings, FTL-swoosh and skullkeep movies are skipped. It is same even if files and buffers are cared to be low.

However it can reach main menu, and then run the game.

---
I'm rebuilding DM2 pc9821 image with FreeDOS(98) and FreeCom environment. It is almost stable! (although it was tough work)

i can send it for you via pm.

Thanks.

[Lunever]

Thanks to the image you sent I could compare its config.sys to the one I had been using.

Seems the reason it didn't work previously was a leftover line in my config "device=a:\dos\himem.sys"

Without it, skullkeep can be played. No sound though

Though no matter whether I use my image or yours, on the border of the game screen there stays a white blinking cursor.
I guess some command activity has the wrong priority there, but I don't know enough about that to have an idea how to fix it.

[kentaro-k.21]

Hi.

Thanks to the image you sent I could compare its config.sys to the one I had been using.

you're welcome.

. No sound though

oops. sorry.
it is easy to turn on.
[Config] button, [Sound] tab, select "-86" from [type] selector.

Though no matter whether I use my image or yours, on the border of the game screen there stays a white blinking cursor.

i'll check about this problem.

Thanks

[Lunever]

Sounds works too now for PC9821 DM2, with a slight delay.

The floppy-bootet PC-9800 DM2 stays soundless though. No idea why.

[ChristopheF]

I have updated the page entitled "How to play PC-9801 / PC-9821 games under Windows? (Dungeon Master, Chaos Strikes Back and Dungeon Master II)" on the Encyclopaedia with instructions for Dungeon Master II for PC-9821: http://dmweb.free.fr/?q=node/341

[ChristopheF]

I have also updated the page entitled "How to play TurboGrafx / PC Engine games under Windows? (Theron's Quest)" so that is now refers to the freeware Ootake emulator instead of MagicEngine, and also notes about input keys: http://dmweb.free.fr/?q=node/396

[ChristopheF]

@Lunever: You mentioned in earlier posts "SYSTEM ERROR 41" when trying to run Dungeon Master II for IBM PS/V.
If you carefully follow my instructions at http://dmweb.free.fr/?q=node/862, this error does not occur (I just retested the procedure).

Anyway, this error message means "GRAPHICS.DAT cannot be found". So maybe the file is missing in your installation, or the path is too long or using special characters that may cause trouble to the game.