A liitle remark about the MSX2 configuration in blueMSX : for the comfort of the users, we have boosted the RAM to 512 KB (as it's the case on the Turbo-R GT), but most of MSX2 machines have only 128 KB RAM.

nice

Yes, it's like on the CPC (6128), where the standard is also only 128K. Fortunately the VRAM is separated, so the MSX has additional 16K, which means, that in SymbOS there will be about 53KB free on an unexpanded system.
Btw, I like to work with BlueMSX, great emulator! Is it still beeing developed?
One important question: Which FDC is emulated in BlueMSX? I use the "MSX2" config. In the INI file I find "[FDC] Count=2" - what does it mean?

Great looking screenshots!, seems that you're progressing very fast!
I'm eager to see your first alpha release!.

I think the same than jltursan Unfortunately, I can't help you in tech and developping issues.
And BlueMSX, yes, it's still under development and their developers are Mars2000you and Dvik

Yours,

Yes, I already guessed that Regarding an alpha release, I hope this could be possible in one week, when the disc stuff is running. Today I want to finish most of all the other parts.

Do you need direct access to the FDC? I think it is easier to use the bios for that. So you don't have to make drivers for all the diverent drive controllers

Quote:

I need routines for sector read/write, get sector ID and track seeking, to be able to get the system and file manager up and running.

Study the diskrom sources at my website!

Prodatron: most (99%) MSX2 machines have 128kB VRAM, but you know that, right?

Also, most Japanese MSX2 and MSX2+ machines have only 64kB RAM. Most European MSX2 machines have 128kB RAM. TOday, many European MSX2 (and up) machines have 256kB RAM or more.

TurboR machines always have 256kB or more. As Takamichi said once: if your program needs more than 64k and it's for MSX2, you should label it 'turboR only' if you want to sell it in Japan

well to program direct diskdrv access in asm is a lot of work... actually there is like more than 10 types of FDC's boards? (I guest)

the problem of to use the bios calls is that maybe you don't want to have the msx-bios structure in your O.S. wasting RAM.

I want to know prodatron which type of memory adm structure has Symbios.

About FDC's: the most important ones are (AFAIK):
- WD2793 (used in many European machines, from e.g. Philips and Sony)
- TC8566AF (used on many (every?) Panasonic machines and also Sanyo)
- MB8877A (this seems to be a simpler WD2793, used in National machines, but also Daewoo and some Brazillian ones)
- Microsol port based FDC (based on WD 2793, but works quite differently: port I/O in stead of memory I/O; used in Brazillian MSX machines).

This list is quite rough, but it gives the big idea, I think.

Prodatron: blueMSX is still developed. Its been a while since the last release but we have quite a few new features coming.

blueMSX emulates the TC8566AF FDC controller which is used in some Panasonic MSX2 and higher,
We also emulate the Western Digital WD2793 controller which is used by several manufacturers, Microsol, National, Philips, SVI. The interface for these are quite different but the Disk Bios abstracts all the differences.

Next version also have IDE support and we've implemented three IDE controllers, Sunrise IDE, BEER IDE, and GIDE.

If there is something you are missing, either non emulated hardware, or something in the user interface or in the debugger, let me know. We're usually quite fast implementing new features and we prioritize features that people need.

Quote:

In the INI file I find "[FDC] Count=2" - what does it mean?

With exception for the MSX1 Brazilian and MSX2 Brazilian machines, all MSX generic machines in blueMSX are boosted with 2 diskdrives. Second diskdrive can be disabled by pressing on CTRL (LeftCTRL in the emulator) in the boot sequence.

Quote:

Which FDC is emulated in BlueMSX? I use the "MSX2" config

The MSX2 config is a generic European machine. So, it uses a Philips/Sony FDC (WD2793). It's the most common FDC in Europe (but also on the Brazilian CIEL Expert 3 MSX2+).

Thanx for all the input!
So I will have a look at the BIOS routines first. Would of course be the best solution, to use the existing BIOS, but I am afraid, that they do not run in the SymbOS environment.
Btw, great to hear, that the next version of BlueMSX will have IDE support, for me this would be a very important feature.
SymbOS wouldn't run on a 64K MSX, so it seems, that some people from Japan won't be happy :/
@Flyguille: What do you mean with "memory adm structure"?