[Coco] MESS

[George Ramsower]

> From: "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?
> That is a curious question or scenario.
> I don't think so. I use B09 using peeks and pokes to run the CNC stuff. 
> However, I will try and boot that same disk on my Coco that uses a hard 
> drive and see if it will boot on that one.
> I'll have a report on your desk shortly......
>
> George


 Interesting...

 I use a "No Halt" DSC2 on the CNC machine. The address conflicts with the 
hard drive coco so it won't boot. The Hard drive coco uses a Ken Ton 
controller and requires a different address than what would be used on the 
CNC machine. So the boots are not compatible..... DARNIT!!

 Lemme investigate this a little more. Don't forget, this is OS9, not RS 
BASIC. So the drivers should work.

George