PC-9821 HDD Image

[RobIvy64]

Howdy!

Version 1.5 of the PC98 HDD image is now available! Release date: 20 June 2014

Give Caius some praise for working hard to improve the V1.0 image!

http://nfggames.com/PC98/HDDimages/PC98HDDV1_5.zip

V1.5 Updates by Caius:

*FILMNT Filer (DOS SHELL) added for easier navigation
*33 total games installed



A little about the original V1.0 image this is based on:

Version 1.0 was created as a BASELINE IMAGE configured for games. NEC's version MS-DOS 6.2 is installed, as well as about 12 games. The goal was to create a compatible and generic image, therefore things like CD-ROM drivers or other specialty drivers are not installed.

This was created on a real NEC PC-9821Cs2. For some reason, my PC98 refuses to format a partition larger than about 450MB. I have no idea why this is, but as such, there is a lot of unused space on this image than can be easily formatted and partitioned using FDISK or HDFORMAT.

I created the original version 1.0 image to kickstart the PC-98 hobbyist scene, and allow creative minds to continue to improve upon this image by adding more software and features.

How to write the image to CF, or view contents?

Obviously you will need Winimage, but the details on what you need to do to view the contents using DiskExplorer are posted below. Select "Manual HD", then "search" to gather the correct sector information, then select your partition.



What does my PC-98 need for this to run?

Well, that's where YOU come in! I've tested it with as little as 5MB of RAM, and as much as 36MB. All games seemed to work properly. You'll want at least a 486SX processor.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU HAVE YOUR GDC CLOCK SET TO 2.5MHz, AND CONVENTIONAL MEMORY SET IN THE BIOS (640K + Extended).


To enter the BIOS, hold the "HELP" key while powering on the machine.

Will this work in an emulator?

Maybe. I know Anex86 won't boot from it. Just buy the real thing

I appreciate any contributions that are made to this image, including adding additional games, translations, utilities, etc...

IF YOU RUN THIS ON A REAL PC-98, PLEASE POST YOUR EXPERIENCES HERE

[RobIvy64]

PLACEHOLDER:

Confirmed Hardware compatibility

PC-9801

PC-9821
PC-9821Cs2
PC-9821Ce2

PC-98NOTE (laptop)

Epson 98 Clones

[acridAxid]

Thanks for putting this together, Rob!

No idea when my PC98 is due to arrive (it's coming by boat, apparently), but I'll give this a spin once it does.

[eidis]

 Excellent work RobIvy64 !

Keep the scene alive !
Eidis

[caius]

Hi RobIvy64,
I succesfully converted you image to  .HDI format usable by various  emulators (T98-Next, Neko Project II and Anex86).All games work fine except for Flame Zapper Kotsujin, I got an error regarding EMS and NAX3 in all three emulators.
Anyway, now I'm trying to add more games but HDD installation is more tricky than X68000.
Then I got some issues converting some .FDD disk image to .FDI (like Galaga for example), I use Virtual Floppy Converter.Some time the conversion is successful but when I try the image  the emulator doesn't detect it and when I try to open it with DiskExplorer it finds no partition.

RobIvy64, are the games you installed in your HDD all .HDI originally?I'm trying to understand if it's possible to HDD install also floppy disk images like we do on X68000.

[RobIvy64]

Some were HDI, and some were FDI. HDI is pretty easy as most games will simply copy over to a folder. FDI can be more difficult.

Some games in both formats require that you install the game for it to work.

As for the Flame Zapper error, you don't have conventional (640K) + Extended memory configured correctly. NAX.COM is the FM audio driver, and it requires conventional memory to allocate it's memory space.

[caius]

Some were HDI, and some were FDI. HDI is pretty easy as most games will simply copy over to a folder. FDI can be more difficult.

Some games in both formats require that you install the game for it to work.

As for the Flame Zapper error, you don't have conventional (640K) + Extended memory configured correctly. NAX.COM is the FM audio driver, and it requires conventional memory to allocate it's memory space.

Which are the memory requirements for Flame Zapper?If I'm not wrong  memory is well configured under emulators but it didn't work the same.
Regarding installing FDI images, just to do some practice I'm now trying to install Ulamander (a clone of Salamander) but  I can't to make it working.
Is there any way to convert this strange .FDD disk images to proper usable .FDI ones?Virtual Floopy Converter did not do the job.
For example, try to convert the attached Galaga.


P.S.
If you give me the OK, I could upload your image usable under emulators.

[RobIvy64]

Flame Zapper just needs 1MB of extended memory.

I dont mind if you post the HDI image.

[AnnaWu]

Then I got some issues converting some .FDD disk image to .FDI (like Galaga for example), I use Virtual Floppy Converter.Some time the conversion is successful but when I try the image  the emulator doesn't detect it and when I try to open it with DiskExplorer it finds no partition.

I found no way to convert this disk image type at moment.

1.) Virtual98 (SOLTIN software) support this format
2.) The disk image was created with an older version of Virtual Floppy Drive
3.) No DOS format (Galaga)

[caius]

OK.I will post your image.
Regarding the memor management, is is possible to change the setting under MS-DOS (with a sort of 'SWITCH.EXE' like we do on X68000)?640KB is the default for conventional memory?Is it possible to expand it?

Anyway, changing the amount of conventional + EMS memory under emulators has no effect and Flame Zapper still doesn't run.
Besides I found this page dedicated to the PC-9821AP2 but I'm lost  in this sea of informations.In particular I'd be interested in expanding my upcoming PC-9821AP2/U8W by adding more RAM or accelerator cards.
For example are these cards useful? I think tey are for expanding only the EMS memory.

http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h184808095

http://page16.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u62922115

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w95257909

And these for conventinoal memory only?

http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d155293391

http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n137634822

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w87272731

And these ones???I'm going crazy...

http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g135845161

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w96284653

[AnnaWu]

Anyway, changing the amount of conventional + EMS memory under emulators has no effect and Flame Zapper still doesn't run.

It is running well on NP21. I am not talking about the real hardware.

[caius]

It is running well on NP21. I am not talking about the real hardware.

Yes, the standalone image works well but not the installation made by RobIvy64 in his image.Download his image and try yourself.

[caius]

I found no way to convert this disk image type at moment.

1.) Virtual98 (SOLTIN software) support this format
2.) The disk image was created with an older version of Virtual Floppy Drive
3.) No DOS format (Galaga)

Yes, I noticed me too that Virtual98 is the only emulator that supports these early .FDD disk images.I want to try if it's possible to extract files under MS-DOS loaded in Virtual98.Anyway, this attached is another strange image

[AnnaWu]

Yes, the standalone image works well but not the installation made by RobIvy64 in his image.Download his image and try yourself.

No need. ; )

[RobIvy64]

Caius, on the real hardware, you enter the BIOS by pressing the "HELP" key. I'm not sure what the equivalent would be on an emulator. There are many options for adjusting memory settings. I'll snap a pic of my BIOS and post it.

I'm not sure about the AP2, but my PC-98 uses 72-pin PARITY RAM. Fairly easy to find. The older C-Bus expansion cards are for the early 9801s.

[caius]

OK.

I presume you were referring tho this CPU as upgrade for my upcoming PC-9821AP2:

http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f140483839

This 72pin expansion  shoud fit well also.

http://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b158182314

[RobIvy64]

I'd wait and get the machine first before buying memory. Mine uses 72-pin, but yours might not.

I'd also wait on upgrading the CPU until you know what expansion options you have. If it supports 3.45V CPUs, you could simply drop in a DX4 or AMD 5x86.

If not, you'd need one of those ODP.

[caius]

I'd wait and get the machine first before buying memory. Mine uses 72-pin, but yours might not.

I'd also wait on upgrading the CPU until you know what expansion options you have. If it supports 3.45V CPUs, you could simply drop in a DX4 or AMD 5x86.

If not, you'd need one of those ODP.

Ah, sure the ODP is TTL.Maybe I could find some surprise inside like it happened for my FM-TOWNSII MX, I found on it the Overdrive board with a DX4100 (which I replaced with a  AMD 586×133) and 70MB of RAM installed!

[RobIvy64]

Here are my settings for memory allocation, DMA, CPU

[caius]

Thanks for the screenshot, it's interesting to see how each different manifacturer (Fujitsu, Sharp, NEC) though of BIOS of its machines.
Anyway, here is your image in .HDI format usable by the T98-NEXT, Neko Project II and Anex86 emulators:

http://nfggames.com/x68000/Uploads/PC98HDDV1.zip


I added the filer FILMTN and three new games:

Galaxian (PC-88 emulation so a bit crappy)
Marble Madness (need mouse on real hardware)
Kemesis ( a Nemesis clone)

After the boot the image will go straight into FILMTN filer program, here is a short overview of the main function keys (sorry for missing translation but I'm not good in japanese..):

• ［Ａ］ｔｔｒ       : ファイル／ディレクトリの属性の変更を行います。
  　　 ［Ｃ］ｏｐｙ       : ファイル／ディレクトリの複写を行います。
  　　 ［Ｄ］ｅｌｅｔｅ   : ファイル／ディレクトリの削除を行います。
  　　 ［Ｅ］ｄｉｔ       : ＦＭＣＵＳＴで指定したエディタを起動します。
  　　 ［Ｆ］ｉｎｄ　　   : ファイルの検索を行います。
  　　 ｃ［Ｈ］　ｄｉｒ   : カレント・ディレクトリの変更を行います。
  　　 ［Ｉ］ｓｈ　　　   : ｉｓｈファイルの作成を行います。
                          : ｍａｊファイルの作成を行います。
  　　 ［Ｊ］ｕｍｐ　　   : ディレクトリ・ジャンプを行います。
  　　 ｍ［Ｋ］　ｄｉｒ   : ディレクトリの作成を行います。
                           （複数階層のディレクトリも作成できます。）
  　　 ［Ｌ］ｏｇｄｉｓｋ : カレントドライブの変更を行います。
  　　 ［Ｍ］ｏｖｅ       : ファイル／ディレクトリの移動を行います。
  　　 ｒｅ［Ｎ］ａｍｅ   : ファイル／ディレクトリ名の変更を行います。
  　　 ［Ｐ］ａｃｋ　　   : ＬＨａｒｃ，ＬＨＡ，ＡＲＪ，ＰＫＰＡＫ，ＰＫＺＩＰで
  　　　　　　　　　　　　　ファイルの圧縮を行います。
       ［Ｑ］ｕｉｔ       : ＦＩＬＭＴＮを強制終了します。
       ［Ｒ］ｕｎ　       : プログラム、ＢＡＴファイルの実行を行います。
       ［Ｓ］ｏｒｔ       : ディレクトリのソートを行います。
       ［Ｔ］ｒｅｅ       : ディレクトリ・ツリーの表示を行います。
  　　 ［Ｕ］ｎｐａｃｋ   : ファイルの解凍を行います。
                            (ＬＨａｒｃ，ＬＨＡ，ＡＲＪ，ＰＫＵＮＺＩＰ，
                             　　　　　　ＵＮＬＺＥＸＥ，ＤＩＥＴ，ＰＫＬＩＴＥ）
                            ｉｓｈファイルの復元を行います。
                            ｍａｊファイルの復元を行います。
       ［Ｖ］ｉｅｗ       : ファイルの表示を行います。
       ［Ｗ］ｒｉｔｅ     : ソート結果の書き込みを行います。
       ｅ［Ｘ］ｅｃ       : 指定したコマンドを実行します。
  　　 ［Ｙ］ｌｄ ｃｒｄ  : ワイルド・カードの変更をします。
  　　 ｌ［Ｚ］ｅｘｅ　   : ＬＺ(LZEXE，COMTOEXE），ＤＩＥＴ，ＰＫＬＩＴＥで
                            ＣＯＭ／ＥＸＥファイルの圧縮を行います。

[RobIvy64]

Awesome! Hopefully more people get into the PC98 since there is an easily installable HDD image!

[caius]

Awesome! Hopefully more people get into the PC98 since there is an easily installable HDD image!

Yes, I'm starting to love this machine.I'm sorry for X68000 but I will betray him for some time...
Anyway, more games are coming!To launch them, as usual enter in its directory, highlight the !START.BAT, press 'R' key and then RETURN.
FILMTN filer is as powerful as LHES!

[RobIvy64]

Something must have been lost in the conversion! My PC-98 will not boot from this HDI image written to CF.

I get a generic "No System Disk" error.

[caius]

Something must have been lost in the conversion! My PC-98 will not boot from this HDI image written to CF.

I get a generic "No System Disk" error.

Strange since I just tried it in emulators and it works fine.Anyway, in the meanwhile I'll troubleshoot this, we can keep this image only for emulators.You can always transfer the new games from this image to your using DiskExplorer.

[RobIvy64]

I've found that emulator vs hardware compatibility is entirely different. I had the Flame Zapper HDI written to an image when my PC98 arrived. I was surprised to find that it wouldn't boot from it.

I've read that the PC98 uses an unusual partition table that is difficult to replicate.

[caius]

So, it will not work also with my PC-9821AP2..
So, we must made the image directly from real HDD and then manually specify the informations on Diskexplorer (whic will be different from any HDD model..I meant sectors, cylinder, head, etc..).
How did you create your image from the hard disk?

[RobIvy64]

I installed the CF and then did a bare metal install of MS-DOS 6.2 from the PC98 itself.

I let the PC98 format the disk, and I was able to create an image after I installed the operating system.

I modified my image with your filer and games, and it works great!



I'll upload an updated version shortly.

[caius]

Great!
After you formatted an HDD and make it bootable, in order to install the MS-DOS operating system you simply copied all the files from the floppies?

To format an HDD I followed these guides :


http://fullmotionvideo.free.fr/pc98/articles/hdi/hdi.html


http://www.retroprograms.com/mirrors/Protocatbert/protocat.htm

P.S.
Did PC-98 MS-DOS 6.22 come in more that one floppy? I have some troubles in finding software. TOSEC sets are not really complete.Now I'm downloading an 11 GB torrent of PC-98 sets but I'm stuck at 84%, it seems there are no seedes..

[RobIvy64]

Yep! Had to write the DOS 6.2 images to 8 floppies and install the old fashioned way.

[RobIvy64]

I've uploaded PC-9800 DOS 6.2 here:

http://nfggames.com/X68000/uploads/PC98DOS6_2.7z

[caius]

Thank you!
So, first you have to format the HDD and then start the whole MS-DOS installation process.I guess there is a lot of japanese writing during this..

[acridAxid]

https://archive.org/details/NEC_PC_9801_TOSEC_2012_04_23
https://archive.org/details/NEC_PC_9821_TOSEC_2012_04_23

[caius]

Thanks for the links but as I said TOSEC sets are quite incomplete.Instead, there are some japanese sets floating around (on P2P mainly) but I'm unable to complete the download.

[acridAxid]

https://archive.org/details/pc98-maker-betsu-tsumeawase

[acridAxid]

Here's another collection, surely there's some overlap:

https://archive.org/details/PC98_Games_1813

[RobIvy64]

Not sure this would work in an emulator, but the FM tunes are playing from the main speaker and the sound effects from the internal speaker. Pretty cool!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFpydG6N2hk

[acridAxid]

That's clever!  Reminds me of the old Amnesia demo by Renaissance whose music was comprised of both 4 channel sampled audio (like a traditional .MOD file) as well as the FM synthesis.

[RobIvy64]

Wow! That takes me back! I haven't seen that demo in years.

[caius]

I have downloaded the non_TOSEC sets, around 11GB of PC-98 stuff, there nearly all release games, that's incredible.Now I'm sorting the sets looking for best games so new ones will be shortly added to the V1 HDD image.Stay tuned.

[RobIvy64]

Awesome!!! Good luck sifting through the hundreds of hentai and dating sims!

Just be sure to modify the image I originally upload if you want it to work on original hardware. I'll test it out