Softload on Iyonix version 5.28

Hi I have tried to install ‘Harddisk4’ on an Iyonix. This works. When I try to softload 5.28 it fails. Has anybody idea’s ?. The Iyonix itself has 5.20 in the Flash.

Hi Timo,

I have just installed 5.28 softload and it works OK on my Iyonix which is flashed to 5.24.

You did install the latest ZeroPain module available in the bonus binaries zip file

from the downloads section.

I have also softloaded 5.29 dated 20th October 2020 as well.

it fails

Some more details would help. eg When? Messages?

When I try to softload 5.28 it fails. Has anybody idea’s ?.

I saw another query where they downloaded the flash updater/image early and the updater was failing because the image was 5MB, a later download gave them a corrected installation which worked.

Try a new download.

Hi during boot it displays something in the line as :
Softloading version 1.21
Platform class HAL
Traditional memory map: No
Hard rom:
….
…
Then it doesn’t pass the splash screen. Or in a number of cases just a blank screen

I downloaded
https://www.riscosopen.org/zipfiles/platform/iyonix/Tungsten-Soft.5.28.zip?1603382596
Again

The same applies for:
https://www.riscosopen.org/zipfiles/platform/common/BonusBinDev.zip?1603605293 where I placed the zero pain module in the correct place

And :
https://www.riscosopen.org/zipfiles/platform/common/HardDisc4.5.28.zip?1603104212

Hi Timo,

A few things to check:

Have you booted in to 5.20 Ok first

Have you any modules unplugged , *unplug will list them in 5.20

There is something about special EDID case and in the softload and there is a new !Run file for !Boot.Choices.Boot.PreDesk.Configure.
Check in your boot sequence this has actually been installed and also check in the Screen configure what the settings are.

The only other thing is that I had 5.24 already flashed so is that an issue as you only have 5.20?

One other thing is you could rename your Choices folder and boot up as brand new and see if that changes anything.

update: Forgot to say I installed new hard disc image and bonus stuff first and booted in to 5.24 and my then 5.27 softload first. I then installed the 5.28 softload once successful so perhaps reinstall and do it in that sequence?

Hi All,

What I have done is :
1) Formatted a harddrive with the Boot option on
2) Placed the softload on it
3) Placed the contents of the harddrive on it
4) Made sure this harddrive is the only in the system
5) Reboot
6) Installed the softload as described in the helpfile
7) Instelled the zero pain as described
8) Reboot witout the softload. This works without a problem and info gives me RO 5.20
9) Reboot with softload it will will show some messages as discribed earlier but it will either hand in a black screen or the splash screen.
I will update in a moment with the unplug command
What should I do with the EDID case and what should I see

Hi Timo,

I would check that that the screen option is correct for your Iyonix/Monitor in configuration whilst in 5.20.

The Run file should say at the start of the file:

| Special variant for softload
| ========
| Keep the pre-EDID settings file hidden from a ROM that supports EDID.
| That way, any settings changes made by Screen Setup in !Configure won’t
| depend on unavailable features in the ROM that is selected to be run.

It should also create a PreEDID file as well if I remember correctly.

Hope that helps.

I have a 5.24 flash rom if you want to try installing that first but it may be good to get to the bottom of why it appears 5.28 does not work on your set up when softloading over 5.20.

Hi,

The first line of the !Run file reads
Set Alias$VIDCBandLimit X VIDCBandwidthLimit 200000000 200000000 200000000
VIDCBandLimit
etc. etc.

For screen saver it is :
Monitor on stand-by (DPMS Level 1)

Monitor Type : Acorn AKF600
Resolution : 800 × 600
Colours : 256
Frame rate : 75 Hz

Screen saver type
DPMS
Balnk delay : Off

I have also run *unplug this gives the following modules:
!Alarm
!Chars

Hi Timo,

Think your problem is that the updated !Run file in the softload has not been copied in correctly and thats why it blanks on softload.

It may be to do with your copy/over write settings.

My !Run file is as below:

| Special variant for softload
| ========
| Keep the pre-EDID settings file hidden from a ROM that supports EDID.
| That way, any settings changes made by Screen Setup in !Configure won’t
| depend on unavailable features in the ROM that is selected to be run.
Set PreDesk$Configure <Obey$Dir>.Monitor
RMEnsure ScreenModes 0.61 Set PreDesk$Configure <Obey$Dir>.PreEDID
| First time round copy the current settings as a basis for the pre-EDID set
IfThere <Obey$Dir>.PreEDID Then Else Copy <Obey$Dir>.Monitor <Obey$Dir>.PreEDID ~CF~V
/BootResources:Configure.ClrMonitor
/<PreDesk$Configure>

and my PreEDID file in the same directory is:

LoadModeFile BootResources:Configure.Monitors.LG.M2380Mod2
WimpMode X1920 Y1080 C16M F60

Save your version of the !Run file for safety.

Re install the softload and check that the !run file in your choices is the same as the one in the softload.

Reboot and go in to 5.20.

Check that the !Run file is the same and that a PreEDID file has been generated.

If not try setting your monitor via the configuration settings and again boot in to 5.20 and check things are correct.

If they are then try booting in to 5.28.

One other thought is when were the changes put in was it post 5.20? and hence it is assuming at least 5.22/5.24 as flashed?.

Hi, it is still at 5.20 I’m very wary to flash it to another version and certainly not to 5.28. I don’t have other versions available they disappear from this site when a new version arrives. I did see the !Run file as described by you is in https://www.riscosopen.org/zipfiles/platform/iyonix/TungstenDev.5.29.zip?1603605224 but not in the 5.28 distro…Could this the source of the problem ?.
It would indeed an interesting question which version should be in Flash.

Forgot to add I also have a monitor file in there that says:

LoadModeFile BootResources:Configure.Monitors.LG.M2380Mod2
WimpMode X1920 Y1080 C16M F60

So it is the same as the PreEDID and I guess depending on if the ROM supports EDID or not and if the machine supports EDID or not then which one gets run is determined by the logic in the !Run file.

Timo,

The !Run file is not in the 5.28 hard disc image but in the Softload archive for 5.28.

Hope that helps.

Doug

Unfortunately not in Tungsten-Soft.5.28.zip which I downloaded from ROOL just an hour ago or so ;-(

Hi Timo,

And now we see the issue!

It looks like it has gone from the Iyonix 5.28 softload archive.

It is in the 5.29 beta softload archive.

As there doesn’t seem to be much of a change, if at all, between 5.28 and 5.29 currently then download 5.29 beta softload and try that.

If it works then we know that the issue is the missing files in 5.28.

Looks like the modified !Run file in !Boot.ChoicesBoot.PreDesk.Configure was introduced from 5.25 soft downloads and is included in every odd numbered down load i.e 5.25/5.27/5.29 series BUT not the actaul supported one like 5.24 and 5.28!

Think a build script may need looking at for stable Tungsten Softloads.

I have downloaded the 5.29 softload from the website and again my screen remains black ;-(.

Hi Timo,

Did you install the 5.29 softload and then reboot back in to 5.20 first and then set your monitor again and then reboot and go in to 5.29?

Also I assume you checked that the new !Run file had overwritten your old one first.

Finally you said you had two unplugged modules and I would suggest you bring them back in to service as I am sure the module order has changed.

If none of these fix it then perhaps installing Reporter or Harinezumi may help find out what is going on in the boot sequence.

Hi because it is a HD only for this test I installed both the 5.29 and 5.29 softload. I will boot in 5.20
After I had enabled unplugged modules and set the screen I see a complete black screen not even a beep after the ROM has been expanded ;-(

“If none of these fix it then perhaps installing Reporter or Harinezumi may help find out what is going on in the boot sequence.”=> Where can I find those ?

Reporter is at http://www.avisoft.f9.co.uk
If you need any help, please contact me.

Unfortunately I have to continue with this project in a later stage ;-(. Thanks for all the support onto this stage but for now the screen remains black…

Harinezumi (as being discussed elsewhere) is currently at: http://heyrick.ddns.net/files/harinezumi_0-09alpha.zip

My proper site (that’s the Pi in my bedroom) will be updated soon(ish).

When I’m back I will install so we can hopefully find the problem. It would be a nice update for the Iyonix I have received. I like this machine

Hi Timo,

One other thing you could try is renaming your entire ¬Boot.Choices and thebn installing 5.29 softload again and booting in to 5.20 and then rebvooting again in to 5.29.

That would see if anything in your choices is causing an issue as you will run as new.

I also see you asking on another thread if anyone has older softload copies and I do have 5.22 plus 5.24 as well as a good selection of 5.21/523/5.25/5.27 softloads as well.