Kale: Initial draft of Risc OS usage

2026-09-09T13:31:28Z

Initial draft of Risc OS usage

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= Basic usage =
Acorn Archimedes and the later Risc PC variants are rather simple computers to use. Follows a non-exhaustive list of catches about daily use:

OS is installed in BIOS ROM, doesn't need an external boot device. For normal SWs the most compatible of them is Risc OS 3.11, with few exceptions under Risc OS 2.x, check -listbios output if unsure.

Roughly:

- <code>aa310 -bios 311</code> or <code>aa310 -bios 201</code> for early SWs;
- <code>aa3010</code> for mid to late SWs;
- <code>aa5000</code> for stuff requiring ARM3 (i.e. "missing !Cache file" thrown with running a SW such as Hostages in <code>aa3010</code>) or offering HDD installation (either optional or mandatory).

The GUI is named Desktop (capitalized), the Terminal/Task window is CLI.

== Desktop Mode ==

In Desktop mouse single left button click on a drive will fetch its contents, double click `!` prefixed "directories" to execute. Most SWs will just auto-execute its contents, a few others will instead move in Desktop task bar on bottom right, single click to execute it. Middle button on any item brings a context menu, including option to close previously opened Apps with <code>Quit</code>.

Pressing F12 brings a CLI prompt, escape by entering an empty line. Notice that CLI output will respect Scroll Lock, in case you get only a blinking cursor on bottom then you are in the wrong Scroll mode. Obviously given MAME keyboard default means you probably want to map that key to elsewhere.

On <code>rpc700</code> and later (Risc OS 3.60+) pressing CTRL+F12 brings a Task window, which instead requires closing with a mouse to escape.

== CLI mode ==

In CLI, fetching contents of a drive is done by first updating the current active drive by <code>dir :<n></code> then <code>Ex</code> for the actual list of drive contents. <code>dir :0</code> selects first floppy, <code>dir :4</code> selects the Hard Drive (if there's any attached).
You can skip the first step if you have only one device attached (by default any system before <code>aa5000</code>)

Middle clicking bottom right icon (Acorn Computers logo unless on Risc OS 4.x+), brings a context menu for Desktop itself. Among other things this is where you can also Exit the Desktop, moving to a Supervisor CLI mode. This is mostly same as a regular CLI, the most important distinction is that some SWs may have a <code>!Boot</code> ''obey script'' inside which may require execution without Desktop thread being active. Type <code>Desktop</code> from a Supervisor to return in GUI mode again.

== System Configuration ==

Basic configuration can be done via <code>Apps.!Configure</code>. Extended configuration is viewable in CLI thru <code>Status</code>, settable thru <code>Configure</code>. A non-exhaustive list of useful commands in there:

- <code>Configure MonitorType <n|Auto></code> sets the monitor type. <code>Auto</code> Default is often 0 (TV mode), 3 for VGA, 4 for SVGA. Note that while (S)VGA is generally prettier is also not 100% compatible with everything (i.e. some games expects PAL-like 50 Hz refresh rates rather than 60+ Hz that VGA offers);

- <code>Configure Mode <n|Auto></code> sets the video resolution and the pixel depth.

- <code>Configure Drive <n></code> selects the boot device.

- <code>Configure Floppies <n></code>, <code>Configure HardDiscs <n></code> and <code>Configure IDEDiscs <n></code> sets the number of floppy drives, SCSI and IDE discs present on system.

= See also =
*[https://www.riscos.com/support/developers/prm/cli.html Risc OS CLI]

*[https://www.riscos.com/support/developers/prm/modes.html Risc OS video Modes ref table]

*[https://www.riscos.com/support/developers/prm/commandscripts.html Risc OS create an Obey script]

*[[System-Specific Setup and Information]]

Driver:RiscOS - Revision history

Kale: Initial draft of Risc OS usage