[Coco] MESS

[Robert Gault]

George Ramsower wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Ramsower"
>> I've tried MESS on my computer and can't seem to get it working 
>> correctly.
>> I have a 1GHZ Celeron computer, running XP SP2
>> So, I went to MESS.ORG and I see that I have a choice of mess0130B for 
>> Windows and mess0130B i686 OPTIMIZED.
>> Is one better suited for my system? or would the one for <all 
>> platforms> be better?
> 
> 
> Well.
> 
> I haven't had much luck with MESS. So some DSK files downloaded work  
> and some don't.
> 
> I have been trying to get a real OS9 L2 disk I use on my CNC coco to 
> work in MESS. If I use the .dsk extension it just returns to the OK 
> prompt in RS Basic. If I use the os9 extension, it displays OS BOOT and 
> just hangs there.
> So.... I transferred the DSK file back to a floppy using Coco Disk, the 
> same program I used the make the DSK file. It still works on a real 
> coco. So this tells me the file must be good, but MESS doesn't work 
> correctly on this PC. I have tried this on three versions of MESS 
> including the latest .130 and the results vary, but none work.
> 
> Ideas?
> 
> George
> 

George,

We need to narrow down the range of possibilities. The first thing that 
comes to mind is that you e-mail me a copy of this .dsk image. I'd like 
to examine the .dsk image to see if the os9boot file or kernel contains 
code that would cause failure in MESS. After all, MESS does not emulate 
your CNC hardware.

If the disk image works for me under MESS, then there is a problem with 
your PC or MESS. Since I use WinXP SP2 and MESS with no problems, it 
should not be MESS. I've not heard of hardware issues that prevent MESS 
from working but your CNC Coco is unique.

Is the CNC Coco the only Coco you have for testing? Would this disk fail 
to boot on a normal Coco?