Tag Archives: msdos

Serial link between MSDos and Linux troubles

In post https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/11/25/disk-troubles-or-missing-old-skool-hardware/ i mentioned the serial connectors i’ve bought to connect the Laser XT to my Workstation to transfer files.

The null modem i’ve made is like mentioned on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Null_modem

I’ve used the loopback handshaking using 3 wires. ( Only using a DB25 and a DB9 on the other end )

So i configured the Linux side as follows.

I’ve tried two usb to serial converters.

Both when trying on windows 10 are not supported any more

Dec 14 17:34:40 zspot kernel: [ 1082.299607] usb 1-4: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0

sudo stty -F /dev/ttyUSB0 9600

Then i start dosbox.
To enable a com port i have to enter:

serial1=directserial realport:ttyUSB0

Starting Norton Commander and selecting COM1

After a few seconds i got this ..

What else is there to check?
At least i’ve still got the Flux Engine!

Bios password fix

Don’t know bios passwd anymore?

start debug.exe

o = out
port 0x0070-0x0071	The CMOS and RTC registers (more info below)
# Does not seem related but it works!


-o 70 2E
-o 71 FF
-q

OR

-o 70 17
-o 71 17
-q

Other fixes i’ve used:

Remove cmos battery .. and short the connections with wire.
This CAN completely reset your Bios settings!

0070-007F ----	CMOS RAM/RTC (Real Time Clock  MC146818)

0070	w	CMOS RAM index register port (ISA, EISA)
		 bit 7	 = 1  NMI disabled
			 = 0  NMI enabled
		 bit 6-0      CMOS RAM index (64 bytes, sometimes 128 bytes)

		any write to 0070 should be followed by an action to 0071
		or the RTC wil be left in an unknown state.

0071	r/w	CMOS RAM data port (ISA, EISA)
		RTC registers:
		00    current second in BCD
		01    alarm second   in BCD
		02    current minute in BCD
		03    alarm minute   in BCD
		04    current hour in BCD
		05    alarm hour   in BCD
		06    day of week  in BCD
		07    day of month in BCD
		08    month in BCD
		09    year  in BCD (00-99)
		0A    status register A
		       bit 7 = 1  update in progress
		       bit 6-4 divider that identifies the time-based
				frequency
		       bit 3-0 rate selection output  frequency and int. rate
		0B    status register B
		       bit 7 = 0  run
			     = 1  halt
		       bit 6 = 1  enable periodic interrupt
		       bit 5 = 1  enable alarm interrupt
		       bit 4 = 1  enable update-ended interrupt
		       bit 3 = 1  enable square wave interrupt
		       bit 2 = 1  calendar is in binary format
			     = 0  calendar is in BCD format
		       bit 1 = 1  24-hour mode
			     = 0  12-hour mode
		       bit 0 = 1  enable daylight savings time. only in USA.
				  useless in Europe. Some DOS versions clear
				  this bit when you use the DAT/TIME command.
		0C    status register C
		       bit 7 =	  interrupt request flag
		       bit 6 =	  peridoc interrupt flag
		       bit 5 =	  alarm interrupt flag
		       bit 4 =	  update interrupt flag
		       bit 3-0	  reserved
		0D    status register D
		       bit 7 = 1  Real-Time Clock has power
		       bit 6-0	  reserved
		0E    diagnostics status byte
		       bit 7 = 0  RTC lost power
		       bit 6 = 1  CMOS RAM checksum bad
		       bit 5 = 1  invalid configuration information at POST
		       bit 4 = 1  memory size error at POST
		       bit 3 = 1  fixed disk/adapter failed initialization
		       bit 2 = 1  CMOS RAM time found invalid
		       bit 1 = 1  adapters do not match configuration (EISA)
		       bit 0 = 1  time out reading an adapter ID (EISA)
		0F    shutdown status byte
		       00 = normal execution of POST
		       01 = chip set initialization for real mode reentry
		       04 = jump to bootstrap code
		       05 = issue an EOI an JMP to Dword ptr at 40:67
		       06 = JMP to Dword ptrv at 40:67 without EOI
		       07 = return to INT15/87 (block move)
		       08 = return to POST memory test
		       09 = return to INT15/87 (block move)
		       0A = JMP to Dword ptr at 40:67 without EOI
		       0B = return IRETS through 40:67
		10    diskette drive type for A: and B:
		       bit 7-4	drive type of drive 0
		       bit 3-0	drive type of drive 1
			       = 0000	   no drive
			       = 0001	   360K
			       = 0010	   1M2
			       = 0011	   720K
			       = 0100	   1M44
			       = 0101-1111 reserved
		11    reserved / AMI Extended CMOS setup (AMI Hi-Flex BIOS)
		       bit 7   = 1     Typematic Rate Programming
		       bit 6-5 = 00    Typematic Rate Delay 250 mSec
		       bit 4-0 = 00011 Typematic Rate 21.8 Chars/Sec
		12    fixed disk drive type for drive 0 and drive 1
		       bit 7-4	drive type of drive 0
		       bit 3-0	drive type of drive 1
				if either of the nibbles equals 0F, then bytes
				19 an 1A are valid
		13    reserved / AMI Extended CMOS setup (AMI Hi-Flex BIOS)
		       bit 7 = 1  Mouse Support Option
		       bit 6 = 1  Above 1 MB Memory Test disable
		       bit 5 = 1  Memory Test Tick Sound disable
		       bit 4 = 1  Memory Parity Error Check enable
		       bit 3 = 1  Hit <ESC> Message Display disabled
		       bit 2 = 1  Hard Disk Type 47 Data Area at address 0:300
		       bit 1 = 1  Wait For <F1> If Any Error enabled
		       bit 0 = 1  System Boot Up Num Lock is On
		14    equipment byte
		       bit 7-6	 diskette drives installed
			       = 00  1 drive installed
			       = 01  2 drives installed
			       = 10  reserved
			       = 11  reserved
		       bit 5-4	 primary display
			       = 00  adapter card with option ROM 
			       = 01  40*25 color
			       = 10  80*25 color
			       = 11  monochrome
		       bit 3-2	 reserved
		       bit 1   = 1  coprocessor installed (non-Weitek)
		       bit 0	    diskette drive avaliable for boot
		15    LSB of systemn base memory in Kb
		16    MSB of systemn base memory in Kb
		17    LSB of total extended memory in Kb
		18    MSB of total extended memory in Kb
		19    drive C extension byte
		1A    drive D extension byte
		1B-27 reserved
		1B/1C word to 82335 RC1 roll compare register at [24]
			(Phoenix)
		1D/1E word to 82335 RC2 roll compare register at [26]
			(Phoenix)
		28    HP-Vectra checksum over 29-2D
		29-2D reserved
		29/2A word to Intel 82335 CC0 compare register at
			[28](Phoenix)
		2B/2C word send to 82335 CC1 compare register at [2A]
			(Phoenix)
		2D    AMI Extended CMOS setup (AMI Hi-Flex BIOS)
		      (Phoenix BIOS checks for the values AA or CC)
		       bit 7 = 1  Weitek Processor Absent
		       bit 6 = 1  Floppy Drive Seek At Boot disabled
		       bit 5 = 1  System Boot Up Sequence  C:, A:
		       bit 4 = 1  System Boot Up Speed is high
		       bit 3 = 1  Cache Memory enabled
		       bit 2 = 1  Internal Cache Memory	 <1>
		       bit 1-0	  reserved
		2E    CMOS MSB checksum over 10-2D
		2F    CMOS LSB checksum over 10-2D
		30    LSB of extended memory found above 1Mb at POST
		31    MSB of extended memory found above 1Mb at POST
		32    date century in BCD
		33    information flags
		       bit4 = bit4 from CPU register CR0   (Phoenix)
			      this bit is only known as INTEL RESERVED
		34-3F reserved	
		34     bit4 bit5 (Phoenix BIOS)
		3D/3E word to 82335 MCR memory config register at
			[22](Phoenix)
		3D     bit3	 base memsize 512/640  (Phoenix)
		3E     bit7 = 1	 relocate enable       (Phoenix)
		       bit1 = 1	 shadow video enable   (Phoenix)
		       bit0 = 1	 shadow BIOS enable    (Phoenix)


		User Definable Drive Parameters are also stored in CMOS RAM:

		AMI (386sx BIOS 1989) first user definable drive (type 47)
		 1B  L cylinders
		 1C  H cylinders
		 1D  heads
		 1E  L Write Precompensation Cylinder
		 1F  H Write Precompensation Cylinder
		 20  ??
		 21  L cylinders parking zone
		 22  H cylinders parking zone
		 23  sectors

		AMI (386sx BIOS 1989) second user definable drive (type 48)
		 24  L cylinders
		 25  H cylinders
		 26  heads
		 27  L Write Precompensation Cylinder
		 28  H Write Precompensation Cylinder
		 29  ??
		 2A  L cylinders parking zone
		 2B  H cylinders parking zone
		 2C  sectors

		Phoenix (386BIOS v1.10.03 1988) 1st user definable drv (type48)
		 20  L cylinders
		 21  H cylinders
		 22  heads
		 23  L Write Precompensation Cylinder
		 24  H Write Precompensation Cylinder
		 25  L cylinders parking zone
		 26  H cylinders parking zone
		 27  sectors

		Phoenix (386BIOS v1.10.03 1988) 2nd user definable drv (type49)
		(when PS/2-style password option is not used)
		 35  L cylinders
		 36  H cylinders
		 37  heads
		 38  L Write Precompensation Cylinder
		 39  H Write Precompensation Cylinder
		 3A  L cylinders parking zone
		 3B  H cylinders parking zone
		 3C  sectors