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Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Tue 23 Jan, 2018 10:31 pm
by mervynhaynes
Hello all,

I have searched this forum, & the internet and cannot find a solution to my problem, so I apologise if this is a common question, if so feel free to flame me.

I am trying to get a hard disk set up in this emulator for an Amstrad 1512.

As I see it, I can create a hard disk in the emulator, but as the 1512 does not have a BIOS (only NVR) there is no way to set it up for the operating system to "see" this disk.

If it was an AT machine, I could set it up in the said BIOS, but the XT machines had to have a separate interface card for the hard disk with its own BIOS, and this does not seam to be emulated in the ROM version I have.

I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Many thanks in advance

Merv



Is there anyway to emulate this in this machine?

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 4:01 am
by teppic
You can add the MFM fixed adapter and use one of the supported disk types (type 13 at 20mb is fine), and it will automatically work under DOS 2 or later. It installs its own BIOS to enable support, and DOS 2 is required for HD support.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 8:13 am
by mervynhaynes
Thanks for the quick reply

Is this a software emulator, if so where can it be obtained?

"MFM fixed adapter" sounds like hardware device though.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 8:19 am
by teppic
You select the MFM fixed disk adapter as the hard drive type in settings, it's the original IBM XT hard drive controller and emulation is provided by PCem.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 8:28 am
by mervynhaynes
I can see configure, but not settings! There is no option to select this device.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 8:31 am
by teppic
Ok, you need the BIOS for the Xebec adapter for it to work. You should be able to find it online.

Alternatively you might be able to get XTIDE to work, this is emulating a modern bit of hardware for old 8bit XT PCs and its BIOS is included.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 8:33 am
by mervynhaynes
ok thanks. I will have a look now to see if I can find them.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 8:44 am
by mervynhaynes
can only find hardware referring to this device, if I do find the ROM for it how is that "installed" into the PCem?

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 8:51 am
by teppic
The XTIDE BIOS is already in PCem I think, you can select the controller under "HDD" in settings. The Xebec BIOS must be called ibm_xebec_62x0822_1985.bin and copied to the roms folder.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 8:56 am
by mervynhaynes
All I have under hard disk settings is Custom & types 1 to 46!

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 9:07 am
by teppic
Wrong place, see here: https://i.imgur.com/w0RkhkS.png

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 12:26 pm
by mervynhaynes
I have no options to select in that box, see attached

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 1:29 pm
by teppic
You need to copy the BIOS files into the rom folder.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 1:56 pm
by mervynhaynes
I am having trouble locating these files. cant find them in the PCem directory & the only ROM files I have I got from [Moderator : please do not link to copyrighted material]

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 2:03 pm
by teppic
The Readme has a link for the XTIDE ROM (freely distributable). You're not allowed to link to copyright restricted ROMs though.

"[IDE] XTIDE
8-bit IDE controller. The BIOS is available at :

http://code.google.com/p/xtideuniversalbios/

v2.0.0 beta 1 is the version I've mostly tested. v2.0.0 beta 3 is known to have some issues.

ROM files needed :
ide_xt.bin"

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 2:38 pm
by mervynhaynes
I have found a bunch of ROMs at 86Box, they seem to be working. Will try your links next. Many many thanks for your help, I could not have sorted this out without you.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 5:44 pm
by SarahWalker
I suppose there's no real reason for me not to upload the XTIDE BIOS - it is GPL after all. I've added it to the downloads page - http://pcem-emulator.co.uk/downloads.html.

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 5:59 pm
by mervynhaynes
Thank you for doing that. I have just looked at that page, but could not see the new item

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 6:44 pm
by SarahWalker
It's at the bottom. Refresh?

Re: Amstrad 1512 HD Version

Posted: Wed 24 Jan, 2018 6:47 pm
by mervynhaynes
Sound of slapping forehead !!!!!!
Thank you once again