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- From: Stuart Tomlinson <casper@tomonet.demon.co.uk>
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.cd32,rec.games.video.cd32,comp.answers,rec.answers,news.answers
- Subject: Amiga CD32 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Part 2 of 2
- Supersedes: <cd32-faq.2.10@tomonet.demon.co.uk>
- Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.cd32,rec.games.video.cd32
- Date: Sun, 5 May 96 14:19:38 GMT
- Lines: 1036
- Approved: news-answers-request@mit.edu
- Expires: 6 Jun 1996 00:00:00 GMT
- Message-ID: <cd32-faq.2.11@tomonet.demon.co.uk>
- References: <cd32-faq.1.11@tomonet.demon.co.uk>
- Reply-To: Stu - CD32-FAQ Mailbox <cd32-faq@tomonet.demon.co.uk>
- Summary: Frequently Asked Questions about the Amiga CD32 - includes how to
- expand the CD32 to a computer and how to use the CD32 as an external
- CD-ROM drive for other computers.
- Keywords: commodore,cbm,c=,amiga,cd32,cd-rom,cdrom,computer,console
- X-NNTP-Posting-Host: tomonet.demon.co.uk
- Precedence: bulk
- X-Posting-Software: Dan's Amazing FAQ Transporter - DAFT 1.1 (04-Jun-95)
- X-Mail2News-Path: relay-4.mail.demon.net!post.demon.co.uk!tomonet.demon.co.uk
- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu comp.sys.amiga.cd32:7813 rec.games.video.cd32:3934 comp.answers:18528 rec.answers:20491 news.answers:71017
-
- Archive-Name: amiga/CD32-FAQ/part2
- Posting-Frequency: monthly
- Version: $VER: CD32-FAQ 3.5 (05-May-96)
- URL: http://www.lut.fi/~veijalai/faq/CD32-FAQ.html
- URL: http://uptown.turnpike.net/B/blender/cd32-faq.html
-
-
- .-------------------------------------------------------.
- | Amiga CD32 Frequently Asked Questions - Part 2 of 2 |
- |-------------------------------------------------------|
- | Maintained by Stuart Tomlinson Version 3.5 |
- | Email: stuart@spasm.clues.com 5th May 1996 |
- `-------------------------------------------------------'
-
-
- [---- Expansion ------------------------------------------------------------]
-
-
- Q: Is it possible to use the Aminet, Fred Fish, etc... CDs without an
- expanded CD32?
-
- A: Yes, Maarten Ter Mors has written a step by step guide of how to do
- this. It's available from aminet:/docs/misc/Aminet4_CD32.txt. There can
- be problems booting from some CDs if you use an unexpanded CD32 though.
- Maarten wrote:
-
- There was a little something I missed in the CD32 FAQ. Because of (yet
- another) strange oddity in the Commodore 3.1 CDFileSystem, you can only
- use CD-ROMs with a *lower* or equal ISO revision than the disc you
- booted from (this is irrelevant to SX-1 users, for they are likely to
- boot from harddrive or floppy).
-
- The Aminet 4 CD and the GoldFish CD-ROM set by Fred Fish are two
- examples of discs that use a higher revision than, say, the Weird
- Science Network CD. This means that you can't access the discs properly
- or at all. The solution is booting from a RAD: recoverable RAM disk. I
- was asked by Urban Mueller (who does a lot of the good work on the
- Aminet CDs) to write a step-by-step guide to set one up.
-
- A: Joop van de Wege has another answer (Aminet 5 & Communicator)...
-
- I haven't read the notice yet but I found out for myself how to do it
- and its not a hassle. I'm just too lazy to write a small script file
- to copy the 2 files and execute the mount command.
-
- Step 1: copy your mountlist entry CR0: to snet:ram
- Step 2: copy L:amicdromfilesystem to snet:ram
- Step 3: mount cr0: on the cd32 side
- Step 4 and last one: start copying files from cr0: to whereever you
- want them, run programs, read guide files, search for ......
-
- A: And another from David Law of Weird Science (Aminet & Network CD)...
-
- We have found that CBM's filesystem in general does not cope too well
- with the Aminet CDs. This may be due as you say to ISO revision
- numbers. The easiest fix is to remount the CD drive as CD1: with
- AmiCDRom filesystem and access the Aminet CD's as `CD1:` or
- `Network:CD1/` with Sernet. When trying this be sure to set the 'T'
- flag in the line 'Startup' of the mountlist. This will ensure that the
- trackdisk device is used to access the CD drive. AmiCDRom filesystem
- for some reason thinks that the CD drive is a SCSI device otherwise and
- will probably crash the machine.
-
- The best way to do this is setup a drawer on your amiga with the
- following files in. [Call it RAM:CD1 for the mount list below - Dan.]
-
- CD1 AmiCDRom Mountlist file.
- CD1.info An icon for the above.
- cdrom-handler The filesystem handler.
- Mount WB3.1 Mount command.
-
- Just ensure that the mountlist points to 'Ram:cdrom-handler' and not
- 'L:cdrom.handler' and that the icon points to 'Ram:Mount' as the mount
- command on the NetworkCD is WB1.3 and is not suitable.
-
- The Mountlist file is...
-
- /* AmiCDROM filesystem */
-
- Handler = Ram:CD1/cdrom-handler
- Stacksize = 10000
- Priority = 10
- GlobVec = -1
- Mount = 1
- Startup = "DEVICE=cd.device UNIT=0 ML T R"
-
- The version of Mount should be 38 or above (use 'Version Mount' to
- check).
-
-
- Q: How do I stop my CD32 resetting when I take the CD-ROM out?
-
- A: If you boot from CD-ROM, the CD32 resets when the lid is opened. You
- can either run a program such as NoReset that disables this or boot
- from another device, such as RAD, floppy, or hard drive.
-
-
- Q: How do I use my CD32 as a CD drive or slave drive for another computer?
-
- A: Connect a serial link (buy a ready-made link or make your own - see the
- diagram for the Aux port) between the CD32's Aux port and the other
- computer. Then run either Sernet or Twin Express on the other computer
- and the CD32. You'll have to find a bootable CD-ROM with one of these
- programs on it and you may need to run NoReset unless Sernet and Twin
- Express are on the same CD as the files you want to transfer.
-
- A: If you have an interface attached that gives you a parallel port, you
- can connect a parallel link between the CD32 and the other computer,
- remembering to use a special Parnet cable and not a normal parallel
- cable (otherwise you could easily fry everything). Run Parnet on the
- other computer and the CD32. You'll have to find a bootable CD-ROM
- with Parnet on it and you may need to run NoReset unless Parnet is on
- the same CD as the files you want to transfer.
-
- ParNFS is a replacement for Parnet, with bug fixes for Workbench 2 or
- above machines (that includes the CD32). It fixes the Dir, List, and
- Directory Opus bugs.
-
- A: You can use The Communicator. This is a link from the CD32's Aux port
- to the Amiga and a CD-ROM with a series of utilities on it...
-
- Communicator...
- Display text and graphics on the CD32.
- Play Audio and Video CDs.
- Transfer files to and from the CD32.
-
- Twin Express...
- Serial file transfer program, Amiga and PC versions.
-
- Workbench...
- Modified to allow the joypad to be used as a mouse.
-
- Photolite...
- Display Kodak Photo CDs.
-
- Scala driver...
- Allows Scala, running on another Amiga, to control the CD32.
-
- There are two versions available. The Communicator Lite doesn't have a
- keyboard through port or MIDI in/out/thru.
-
- A: There is a new version of The Communicator, with the original title of
- The Communicator 2. Improvements to the previous version are...
-
- Virtual CD...
- Appears to make more than one CD-ROM accessable to the host Amiga,
- also stops resetting.
-
- File Transfers...
- More reliable - Zmodem.
- Faster - apparently it can reach up to 210000 baud.
- More compatible - works better with ISO-9660 CDs.
-
- AGA Viewer...
- View pictures and anims in any mode, including AGA.
- Will also work for non-AGA machines.
- Supports datatypes.
-
- Workbench...
- A newer version (doesn't say which).
-
- Mediapoint driver...
- Alows Mediapoint, running on another Amiga, to control the CD32,
- including Audio and Video CDs.
-
- Hardware...
- Added A2000/A3000 keyboard port.
- Serial lead is DB25 to RJ10 (telephone) and is easier to remove.
-
- The Communicator Lite 2 doesn't have a keyboard through port, MIDI in/
- out/thru, or status LEDs.
-
-
- Q: How do I attach a keyboard to my CD32?
-
- A: IBM keyboards won't function without a custom add-on to translate IBM
- keycodes to Amiga keycodes (the SX-1 has this).
-
- Plug in an Amiga keyboard into the CD32's Aux port. Amiga keyboards are
- all exactly the same inside but just have a different case or plug on
- the end of the lead, so you'll probably need an adaptor...
- A500/+ Open up the case and build your own lead from the keyboard
- ribbon to the CD32. The pinouts are at the end of the FAQ.
- A600 Not possible.
- A1000 Build your own adaptor from RJ-11 to mini-din. The pinouts
- are at the end of the FAQ.
- A1200 Not possible.
- A2000 Buy an AT to PS/2 keyboard adaptor from any PC clone shop and
- plug that inbetween.
- A3000 Buy an AT to PS/2 keyboard adaptor from any PC clone shop and
- plug that inbetween.
- A4000 No adaptor - just plug it in.
- CDTV Buy an adaptor - eg. from Almathera or MultiMedia Machine. Or
- modify the CDTV keyboard yourself. The pinouts are at the end
- of the FAQ.
-
- A: Plug in an IBM keyboard into the SX-1's keyboard port. F11 and F12 are
- used instead of the Left-Amiga and Right-Amiga keys. Print Screen is
- used instead of the Help key.
-
- A: Create a Parnet or Sernet link (see above) and run PNetKeys. This re-
- directs all keyboard and mouse input from an Amiga window down the link
- to the CD32. You'll have to run a version that does a 'Mount MOUSE:' on
- the CD32 - no problem if you can create your own boot disk but it could
- be if you're using a version from a CD-ROM.
-
- A: Use Patrick Van Beem's CD32 Keyboard program. It's similar to PNetKeys
- but it's smaller, faster, works over Twin Express or even by itself,
- and converts controller input to mouse input. The program is shareware
- - if you find it useful you should pay $5 or fl7.50. Patrick's Email
- address is patrick@aobh.xs4all.nl.
-
-
- Q: How do I use my CD32 as a computer?
-
- A: Use a SX-1. This has...
- IBM-PC AT keyboard port.
- 9-pin serial port.
- Amiga standard parallel port.
- Amiga standard RGB port.
- Amiga standard floppy drive (use an external drive as DF0:. For more
- drives, daisy chain them from the first one).
- 2.5" internal IDE connector (drive fits inside the SX-1).
- 3.5" external IDE connector.
- SIMM socket for up to 8 meg additional RAM (restricted to 4 meg if
- you intend to use the FMV cartridge too).
- Audio input (karaoke).
- Internal battery backed clock.
- Pass through connector (for other devices, eg. FMV cartridge).
-
- If you add the SX-1, the Aux port will not work as a serial connection
- any more, but you can still attach Amiga keyboards to it, even if you
- have a PC keyboard plugged into the SX-1.
-
- Some external drives do not like the SX-1. Roctec and M3-A-1 drives are
- a problem.
-
- If you use a file recovery program on the SX-1 disk, you'll get more
- utilities.
-
- If you intend to have more than two devices attached to the SX-1, you
- should think about getting a better power supply. These can be bought
- separately, or you can modify another Amiga one (eg. A500) by replacing
- the connector at the end of the lead.
-
- If you add extra memory to it, it should be at least 80ms fast.
-
- A: Use a SX32. It's small so it fits *in* the CD32 like the MPEG module.
- You have a parrallel, serial, floppy, RGB and VGA-Port. You can put a
- 2.5'' HD on it and a 2-8 MB PS/2 Simm module. Unfortunatly FMV cannot
- be used with it. It is also rumoured to come with an A1200 manual. Apart
- from that it fixes the voltage problems it is more or less like the
- SX-1.
-
- Alan Redhouse wrote:
- "Standard Amiga serial, parallel, FDD, RGB ports and a 15 pin VGA port.
- Uses standard Amiga K/b
- Has standard Simm socket for up to 8MB
- Has 2.5" HDD interface and mountings for an internal unit
-
- Everything (inc HDD) fits inside the CD32 (sockets protrude about 10mm)
- Supplied with WB3.0 on CDROM (obviously has K/s 3.1 already)
-
- VERY reliable - it must be the only Amiga accessory that we've picked up
- & plugged in and its worked perfectly first time and ever since.
-
- It really does become a portable Amiga.
-
- Price 199.95 inc VAT"
-
- A: Use a CD32x. This is a 19" rack mounted system for CD32s used in
- professional applications. It includes remote monitoring of CD32x
- units, fault detection, and options for genlocking and MPEG. There are
- connectors available for...
- Networking.
- RGB port.
- Scart port.
- Floppy port.
- IDE connector.
- Volume control.
- Stereo input and output.
- Internal battery backed clock.
-
- Mick Tinker of Index said that they're working on a home version of the
- CD32x. The release date depends on when Escom starts selling the CD32
- again.
-
-
- Q: What are the SX-1 jumper descriptions?
-
- A: Jumper number...
- 1 OFF = If you have 1 or 4 megs.
- ON = If you have 2 or 8 megs.
- 2 OFF = If you have 1 or 2 megs.
- ON = If you have 4 or 8 megs.
- 3 OFF = If you have memory.
- ON = If you have no memory (or defeat autoconfig).
- 4 OFF = Normal boot time.
- ON = Add 10 seconds to boot time (for slow HDs).
- 5 OFF = If keyboard has two Alt keys.
- ON = If keyboard has no Right-Alt (Right-CTRL used instead).
-
-
- Q: How do I connect up an external 3.5" IDE drive to the SX-1?
-
- A: Make your own connector using the pinouts given in the manual. There's
- no +12V supply on the 37 pin IDE plug, but you can wire in your own
- power supply or take the +12V supply from the floppy port instead.
-
- A: Make a 2.5" to 3.5" conversion cable, and wire in your own power
- supply. Conversion cables can be bought as part of A1200 3.5" kits.
-
- A: Or you can buy a box (don't know the name) from Hi-Q that sits in place
- of the SX-1's lid. It lets you plug in 3.5" IDE drives and it has a
- better power supply. The cost is 129.95UKP without any drive.
-
- Q: Sometimes I have problems with my SX-1 and CD32 setup, causing
- freezing, and HD lock ups. They seems to be power related, how
- do I solve these?
-
- A: They are indeed power related, but it's voltage, not wattage.
-
- Garry Cardinal <cardinal@ARC.AB.CA> wrote:
-
- "My SX-1 enhanced CD-32 began hanging when I added an IDE drive to it.
- When using the hd the system would suddenly freeze. I had a 2Mb
- SIMM installed, going to another SIMM or hard disk did not correct
- the problem. This was all independent of FMV card presence.
-
- My SX-1's strange behaviour persisted until I bypassed the
- connections between the CD-32 power switch and the SX-1."
-
- I soldered a standard PC power supply female molex connector to the power
- switch on the CD-32 (switched side) and soldered a standard male molex
- connector to the SX-1 +12 and +5 power supply distribution system as close
- as possible to the 2.5" hard disk connector and ram socket.
-
- (Of course, observe antistatic precautions. Those faint of heart, take
- this text to a qualified service provider for the appropriate action. )
-
- When I was done, my problems disappeared.
-
- My configuration:
-
- CD-32
- SX-1 (with extra switch for memory test jumper plugging DB25 hole)
- 20Mb Connor 2.5
- 4Mb 32 bit simm
- FMV card
- A500 Power Supply"
-
- Q: How do I read Mac CD-ROMs?
-
- A: Get aminet:/disk/cdrom/AmiCDROM-1.15.lha, unarchive it, use the
- following options in the installer...
- Device cd.device
- Unit 0.
- Memory options Use any memory available.
- Other options Use Rock Ridge names, if possible.
- Use trackdisk.device instead of SCSI-direct.
- Map filenames Don't map filenames.
- General buffers 5.
- Read() buffers 5.
- Diskchange time 3.
- CD-DA icon command None.
- CD-DA icon position Workbench chooses.
- Configure Mac options Yes.
- Mac options Convert Mac characters to Amiga characters.
- Examine CD first for a HFS partition.
- Data fork extension Leave empty.
- Rsrc fork extension Leave empty.
- AmigaDOS device name CD1:, MAC0:, whatever you like.
- Automount Yes: Mac CDs are recongnised all the time.
- No: You must click on the Storage/DOSDrivers/
- CD1 (or whatever) icon before using Mac CDs.
-
- Two icons will appear for each CD you insert - one is the CD32/CDTV/PC
- partition and the other is the Mac partition. If there is no Mac
- partition then both icons will be the same CD32/CDTV/PC partition.
-
-
- Q: Is there an RGB output on the CD32 to connect my multisync monitor?
-
- A: There are easily accessable RGB signal test points on the CD32's
- circuit board. The diagram is at the end of the FAQ. The SX-1 and CD32x
- both have RGB connectors on them.
-
- A: Peter Kittel wrote:
- If you have the French version of the CD32, you have RGB at the S-Video
- jack. In this case, this jack is no more of standard "Hosiden" type,
- but is a Mini-DIN with 8 pins. The four extra pins carry R,G,B, and
- CSync.
-
- <an159209@anon.penet.fi> wrote:
- Cables (maybe with extra logic) are being sold in France, which allow
- you to connect your CD32 to a 1084, presumably using that SCART-RGB
- output.
-
-
- Q: Can Amiga 1200 trapdoor or PCMCIA expansions be used with CD32?
-
- A: No. The CD32 does not have the same expansion connectors as the A1200.
-
-
- Q: Where can I find the programs mentioned above?
-
- A: CD32 Keyboard Patrick Van Beem
- NoReset Communicator (CDReboot OFF) Eureka
- Network CD Weird Science
- Video Creator * Almathera
- Parnet Amiga CD! 3 AUI
- Network CD Weird Science
- Photo CD reader FolioworX Player Olaf Barthel
- Network CD Weird Science
- Photo CD Manager Asimware
- Photolite Eureka
- Sernet Network CD Weird Science
- Twin Express Amiga CD! 3 AUI
- Network CD Weird Science
- Workbench 3.? CDPD 3 Almathera
- Demo 2 Almathera
- Workbench 3.0 CDPD 4 Almathera
- Lock 'n' Load North West PD
- Workbench 3.1 Demo Disc V2 * Commodore
- Legendry Design demo CD Creative Computers
-
- For CDs marked with a *, you'll need to connect an Amiga mouse into
- controller port 2, hold down both mouse buttons, and press the reset
- button. You will be given a boot menu where you should boot with no
- Startup-Sequence. Then use the keyboard to run the program wanted.
-
- If you want to run Workbench, you've already got Kickstart 3.1, so you
- just need to get hold of the Workbench software. All of the versions
- work work, but the later the version the better.
-
- The C= Demo Disc V2 is available from Claude Mueller - Email him for
- prices. Claude's Email address is claude.mueller@hdclick.link-ch1.ch.
-
-
- [---- Emulating a CD32 -----------------------------------------------------]
-
-
- Q: Which machines stand a chance of running CD32 games?
-
- A: You may get away with running shovelware stuff if you have an OCS or
- ECS Amiga, but many CD32 games expect at least an '020, 2 meg of chip
- RAM, and an AGA chipset - an A1200 or A4000.
-
- The A1200 might be more compatible than the A4000 - some programs may
- fall over because of the differences in memory and CPUs.
-
-
- Q: What are the differences between the Archos, CD1200, CD4000, and
- Squirrel CD drives?
-
- A: The Archos drive uses the PCMCIA slot, emulates Akiko through software
- (but as far as I know only Wing Commander uses it and that crashes,
- hmm...), needs you to install the CD-ROM file system to your Workbench
- before you can use the drive, needs a utility (supplied) to boot CD32
- CDs, and doesn't have FMV capability.
-
- The CD1200 isn't available yet. It uses the A1200's trapdoor slot, has
- Akiko, has Kickstart 3.1, boots straight from CD-ROM, and doesn't have
- FMV capability.
-
- Peter Kittel wrote:
- The CD1200 is a prototype CD-ROM drive for the A1200, which makes the
- A1200 CD32-compatible. This is still in prototype, was shown on a few
- fairs, and as of now it's uncertain whether it ever will get produced.
- With it you get CD32 software compatibility, but no hardware
- compatibility. Especially there is no chance to add the FMV cartridge
- to it.
-
- The CD4000 isn't available yet. It's a card that fits into one of the
- A4000's Zorro 3 slots and a CD drive that slides into a drive bay, has
- Akiko, has Kickstart 3.1, boots straight from CD-ROM, and has FMV
- capability.
-
- The Squirrel uses the PCMICA slot, doesn't appear to emulate Akiko,
- needs you to install the CD-ROM file system to your Workbench before
- you can use the drive, needs a utility (supplied) to boot CD32 CDs, and
- doesn't have FMV capability. It's also a full SCSI interface. If you'd
- like to add other SCSI devices (such as tape storage, scanners, etc...)
- then it could be a better choice than the Archos. Also software updates
- are regularly uploaded to Aminet (unlike Archos' where you have to try
- to convince your dealer to give you a free copy).
-
-
- Q: What's good/bad about a CD drive using the PCMICA or trapdoor slots?
-
- A: If your CD drive uses the PCMICA slot, you've got a RAM board in the
- trapdoor slot, it's got more than 4 meg of fast RAM, and it doesn't
- Autoconfig properly, then the drive may refuse to work or you could
- lose all memory above the 4 meg barrier because the PCMCIA slot and the
- memory both try to use the same address space. You could only use 4 meg
- or you could ask your dealer for an upgrade.
-
- Some trapdoor accelerators don't Autoconfig properly either. Notably
- Amitek, Blizzard, and GVP ones. Amitek offer a free upgrade to fix this
- problem. The Blizzard 1230III and the GVP 1230 '030 boards work fine,
- don't know about other Blizzard and GVP boards. All of the Microbotics
- boards work.
-
- If your CD drive uses the trapdoor slot then you can kiss goodbye to
- RAM expansions and accelerators.
-
-
- Q: What do I need to do to run a CD32 game if I don't have the Archos,
- CD1200, CD4000, or the Squirrel CD drive?
-
- A: If you have a SCSI CD drive then you can assign CD0: to the CD drive
- (if it isn't already), assign the standard directories (C:, DEVS:,
- ENVARC:, FONTS:, L:, LIBS:, S:, SYS:) across to the CD-ROM and execute
- S:Startup-Sequence.
-
- A: If you have a Parnet or Sernet link to a CD32 or CDTV, you can assign
- CD0: to NET:CD0, assign the CD-ROM's name to NET:<name>, assign the
- standard directories, then execute S:Startup-Sequence. It's slow
- though, so if you have a big hard drive, it's probably better to go for
- the next option...
-
- A: It should be possible to copy all of the CD-ROM to your hard drive by
- using a Parnet, Sernet, or Twin Express link to a CD32 or CDTV, assign
- CD0: and the CD-ROM's name to the directory that you copied to, assign
- the standard directories to the equivalent place on the hard drive, and
- execute S:Startup-Sequence.
-
- A: The game may have an icon to double click to run it. In that case you
- don't need to assign or execute anything.
-
- A: There's a program called Cache-CDFS that's distributed in Germany. It
- works on the A1200 or A4000. It sits between the CD32 game and the
- Amiga's SCSI, IDE, or PCMCIA CD-ROM drive. Most CD32 games should work
- once it's installed, but there have been some problems reported with
- NEC 3x CD drives. It's commercial. Nobody's said how good the emulation
- is. You can contact the author, Oliver Kastl, by Email. Oliver's Email
- address is 100447.3361@compuserve.com.
-
- Almathera are selling a bug-fixed and English language version. Video
- Creator will also work once it's been installed.
-
- A: There's another available, called CD-Boot. This works on the A1200 or
- A4000. It sits between the CD32 game and Amiga's SCSI, IDE, or PCMCIA
- CD-ROM drive. You can create config files for each CD. It's commercial.
- One person said that the success rate was 2 out of 7 games. You can
- contact the author, Thomas Kessler, by Email. Thomas' Email address is
- kessler@fim.uni-erlangen.de.
-
- A: This is a quick description made after reading Asimware's info sheet
- (it's probably better to read the full thing for yourself if you're
- interested before making up your mind):
-
- Asimware's AsimCDFS can emulate CDTVs and CD32s, but the how good it is
- depends on the individual machine. But it also has a music CD player,
- music CD support (so the music looks like AIFF, MAUD, and RAW files),
- and Photo CD support (so the pictures look like normal IFF ILBM files).
-
-
- Q: What can go wrong?
-
- A: Make sure the game can access lowlevel.library in LIBS:. If not, the
- game can't use the CD32 joypad, or may not even work. If it can, you
- can plug the CD32 joypad straight into the joystick port.
-
- A: You may not be able to play the games that use the extra joypad buttons
- properly if you don't have a joypad to press them with...
-
- A: The game tries to use nonvolatile.library to save to the CD32's NVRAM.
- Make sure that this can be accessed in LIBS: and you create a file
- called "ENVARC:sys/nv_location" - a single line of text that is the
- directory name of where you would like saved data to be stored.
-
- A: The game could try to call some 3.1 functions that don't exist in 3.0.
- Upgrading your Kickstart should fix this problem.
-
- A: You won't hear any CD music. There's no way around this. Sometimes the
- game may decide to keel over because it can't play the CD music.
-
- A: The game tries to use Akiko. If you've upgraded to 3.1 and it still
- goes wrong then there's no way around this.
-
-
- Q: Are there any incompatiblities when using an Archos CD drive?
-
- A: Here's a list. If you've got an update, let me know and I'll put the
- change in here...
-
- Work...
- Alien Breed Special Ed. 7 Alien Breed T. Assault 11
- Arcade Pool 11 ATR 11
- Banshee 7 11 Brutal Sports Football 7
- Bubba 'n' Stix 7 Bubble 'n' Squeak 7
- Chaos Engine 7 D/Generation 7 11
- Defender of the Crown 2 7 Diggers 7
- Emerald Mines 7 11 Fields of Glory 11
- Fire and Ice 11 Flink 11
- Fly Harder 11 Frontier 7
- Heimdall 2 7 Microcosm 7
- Labyrinth of Time 7 Lemmings 11
- Lost Vikings 11 Oscar 7 11
- Overkill/Lunar C 11 Pinball Fantasies 11
- Rise of the Robots 7 Roadkill 11
- Sabre Team 11 Sensible Soccer 7
- Super Stardust 11 Superfrog 7 11
- The Clue 11 Trolls 11
- UFO 11 Ultimate Body Blows 11
- Zool 1 7 Zool 2 7
-
- Works with a bit of messing around...
- Arabian Nights 11 Disable fast RAM
- Beneath a Steel Sky 11 Use a Joypad in port 1
- Microcosm 11 Load from Workbench
- Jungle Strike 11 Disable fast RAM
- Kid Chaos 11 Switch music off
- Quick Thunder Rabbit 11 Disable fast RAM
- Zool 2 11 Switch music off
-
- Sort of works...
- Guardian 7 Crashes after one game
- Project-X 7 Crashes after a few levels
- Ultimate Body Blows 7 Crashes after one game
-
- Doesn't work...
- Alfred Chicken 11 Battle Chess 7
- Beavers 11 Cannon Fodder 11
- Chaos Engine 11 Chuck Rock 1 11
- Chuck Rock 2 7 Defender of the Crown 11
- Diggers 7 Disposable Hero 11
- Fire Force 11 Frontier 11
- Global Effect 7 Guardian 11
- Gunship 2000 7 Impossible Mission 2025 7
- James Pond 3 7 Lemmings 7
- Lotus Trilogy 7 Liberation 11
- Litil Devil 11 Nick Faldo's Golf 11
- Nigel Mansell 11 Morph 7
- Out to Lunch 11 Pinball Illusions 11
- Pirate's Gold 7 11 Ryder Cup Challenge 7
- Simon The Sorcerer 7 11 Sabre Team 7
- Soccer Kid 11 Striker 7 11
- Super Putty 7 Universe 11
- Video Creator 7 Wembley International 7 11
- Whale's Voyage 11 Wing Commander 7 11
-
- The numbers are for the version of the software. Some work on 7 but not
- 11, some work on 11 but not 7. There's nothing listed for version 9 at
- the moment, but if it works on 7 or 11 then it maybe it could work on
- 9, and if it works on 7 and 11 then it definately should work on 9.
- There's no version 8 or 10. Anyone confused? Good.
-
- A: Also check out the Archos Overdrive home pages. Have a look in the
- Internet section for details.
-
-
- [---- Software developers --------------------------------------------------]
-
-
- Q: Are there any licence agreements that have to be made to produce CD32
- software?
-
- A: The first real problem is in making a bootable CD32 disc. This requires
- special software and license/royalty agreements which were available
- from the C= developer programs.
-
- Developers who obtained these rights before the C= liquidation may be
- able to master the CD-ROMs with the appropriate boot/system files, for
- you - as your publisher.
-
- On the other hand, now that the C= liquidation is over, you should be
- able to apply for your own developer status and publish your own CDs.
-
- Escom are the new owners. It seems they're only going to market the
- CD32 as a set-top box, but they could start making more early 1996 or
- do a proper Amiga CD system.
-
-
- Q: How do I master my own CDs?
-
- A: This is a quick description made after reading Asimware's info sheet
- (it's probably better to read the full thing for yourself if you're
- interested before making up your mind):
-
- Asimware's Master ISO costs US $550.00/CDN $720.00 and works on an
- Amiga with Workbench 3, a SCSI controller, 1.3 gig of HD space, 16 meg
- of RAM, and a CD recorder. It can create ISO 9660 CD-ROMs with 8.3 and
- long file names from one or more volumes, Music CDs (Red Book) from
- CDDA, MAUD, or AIFF files, and CDs which are a mixture of the two. It
- can also make CDTV and CD32 bootable CDs (you need a developer licence
- though). It supports Yamaha CDR100, Pinnacle RCD-202, Philips CDD-521,
- and CDD-522 CD recorders.
-
-
- Q: What are the authoring capabilities available for the CD32?
-
- A: Theoretically, any standard Amiga development tools for AGA machines
- should be useful for developing applications that run on a CD32. This
- would include Multimedia tools with freely distributable players, C
- compilers, assemblers, etc.
-
-
- Q: What are the popular development tools?
-
- A: Popular Multimedia authoring packages for the Amiga include...
- AmigaVision Professional CanDo
- HELM Interplay
- SCALA Multimedia
-
- Popular C compilers include...
- DICE GNU C
- SAS/C
-
- Popular 68K assemblers include...
- DevPacIII Macro68
-
- Popular image manipulation software include...
- AdPro ImageF/X
- ImageMaster
-
- Popular music related software include...
- AudioMasterIV Bars&Pipes Pro
- Deluxe Music 2 MusicX
- OctaMED professional Sonix
- SuperJAM! Trackers - too many to mention
-
- Popular 3D modelling software include...
- Caligari Imagine
- LightWave (Video Toaster) Real3D
-
- Popular 'video painting' programs include...
- Brilliance Deluxe Paint IV AGA
- DCTV Paint EGS Paint
- Opal Paint TV Paint
- XI Paint
-
- Contact the software company involved with your favourite authoring
- software for more information regarding CD32 specific development.
-
-
- [---- Pinouts --------------------------------------------------------------]
-
-
- CD32 Aux port... View straight on. 6 pin mini-din.
- Female type. Combined kboard/serial.
- 1 I / O Keyboard data _ _
- 2 O Serial transmit .' V `.
- 3 Ground / 6 5 \
- 4 +5V DC | 4 O 3 |
- 5 (I)/ O Keyboard clock `-. 2 1 .-'
- 6 I Serial receive `-----' Shield
-
- Written by Klaus Hegemann, posted as part of 'CD32 expansion port
- info' by Anders Stenkvist in comp.sys.amiga.hardware, forwarded by
- Michael King.
-
- If you wire up a keyboard and get characters constantly appearing on
- the screen then you've wired up the keyboard clock and data pins the
- wrong way around.
-
- There are no RTS/CTS pins for high speed modems.
-
- The serial pins are at 0/5V, if the computer you're connecting it to
- has a different voltage (eg. the Amiga serial port's pins are at
- +/-12V) then you need a level converter between the two.
-
- The serial pins may not be properly buffered to use safely with some
- external devices. You could damage your CD32 if you try to hook them
- up without an external buffer. A diagram of a buffer is given in the
- posting mentioned above.
-
-
- CD32 combined SCART/RGB port (only on French CD32s)...
-
- Well, first you must make sure that you really have the 8-pin version
- of that S-Video connector (mini-DIN), this is only existant on the
- French version of the CD32. Now if that's ok, then here is the
- pinout:
-
- 1=Red, 2=Blue, 3=Audio (L or R, don't know), 4=Green, 5=Audio (L or
- R), 6=Luminance, 7=CSync, 8=Chroma
-
- Taken from an Email by Peter Kittel, forwarded by Olivier Cremel.
-
-
- CDTV keyboard connector...
-
- 1 Ground
- 2 I / O Keyboard data
- 3 (I)/ O Keyboard clock
- 4 +5V DC
- 5 Unused
-
- To modify the CDTV keyboard to connect to the CD32...
-
- Cut the plastic pin from the connector.
- Open the case.
- Find the connector where the cable is located.
- Switch leads 1-4 and 2-3.
- Close the case.
-
- Taken from a posting by Paul van der Heu.
-
-
- A500 keyboard connector... * = link
-
- 1 black Keyboard clock --------
- 2 brown Keyboard data A500 keyboard cable ---> 12345678
- 3 red Res --------
- 4 orange +5V DC ||||||||
- 5 yellow Unused 5 --------------*| | |
- 6 green Ground 1 ---------------* | |
- 7 blue Power LED 4 -----------------* |
- 8 violet Disk LED 3 -------------------*
- ||||||||
- Connect like this... --------
- A500 motherboard connector ---> 12345678
- A500 CD32 --------
- 1 5
- 2 1
- 4 4
- 6 3
-
- Taken from an Email by Kimmo Veijalainen.
-
-
- A1000 keyboard connector...
-
- 1 +5V DC Viewed looking straight on into
- 2 (I)/ O Keyboard clock socket. RJ11 connector. Female.
- 3 I / O Keyboard data _
- 4 Ground _| |_
- __| |__
- | |
- | |
- | |
- |__|_|_|_|__|
-
- 1 2 3 4
-
- Usual stuff: I'm not responsible for blowing up Ami, etc; use at own
- risk, etc, etc. Having said this, it did work for me. :)
-
- Ref's used: Amiga Hardware Reference Manual (A1000) & the good ol'
- CD32-FAQ.
-
- Taken from an Email by Chris Naylor.
-
-
- CD32 power port... View straight on. 4 pin din.
- _ _
- 1 +5V .' V `.
- 2 +12V |1 2|
- 3 Ground `.3 4.'
- 4 Unknown `---' Shield
-
- Put a ground jumper from pin 3 to the shield.
-
- You can modify another Amiga power supply (eg. A500) for this by
- replacing the connector at the end of the lead.
-
- Taken from a posting by Michael Litchfield.
-
-
- CD32 RGB signals...
-
- The RGB signals are available from a test port, TP9...
-
- | | | <--- Kickstart ROM .-. Desc Equiv pin #s
- | | | |o|
- | | | |o|
- | `--' .----. <--- Akiko |o|
- | | | |o| HSync 159
- | | | : <--- TP9 |o| VSync 160
- | `----' : |o| Red 163 and 164
- | .. :O.--. |o| Green 165 and 166
- `-------'`----------' | |o| Blue 167 and 168
- ^ ^ `------- |o| CSync 157
- | | |o| Ground 161 and 162
- Expansion port Pin 182 `-'
-
- The RGB signals come from the D/A conversion unit and lead directly
- to the expansion port. These signals are, however, not amplified. In
- addition they are weakened by the S-Video output unit.
-
- As a result I (aim to) insert a 47 Ohm resistor to each colour signal
- connection. You may also reduce the load by interrupting the signal
- supply to the S-Video unit. Set pin 174 of the expansion port to GND
- to achieve that (174 --> u36 (4066) signal switches).
-
- The sync signals connected to the expansion port are unbuffered. As
- a result you may re-synchronize your Amiga by an external tact
- source. You schould at least buffer the CSync line; there is no
- external synchronisation possible on this pin.
-
- Hint: make use of an XOR gate chip. You may negate certain sync
- line(s) to adapt your Amiga to (old? :-( ) multiscan-monitors (the
- A4000 monitor adapter box will do the same; without the possibility
- of selected negation).
-
- Written by Klaus Hegemann, posted as part of 'CD32 expansion port
- info' by Anders Stenkvist in comp.sys.amiga.hardware, forwarded by
- Michael King.
-
-
- [---- Addresses ------------------------------------------------------------]
-
-
- Almathera, Video Creator, keyboards, serial adaptor kit,
- Southerton House, Cache-CDFS (a CD32 emulator).
- Boundary Business Court, Phone: +44 (0)181 687 0040
- 92-94 Church Road, Fax: +44 (0)181 687 0490
- Mitcham, Email: jralph@cix.compulink.co.uk (technical)
- Surrey, almathera@cix.compulink.co.uk (sales)
- CR4 3TD,
- England.
-
- Amiga CD32 Magazine, Phone: +44 (0)1225 442244
- Future Publishing, Fax: +44 (0)1225 318740
- 30 Monmouth Street, Email: amformat@cix.compulink.co.uk
- Bath, amformat@futurenet.co.uk
- Avon, http://www.futurenet.co.uk/
- BA1 2BW,
- England.
-
- Amiga Game Zone, Phone: +1 (217) 344 3478
- 103 W. California, Fax: +1 (217) 344 3478
- Urbana, Email: gamezone@prairienet.org
- IL 61801, http://uxa.cso.uiuc.edu/~razmataz/agz.html
- USA.
-
- Amiga User International, Phone: +44 (0)171 487 1076/1072
- 48 George Street, Fax: +44 (0)171 224 0547
- London, Email: amigauser@cix.compulink.co.uk
- W1H 5RT, gary@auimag.demon.co.uk
- England.
-
- Asimware, AsimCDFS, Master ISO, Photo CD Manager.
- 600 Upper Wellington St, Phone: Canada (905) 578 4916
- Unit D, Fax: Canada (905) 578 3966
- Hamilton,
- Ontario,
- L9A 3P9,
- Canada.
-
- Brian Fowler Computers, Distributes communicator and other things.
- 11 North Street, Phone: +44 (0)1392 499755
- Exeter, Fax: +44 (0)1392 423480
- Devon, Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30-6:30 GMT
- EX4 3QS, Email: brian_fowler@cix.compulink.co.uk
- England.
-
- DCE Computer Service, Distributes the SX32 for 400DM.
- Kellenbergerstrasse 19a, Phone: +49 208633151
- 46145 Oberhausen, Fax: +49 208630496
- Germany.
-
- Direct Computer Supplies, Cheap Parnet/null modem/etc... cables.
- 36 Hope Street, Phone: +44 (0)1782 642497
- Hanley,
- Stoke On Trent,
- ST1 5BS,
- England.
-
- Epic Marketing, A4000 keyboards, probably sold out by now.
- Victoria Centre, Phone: +44 (0)1793 490988
- 138-139 Victoria Road,
- Swindon,
- Wilts,
- SN1 3BU,
- England.
-
- Eureka, Frank Hoen, Communicator, Communicator 2, Photolite.
- Adsteeg 10, Phone: +31 (463) 70800
- 6191 PX Beek (L), Fax: +31 (463) 60188
- The Netherlands. Email: hoen@iaehv.iaehv.nl
-
- Goldtech Computer Systems,CD Gold magazine.
- 67 Turner Road,
- Walthamstow,
- London,
- E17 3JG,
- England.
-
- Hi-Tech. Took over Paravision/Microbotics.
- But Jaytron does SX-1 support.
- Phone: +1 (805) 681 9961
-
- Index Information Ltd, CD32x.
- 60 High Street, Phone: +44 (0)1256 703426
- Odiham, Fax: +44 (0)1256 701023
- Hampshire, Email: index@cix.compulink.co.uk
- RG25 1LN,
- England.
-
- Jaytron. SX-1 support.
- Phone: +1 (214) 644 1689 (Michael Miller)
- Fax: +1 (214) 669 0021
-
- Multimedia Machine, CDTV -> CD32 keyboard adaptors,
- 59 Bridgeman Place, SX-1/drive/keyboard bundle.
- Bolton, Phone: +44 (0)1204 387410
- BL2 1DE, Fax: +44 (0)1204 380952
- England.
-
- North West PD, Lock 'n' Load, other CD32 software.
- PO Box 1617, Phone: +1 (206) 351 9502
- Auburn,
- WA 98071-1617,
- USA.
-
- Optonica, Interplay - authoring system, Insight CDs.
- 1 The Terrace, Phone: +44 (0)1455 558282
- High Street, Fax: +44 (0)1455 559386
- Lutterworth,
- Leics,
- LE17 4BA,
- England.
-
- Paragon Publishing Ltd, CD32 Gamer.
- Durham House, Phone: +44 (0)1202 299900
- 124 Old Christchurch Rd, Fax: +44 (0)1202 299955
- Bournemouth,
- BH1 1NF,
- England.
-
- Stefan Ossowski's CD-Boot (a CD32 emulator).
- Schatztruhe GmbH, Phone: +49 (0)201 788778
- Veronikastr. 33, Fax: +49 (0)201 798447
- D-45131 Essen, Email: stefano@tchest.e.eunet.de
- Germany.
-
- Weird Science, Network CD, Sernet cables.
- 1 Rowlandson Close, Phone: +44 (0)116 234 0682
- Bracken Field Chase, Email: david@weirdscience.co.uk
- Leicestershire,
- LE4 2SE,
- England.
-