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Creating a completely new configuration for a computer core

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 12:00 pm
by pgimeno
Is it possible to create a completely new configuration for a given computer core? By that, I mean to have a different entry under /media/fat/games where different boot.rom BIOSes and VHDs are stored.

I've tried to do this with the ao486 core and a custom MRA but I was unsuccessful.

Code: Select all

<misterromdescription>
	<name>my486</name>
	<setname>my486</setname>
	<rbf>ao486</rbf>
</misterromdescription>
then creating /media/fat/_Computer/cores, placing the ao486 core inside, and copying boot0.rom, boot1.rom and drivec.vhd to /media/fat/games/my486, however:
- if I don't load ao486 first, the core does not seem to start (black screen);
- if I load ao486 first, the BIOS screen appears, but the HD is not recognized, not even after selecting it from the menu.

Any help would be appreciated.

Edit: There seems to be a list of exceptions in Main for a bunch of cores, could that be the cause? I mean, that since the "core" name is changed to my486, the detection does no longer work.
https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Main_Mi ... o.cpp#L181
In particular, there are exceptions for ao486 (the one I've been trying to make work), SNES, Amstrad, ZX81, Neo Geo, Minimig, Sega Mega CD, TurboGrafx 16, Archie, GBA, C64, AtariST and Sharp MZ.

Re: Creating a completely new configuration for a computer core

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 3:16 pm
by Bas
AO486 isn't the kind of core that would benefit from many different BIOS ROM's. Storing a set of menu toggles along with a VHD would be very useful. Is that what you're trying to accomplish?

Re: Creating a completely new configuration for a computer core

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 4:01 pm
by pgimeno
No, I really want a different set of BIOSes, and the ability to boot directly into them when selecting the core. Basically a whole new directory under games/ as if it was a different computer with the same hardware specs. And not only for ao486, but for any.

Re: Creating a completely new configuration for a computer core

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:05 pm
by bazza_12
what other BIOS does the ao486 core use?

Re: Creating a completely new configuration for a computer core

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:30 pm
by pgimeno
A custom ROM.