#IBeM Emulator & CrossDos
39 messages in this thread
I have recently installed CrossDos and the IBeM emulator, and have come
across a small snag. CrossDos labels the floppies as DI0:, and CrossDos
expects to see IBMA:. How can I tell the MountMF program that I want to
now call all future DI0's as IBMA?
Eric Pinnell
Eric;
CrossDos only "labels" the drives as DI0:, DI1: etc. because "you told it
to use those names." Look for a file called "mountlist.msdosfs" in your
devs: directory. Just change the "assignment" at the begining of each entry
to IBMA:, IBMB: etc.
An Amiga message processed by Whap!,
bill
I assume you refer to the file that comes with crossDos. the problem
is that when I run MountMF, it keeps telling me "DI0 mounted". I've changed
the DI0 through DI2 entries to IBMA thorugh IBMC, but there is no change.
Eric Pinnell
Eric;
I am assuming that you are rebooting after you change the entries. If so,
then some how you have the entries setup somewhere else and are running the
mount via a startup command.
You might want to look through your startup command files and comment out
all commands associated with CrossDOS. Then issue the mountmf IBMA:, IBMB:
by hand just to get everything working first.
If you have some assignment that you have made, you could possibly foul up
what you are trying to accomplish.
If you are running from a floppy based system, besure that the disk that
you boot from does not mount DI0: but mounts IBMA:.
Keep trying and so will we!
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bill
Go to your mountlist and change the names of your drives from DI0: to IBMA:
The drive is reading its name from the name in your CrossDOS mountlist. I
named mine MFn: instead of DIn:, and it works fine.
Betty
I changed the names but MountMF insists on mounting DI0. Are there ANY
other changes you've made to the system, or is this a problem in my using
1.2 ROMS?
Eric Pinnell
Eric,
Download a program called ASSIGNDEV from the libraries here. Then do an
ASSIGNDEV IBMA: DI0:
after mounting DI0:. THat's how I run IBem.
Denny Atkin, Associate Editor
COMPUTE's Amiga Resource
I see that you are using Ibem. What kind of performence do you achieve with
it? I have a A2500/030 does any one know what kind of performance I might
expect with it? Does anyone have the non-crippled version? How is it
working.
Don Wilson
Don,
I tried it. I'm not using it. Sorry.
Denny Atkin, Associate Editor
COMPUTE's Amiga Resource
Don,
I have been using the registered version of IBeM for about 3 months now
on my A3000 and I am quite happy with it. It is abit slow (1.2 times the
speed of an XT) but I am only using it to run WordPerfect 5.1 so I am not
bothered too much by the speed. I have an MS-Dos (4.0) partition set up on
my HD and IBeM boots off of that without any problems.
There is one bug that ocassionally comes up that the author is
presently working on to get fixed. Some keyboards are not recognized
correctly by IBeM some times with the result that nothing happens when a
key is pressed. This has occured a couple times to me but if I re-boot IBeM
the problem will go away again.
If anybody comes out with a 386 board (ATONCE ?) for the 3000 I'll drop
IBeM and get that. But until then, IBeM is fine by me.
John Parker
What is the difference between ATonce and IBeM?
I'm having *major* problems with ATonce (like – it don't work) and want to
know if an alternative will do the job.
<Dave>
David,
ATonce is a hardware solution to MS-DOS emulation, while IBeM is a
software solution. The big difference in this respect is speed. Without
an accelerator board/A3000, IBeM is painfully slow due to the heavy cpu
time it requires. I can't comment much on ATonce since I can't use it on
my A3000.
I could not find the program called ASSIGNDEV. I found something called
AMOUNT though, but it's not the same thing. Do you have any idea where you
found it?
Eric Pinnell
Eric,
I found it on People/Link, which is no more. Surely it's here? It's an old
standby that I thought was in every online library. My copy is dated
14-may-89, but I think it may be older than that (that's probably the date
I compressed it 🙂
Denny Atkin, Associate Editor
COMPUTE's Amiga Resource
I have checked extensively and have not found ASSIGNDEV. Maybe you can
upload it (assuming it's ok to do so).
Eric Pinnell
Among other places, ASSIGNDEV is on Fish Disk #111 – and that IS a long
time ago.
Betty
I changed the names of the drives in the mountlist.msdosFS, and then I
added these three lines to my startup-sequence:
mount mf0: from devs:mountlist.msdosFS
mount mf2: from devs:mountlist.msdosFS
mount mf3: from devs:mountlist.msdosFS
That's all that I did, I am sure. I cannot locate any other changes.
The 1.2 ROMS should have no effect at all.
Betty
Well, I've now got IBeM to run, but it displays the message "unable to
load device" on the third device mounted (regardless of the order they're
entered). Since I only have two drives, I tried to delete one entry from
the mountlist. However, IBeM then complains about my not having any
bootable disks. Finally, I used a dummy mountlist entry (ie: nothing in
it) for IBMB, and ran the program. IBEM then complains about can't use
low-res graphics. I have a MSDOS 5.0 system disk (ie:self-boot) in the
drive. I wonder if my version of IBeM (1.05S) is the one for the
68000/68010 machines, not the 68020/68030. Looks like I need a bit more
help on this one.
Eric: When I got IBeM, it came with two versions: IBEM000 for 68000-based
machines and IBEM for '020/030 machines. Be sure you're running the proper
version. I get the "unable to load device" for IBMC but it doesn't affect
my two-floppy operation at all. Maybe it's choking on your DOS 5.0. Try an
earlier version. I use 3.3 without trouble.
>> Ron Legro / Milwaukee
Eric,
I have not worked with IBem. I have a bridgeboard for my own MS-DOS needs,
and this is one that I have had to pass up. I'm sure some of the other
people will answer your questions, though.
Betty
Betty–
Do you have any clues about mounting a SyQuest cart using CrossDos for
use with IBeM (or without)? I have a need to do this to transfer data, and
I was wondering if you could shed some light.
Jonathan
Jonathan – from Albany, NY, via whap!
Sorry, Jonathan – I don't have a SyQuest, so I just don't know how this
would be done. I feel sure it could be – just don't know how. I do hope
some of our folks who have this drive will speak up and answer your
question, though.
Betty
Eric,
another solution is to just relabel the drives. Try the following
somewhere in your startup:
Relabel DI0: IBMA or whatever you wish. It should work in your case. I
hope this helps.
Brian J. Bartlett
I tried using MountMF and then using the RELABEL command, but it tells
me that there is "Not a DOS Disk in Unit 0". Since this is my Workbench
disk, the OS is obviously confused..
Eric Pinnell
"Not a DOS disk in Unit 0" may mean that the system is looking not for an
amigaDOS disk but an MS-DOS disk. That's what usually happens when I've got
an emulator or CrossDOS running. Put your MS-DOS boot disk in DIO: (or IBMA
or whatever) BEFORE booting IBeM.
>> Ron Legro / Milwaukee
Eric;
There is NOTHING magic about DI0:! DF0: is the ONLY drive that is special,
that is AmigaDOS knows about it by name and knows where it is located (to a
much lesser extent DF1:, DF2 and DF3 are special too). Otherwise, all
other drives are unknown to the system until they are defined. Thus, if
you try to mount MFA: (or whatever) and the system comes back with "DI0:
already mounted" then you have two thing that have been done already…
First, somewhere in your startup process you have already mounted DI0:
(that is the only way that the name DI0: could mean anything to amigados)
and Second, you have somehow related MFA: to DI0: (through an assign
statement or an alias). There are no other possibilies that I know of.
I don't know of any icon files for crossdos, but a mount would also occur
if there is a crossdos driver icon and the icon is located in the expansion
directory when the binddrivers command is run (binddrivers essentially
mounts whatever it finds in expansion).
An Amiga message processed by Whap!,
bill
The system doesn't come back with "DI0 already mounted". It says "Not
A DOS disk in Unit 0". BTW, IBeM documentation says it wants me to change
the DOS Type to 3. Could MountMF be complaining about this?
Eric Pinnell
Eric;
I am not sure. I don't know what DOS Type 3 would do to CrossDOS. Have
you run Dr_CrossDOS? Are you able to access MSDOS disks using amiga
commands (like DIR, LIST, Type, or even an editor)?
Besure that you can access the msdos disks before trying to use IBeM.
Several very good suggestions have been posted recently. Several should be
temporary (until you can figure out what is really wrong). Relabeling the
disk is one that might work. An Assign may also work but only if you do
successfully get CrossDOS to mount the disk correctly (with another name).
If it wasn't for the fact that these sort of problems seem to show up with
regularity, I would have trouble believing that you can't get CrossDOS to
work. I have been using CrossDOS since it first came out and that is
probably approaching two years and does involve three versions of the OS
(counting AmigaDOS 2.0 as only one).
As per usual… if you can withstand us, someone (or several someone's)
will eventually give you that illusive piece of information that is keeping
this from working.
An Amiga message processed by Whap!,
bill
I'll try your suggestion about getting the amiga to read an MSDOS
diskette. I've tried using 3.3 DOS and 4.01 DOS diskettes with IBeM and it
doesn't work. There is probably a simple explanation for the problem, I
just wish the author had written it in his documentation. My problem is
that I am supposed to evaluate IBeM for a project we're doing, and may end
up buying several copies. But I can't if the danged thing doesn't work!<g>
As for putting up with you, hey I was worried about you putting up with
me!<g> One thing's for sure, I had better get a more useful book other
than "a moron's guide to using the Amigish Computeroid. Version
10987.27227 RevC4". Or whatever the Amiga2000 book that comes with the
computer is called.
Eric Pinnell
Well, I finally got the little bugger to work, and you wouldn't believe
what the problem was.
The IBeM emulator has its own mountlist file in it, and the emulator
must default to looking at that mountlist once running. Once I had renamed
the mountlist file to MOUNTLIST.BAK, everything works fine. Of course, you
have to run the MOUNTMF program from CrossDos first, but then she runs (ok,
crawls at a REAL slow pace) fine.
BTW, I've been hit by a virus attack. It seems that my old game disks
were winfected with the SCA virus. I've downloaded some virus fighters and
have since terminate the viruses with extreme prejudice. You know, there is
one advantage to dusting off an old amiga: You get to use the latest virus
killers against the oldest viruses!<g>
Eric Pinnell
Eric;
It is some of the "stupid" questions that are asked by "new users" (or
people trying to do something with an old dusted off amiga) that help some
of the rest of us stay in touch with reality. I know I don't mind the
questions as it helps me to stay in touch with what the machine is really
doing (a subject easily forgotten when the machine has been running fine
for a long time).
Well that is one that I hope a number of use remember! Of course it will
probably be you that remembers it when the next guy or gal can't seem to
get IBeM (or something similar) running. Certainly happy to hear that it
is working though. You sure stayed at it long enough… hummm, is this
another example of 10% skill and 90% persistance is what is actually
needed? <grin>
I tried IBeM once on an Amiga3000. The performance seemed acceptable (of
course that is an accellerated machine). Since I have a 286 Bridge,
running IBeM was more of an interest than anything else.
That (viruses) could get me on another soap box! Of course I'd be
"preaching to the Choir."
An Amiga message processed by Whap!,
bill
Praise the lord and pass the Zero Virus! Gads, I hate viruses. I have
no respect for these dorks. You want to prove you're a clever programmer?
Write an application that we all want, and get rich! Get a life, you
useless virus writing immature fools! 'Nuff Said!
My persistence was motivated by several reasons, not the least of which
is the neccessity for testing our product on the Amiga, prior to its
modification for use on the Amiga. The performance of IBeM on a 2000 is
not stellar, but it's useable. Still, I think most people would prefer to
have their own native Amiga version running rather than use an emulator.
You know what amazes me? Computer manufacturers still haven't figured
out that it is the SOFTWARE that sells users, not the hardware. Why is it
the commodore hasn't developed a program that takes MSDOS and WINDOWS
programs, and "re-compiles" them to run on an Amiga. That way, everyone
could use their Lotus 1-2-3 on the amiga and everyone would be happy.
Anyone who thinks that the business crowd will dump their PC's is kidding
themselves. A bridge card is not the solution, since you could have bought
a PC for less than the combined cost of the Amiga & bridgeboard. Make a
translator, and you've got the MSDOS community by the collective
<censored>. Oh well, at least the Amiga is doing well in multimedia. Let's
hope Commodore doesn't blow it again, because others are jumping on the
multimedia bandwagon. And this time, if they screw up, Commodore will be
confining the Amiga to a historical curiosity. And that would be a shame.
Eric Pinnell
Eric,
Surely you jest. Decompile a program written for MSDOS and the InSmell
machine, then re-compile it for the Amiga? Hey, you build the decompiler
and I'll build the compiler, and we'll both get rich. Just a small note
here, some program licences explicitly FORBID decompiling. Take a _close_
look at ASDG's licence agreement if you wanna see something REALLY 'tight'.
I assummed in my reply that he was suggesting a program that the software
vendors could use themselves, not the end users…. See my reply. It
would not be legal, as you say, for the end-user to recompile the program
for another platform, just as you are not allowed to copy your programs for
friends.
If software vendors want to continue brisk sales, then they had better
realize that once a user has the apps he wants, he's not going to go out
and spend thousands to move his stuff to new machines.
Sorry, but I do not believe that any licencing agreement that forbids
translation is legal. Certainly not in Canada, anyway. Hell, what could a
software company do if you release a chareware version of said compiler?
Remember, what you are paying for is one copy. If you translate it for
another machine, and discontinue using the original copy, I can't see a
legal leg for the manufacturer to stand on.
Eric Pinnell
Oh, if it were only that simple ……. I've had to develop code that runs
on multiple platforms, and it is a real pain in the neck. You either have
to a) go for the lowest common denominator (ever wonder why they still sell
character oriented terminals?) or b) go for complexity in the code, with
consequent loss of easy maintainability. Given the different approaches
between IBM and Commodore regarding O.S.'s (single-tasking versus
multitasking), translators that would be automatic or even less than
mega-effort jobs, are not in the cards. If they weren't, they would be in
use in a big way for bigger markets than the Amiga (sigh…).
But, give this challenge to enough bright young students and let the good
ideas bubble up. Look at the improvement in compiler technology once the
micro market opened up. Have you tried to use a mainframe debugger
recently???? ARGGHHH
Cheers, Mike
I do not believe that a translator is that difficult. Consider IBM's
OS2 2.0. It runs DOS, Windows, and OS2 apps. Basically, it uses systems
calls, and then does the equivalent think under OS2 2.0.
Translating code would be tough, but far from impossible. All you need
to do is make a program that understands what the IBM instruction set is
trying to accomplish, such as writing to video ram or reading the keyboard,
then issue the appropriate instructions for the Amiga. It would require a
lot of work to map out what functions are done in what way, but once it's
done, the coding is fairly simple.
Eric Pinnell
Eric;
I suspect that the Amiga will die and die an early death. Unfortunately,
CBM just does not have what it takes to produce and market a high end
product. The Los Gatos folks created a truly advanced machine, a machine
that really impressed the knowledgable.
Since CBM has taken over, some incremental improvements have taken place.
Mostly, too little and too late.
Don't get me wrong, this is still the neatest platform in the personal
computer field to work with but we are loosing the edge and loosing it
fast.
An Amiga message processed by Whap!,
bill
Looks for Commodore to issue a 4000 model. Since they've got a
contract with Motorola for the 68040, I would be surprised if they didn't
have a new machine soon.
Yes, Commodore is run by idiots. They do not understand that in the
computer field, you cannot rest on your laurels. Where is the RiSC based
Amiga? What about a 68040 System?
The computer field is motivated primarily by software, yet I see no
attempt to let users migrate to the amiga relatively painlessly, and at low
cost.
Well, if CBM wants to go under, that's fine. But surely they can hire
somone who understands users?
Eric Pinnell