PCem

Posted: **Mon 25 Feb, 2019 10:40 am**

I am trying to install MS-DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.1 on my 250MB HD. AMI WinBIOS boots up fine and I was able to start the installation program for DOS. Within the program, I chose to configure all the unallocated space on my HD and then it asks me to restart the system so that installation can continue. So I did, with the disk still in Drive A:. After the memory check, the system configuration screen is immediately replaced with the error 'NO ROM BASIC SYSTEM HALTED', and trying again without disk in drive does not help. So why am I getting this all of a sudden? Does it have something to do with my HD parameters? I thought that this message only applies if you use an IBM PC/AT/XT machine.

It does not like the hard disk that I added. Once I remove it from the PCem Configuration Manager, it boots fine.

Config file:

Code: Select all

gameblaster = 0
gus = 0
ssi2001 = 0
voodoo = 0
model = win486
cpu_manufacturer = 0
cpu = 10
cpu_use_dynarec = 0
cpu_waitstates = 0
gfxcard = stealth3d_2000
video_speed = -1
sndcard = sb16
cpu_speed = 6
has_fpu = 1
disc_a = 
disc_b = 
hdd_controller = ide
mem_size = 16384
cdrom_drive = 0
cdrom_channel = 2
cdrom_path = 
zip_channel = -1
hdc_sectors = 63
hdc_heads = 16
hdc_cylinders = 507
hdc_fn = /home/gmp/PCem/PCem Files/Hard Drives/250MB - MS-DOS 6.2 + Windows 3.1.img
hdd_sectors = 0
hdd_heads = 0
hdd_cylinders = 0
hdd_fn = 
hde_sectors = 0
hde_heads = 0
hde_cylinders = 0
hde_fn = 
hdf_sectors = 0
hdf_heads = 0
hdf_cylinders = 0
hdf_fn = 
hdg_sectors = 0
hdg_heads = 0
hdg_cylinders = 0
hdg_fn = 
hdh_sectors = 0
hdh_heads = 0
hdh_cylinders = 0
hdh_fn = 
hdi_sectors = 0
hdi_heads = 0
hdi_cylinders = 0
hdi_fn =

Posted: **Tue 26 Feb, 2019 1:09 am**

Look at the boot order in the BIOS setup. Odd are it's currently set to "C:, A:" - flip it the other way round.

More technical description - when the hard drive is initially partitioned it has a valid boot sector, but no OS in any partitions. On failing to boot from any of the partitions, the boot sector will call INT 19h as a last resort, which means 'boot ROM BASIC'. As it's not the 80s anymore AMI BIOS doesn't have a ROM BASIC hence it crashes with that useless message.

Posted: **Tue 26 Feb, 2019 5:15 am**

That makes sense. I didn't experience this error before, especially when I used the same BIOS back in the day.
Many thanks!

Posted: **Tue 16 Apr, 2019 10:44 pm**

I have experienced this error back in the day! I thought it meant something completely different. I learned something new today

PCem

Error: No ROM Basic System Halted

Error: No ROM Basic System Halted

Re: Error: No ROM Basic System Halted

Re: Error: No ROM Basic System Halted

Re: Error: No ROM Basic System Halted