Driver:PC-88 - Revision history

Kale: Work around bug with image uploads

2026-07-19T16:37:56Z

Work around bug with image uploads

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:37, 19 July 2026
Line 50:		Line 50:
	- Anything that is recognized but incompatible with used N BIOS often throws the following gibberish text:		- Anything that is recognized but incompatible with used N BIOS often throws the following gibberish text:

	[[File:pc80xx_gibber.png]]		[[File:pc80xx_gibber.png]] temporary link [https://mamedev.emulab.it/kale/fast/files/pc80xx_gibber.png]

	This also applies to N-80 '''pc8001mk2''' and N-80SR '''pc8001mk2sr'''. In turn, running a N80 SW in N80SR mode will just spin floppy indefinitely, running a N80SR SW in N80 mode will throw an explicit "NON N-80 DISK BASIC"		This also applies to N-80 '''pc8001mk2''' and N-80SR '''pc8001mk2sr'''. In turn, running a N80 SW in N80SR mode will just spin floppy indefinitely, running a N80SR SW in N80 mode will throw an explicit "NON N-80 DISK BASIC"

Kale at 10:45, 12 July 2026

2026-07-12T10:45:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:45, 12 July 2026
Line 36:		Line 36:
	[[File:Pc88_0001.png]]		[[File:Pc88_0001.png]]

	These needs BASIC to be set to N-BASIC and preferably V1S or V1H in BASIC speed/Version select dips. The other way around a.k.a. trying to load any of the N88 SWs in N-Basic mode will either spin floppy indefinitely (throwing a blinking "Syntax error" and repeating boot), just refuse to load, throw a "V2 BASIC only" message or just switch to N88 mode by itself (last 2 for 1990-ish SWs).		These needs BASIC to be set to N-BASIC and preferably V1S or V1H in BASIC speed/Version select dips.

			The other way around a.k.a. trying to load any of the N88 SWs in N-Basic mode will either spin floppy indefinitely (throwing a blinking "Syntax error" and repeating boot), just refuse to load, throw a "V2 BASIC only" message or just switch to N88 mode by itself (last 2 for 1990-ish SWs).

	=== Loading N-Basic SWs on PC-80xx ===		=== Loading N-Basic SWs on PC-80xx ===

Kale: Spelling

2026-07-12T10:45:03Z

Spelling

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:45, 12 July 2026
Line 36:		Line 36:
	[[File:Pc88_0001.png]]		[[File:Pc88_0001.png]]

	These needs BASIC to be set to N-BASIC and preferably V1S or V1H in BASIC speed/Version select dips. ~~Obviously~~ trying to load any of the N88 SWs in N-Basic mode will ~~often fail one way~~ or ~~another~~.		These needs BASIC to be set to N-BASIC and preferably V1S or V1H in BASIC speed/Version select dips. The other way around a.k.a. trying to load any of the N88 SWs in N-Basic mode will either spin floppy indefinitely (throwing a blinking "Syntax error" and repeating boot), just refuse to load, throw a "V2 BASIC only" message or just switch to N88 mode by itself (last 2 for 1990-ish SWs).

	=== Loading N-Basic SWs on PC-80xx ===		=== Loading N-Basic SWs on PC-80xx ===

Kale: Spelling

2026-07-12T10:38:55Z

Spelling

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:38, 12 July 2026
Line 25:		Line 25:
	== Common boot troubleshooting ==		== Common boot troubleshooting ==

	The vast majority of PC-88 SWs are self-bootable (so they should leave the BASIC prompt after few seconds). A few of them requires a separate Disk BASIC, which are around V1S/V1H modes at best. To load those, insert a System Disk like 'n88syst' in first drive then swap it with SW of choice. Issue a 'files' to check ~~files content~~, then 'load "<casesensitive_filename>"' finally run if no error arises.		The vast majority of PC-88 SWs are self-bootable (so they should leave the BASIC prompt after few seconds). A few of them requires a separate Disk BASIC, which are around V1S/V1H modes at best. To load those, insert a System Disk like 'n88syst' in first drive then swap it with SW of choice. Issue a 'files' to check disk contents, then 'load "<casesensitive_filename>"' finally run if no error arises.
	For example load "DRK1" from this picture, from the 'ankosei' set.		For example load "DRK1" from this picture, from the 'ankosei' set.

Kale at 10:37, 12 July 2026

2026-07-12T10:37:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:37, 12 July 2026
Line 58:		Line 58:
	[[File:PC88_0002.png]]		[[File:PC88_0002.png]]

	When this happens, flip the BASIC version select dip to V1 Mode. A few oddballs will lack sound from '''pc8801mk2sr''' and onward machines, these wants the original '''pc8801''' / '''pc8801mk2''' BIOSes for buzzer sound (i.e. no OPN/OPNA support), or an expansion sound card.		When this happens, flip the BASIC version select dip to V1 Mode and soft reset. A few oddballs will lack sound from '''pc8801mk2sr''' and onward machines, these wants the original '''pc8801''' / '''pc8801mk2''' BIOSes for buzzer sound (i.e. no OPN/OPNA support), or an expansion sound card.

	The other way around (loading V2 SW in V1 mode) is usually more explicit, with a "SET V2 MODE" drawn on screen and hanging there.		The other way around (loading V2 SW in V1 mode) is usually more explicit, with a "SET V2 MODE" drawn on screen and hanging there.

Kale at 13:59, 10 July 2026

2026-07-10T13:59:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:59, 10 July 2026
Line 7:		Line 7:
	<nowiki>		<nowiki>
	N[-Basic]: PC-8001		N[-Basic]: PC-8001
	~~N80SR~~: PC-8001mk2SR		N-80: PC-8001mkII
			N-80SR: PC-8001mk2SR
	V1S: original PC-8801		V1S: original PC-8801
	V1H: PC-8801mkIISR+ in PC-8801 compatible mode and weights reduced.		V1H: PC-8801mkIISR+ in PC-8801 compatible mode and weights reduced.
Line 14:		Line 15:
	V3: PC-88VA</nowiki>		V3: PC-88VA</nowiki>

	V1/V2 are also known as N88-Basic. Later iterations are more or less compatible with the previous ones, provided you set operational mode settings properly.		V1/V2 are also known as N88-Basic. Later iterations are more or less compatible with the previous ones, provided you set operational mode settings properly. Exceptions are:

			- N-80 is compatible with '''pc8001mk2''' and '''pc8001mk2sr''' only.

			- N-80SR is '''pc8001mk2sr''' only.

			- '''pc88va''' minimum support is for V1S (and driver can't run anything that isn't a V3 for now and, even if it does it's been known to be a rather shoddy compatibility).

	== Common boot troubleshooting ==		== Common boot troubleshooting ==
Line 23:		Line 30:
	[[File:PC88_0000.png]]		[[File:PC88_0000.png]]

	=== N-Basic~~/N80SR~~ SWs ===		=== Loading N-Basic SWs on PC-88xx ===

	Loading PC-8001 SWs in PC-88xx may show the following garbage text layer if run from N88 Basic:		Loading PC-8001 SWs in PC-88xx may show the following garbage text layer if run from N88 Basic:
Line 30:		Line 37:

	These needs BASIC to be set to N-BASIC and preferably V1S or V1H in BASIC speed/Version select dips. Obviously trying to load any of the N88 SWs in N-Basic mode will often fail one way or another.		These needs BASIC to be set to N-BASIC and preferably V1S or V1H in BASIC speed/Version select dips. Obviously trying to load any of the N88 SWs in N-Basic mode will often fail one way or another.

			=== Loading N-Basic SWs on PC-80xx ===

			Running a N-Basic SW directly on '''pc8001''' should either work or not.

			- Sometimes will just prompt for an "Ok" without any extra context, those will actually require at least 32K of RAM (current default: 16K).

			- Late N-Basic games such as '''pc8801_flop:hangon''' seems to require a v1.5+ N BIOS -> '''pc8801mk2sr''' and later only.

			- Anything that is recognized but incompatible with used N BIOS often throws the following gibberish text:

			[[File:pc80xx_gibber.png]]

			This also applies to N-80 '''pc8001mk2''' and N-80SR '''pc8001mk2sr'''. In turn, running a N80 SW in N80SR mode will just spin floppy indefinitely, running a N80SR SW in N80 mode will throw an explicit "NON N-80 DISK BASIC"

	=== SW boots but video lack red gradient ===		=== SW boots but video lack red gradient ===
Line 44:		Line 65:

	'''pc8801fh''' and all later machines progressively replace physical dip switches with an EEPROM based software dip menu. This is callable by holding PC key at startup.		'''pc8801fh''' and all later machines progressively replace physical dip switches with an EEPROM based software dip menu. This is callable by holding PC key at startup.
	Notice that only '''pc8801ma''' ~~has~~ setup bank dumped at the time of this writing, cfr. [https://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=125340#Post125340 this bannister link] for further info.		Notice that only '''pc8801ma''' and '''pc8801mc''' have setup bank dumped at the time of this writing, cfr. [https://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=125340#Post125340 this bannister link] for further info.

	== PC-8801MC ==		== PC-8801MC ==

Kale: Fill in notes for FH+ setup menu and MC

2026-06-21T12:02:30Z

Fill in notes for FH+ setup menu and MC

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 V1H: PC-8801mkIISR+ in PC-8801 compatible mode and weights reduced.
 V2: PC-8801mkIISR+ native mode
-MHz: Z80 high clock select for PC-8801FE2+ machines
+MHz: Z80 high clock select for PC-8801FH+ machines
 V3: PC-88VA</nowiki>
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 The other way around (loading V2 SW in V1 mode) is usually more explicit, with a "SET V2 MODE" drawn on screen and hanging there.

Kale: Created page with "= NEC PC-88xx architecture = == BASIC versioning == PC-8001/PC-8801 and children employs a BASIC operational mode. These are controlled in dip-switches that exists in physical form on real HW except for newer machines which moves them in a software setup mode. N[-Basic]: PC-8001 N80SR: PC-8001mk2SR V1S: original PC-8801 V1H: PC-8801mkIISR+ in PC-8801 compatible mode and weights reduced. V2: PC-8801mkIISR+ native mode 8 MHz: Z80 high clock select for PC-8801F..."

2026-06-09T14:48:24Z

Created page with "= NEC PC-88xx architecture = == BASIC versioning == PC-8001/PC-8801 and children employs a BASIC operational mode. These are controlled in dip-switches that exists in physical form on real HW except for newer machines which moves them in a software setup mode. <nowiki> N[-Basic]: PC-8001 N80SR: PC-8001mk2SR V1S: original PC-8801 V1H: PC-8801mkIISR+ in PC-8801 compatible mode and weights reduced. V2: PC-8801mkIISR+ native mode 8 MHz: Z80 high clock select for PC-8801F..."

New page

= NEC PC-88xx architecture =

== BASIC versioning ==

PC-8001/PC-8801 and children employs a BASIC operational mode. These are controlled in dip-switches that exists in physical form on real HW except for newer machines which moves them in a software setup mode.

<nowiki>
N[-Basic]: PC-8001
N80SR: PC-8001mk2SR
V1S: original PC-8801
V1H: PC-8801mkIISR+ in PC-8801 compatible mode and weights reduced.
V2: PC-8801mkIISR+ native mode
8 MHz: Z80 high clock select for PC-8801FE2+ machines
V3: PC-88VA</nowiki>

V1/V2 are also known as N88-Basic. Later iterations are more or less compatible with the previous ones, provided you set operational mode settings properly.

== Common boot troubleshooting ==

The vast majority of PC-88 SWs are self-bootable (so they should leave the BASIC prompt after few seconds). A few of them requires a separate Disk BASIC, which are around V1S/V1H modes at best. To load those, insert a System Disk like 'n88syst' in first drive then swap it with SW of choice. Issue a 'files' to check files content, then 'load "<casesensitive_filename>"' finally run if no error arises.
For example load "DRK1" from this picture, from the 'ankosei' set.

[[File:PC88_0000.png]]

=== N-Basic/N80SR SWs ===

Loading PC-8001 SWs in PC-88xx may show the following garbage text layer if run from N88 Basic:

[[File:Pc88_0001.png]]

These needs BASIC to be set to N-BASIC and preferably V1S or V1H in BASIC speed/Version select dips. Obviously trying to load any of the N88 SWs in N-Basic mode will often fail one way or another.

=== SW boots but video lack red gradient ===

Trying to load a N88 V1S/V1H game under V2 mode will generally show like this:

[[File:PC88_0002.png]]

When this happens, flip the BASIC version select dip to V1 Mode. A few oddballs will lack sound from '''pc8801mk2sr''' and onward machines, these wants the original '''pc8801''' / '''pc8801mk2''' BIOSes for buzzer sound (i.e. no OPN/OPNA support), or an expansion sound card.

The other way around (loading V2 SW in V1 mode) is usually more explicit, with a "SET V2 MODE" drawn on screen and hanging there.