MESS Troubleshooting - Revision history

Mizapf at 20:24, 24 February 2023

2023-02-24T20:24:31Z

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 The HSGPL was sold by the System 99'er User Group ([[SNUG]]), so you should ask them to provide you with a suitable ROM package.
 === Error loading multicart: no pcb found ===
@@ Line 31: / Line 23: @@
 == During runtime ==
 === RS232/PIO output hangs ===

Stephen Shaw: /* Screen is black */ add links to snug article

2017-09-14T12:59:06Z

Screen is black: add links to snug article

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:59, 14 September 2017
Line 11:		Line 11:
	A1 '''(GRAMKracker)''': You have activated the GRAMKracker support, you have set the GK DIP switches to point to GRAM 0 (instead of OpSys), and you have not inserted the GRAMKracker cartridge, or the cartridge is empty. Please read the GK manual.		A1 '''(GRAMKracker)''': You have activated the GRAMKracker support, you have set the GK DIP switches to point to GRAM 0 (instead of OpSys), and you have not inserted the GRAMKracker cartridge, or the cartridge is empty. Please read the GK manual.

	A2 '''(HSGPL)''': You switched on the HSGPL without previously uploading an operating system to the HSGPL. As the HSGPL is always active for the SGCPU, you will encounter the same problem there.		A2 '''(HSGPL)''': You switched on the [[HSGPL]] without previously uploading an operating system to the HSGPL. As the HSGPL is always active for the SGCPU, you will encounter the same problem there.

	The HSGPL is a buffered memory card which replaces the console's ROM and GROM content. When you turn it on, MESS automatically unplugs all memory in the console until you turn off the card again. When you buy an HSGPL card you get a preloaded system. To achieve this in MESS, you have to set the HSGPL configuration switch to "Flash". This allows access to the card but prevents it from taking control. Now you can use a tool like DSRLDR to flash the (emulated) ROMs on the card using a ROM package. When done, you must copy the desired operating system version from the backup positions in the card to the location expected by the system (ROM and GROM). I have written a simple tool to perform this step. Finally, put the switch to the "on" position and reset the emulator.		The HSGPL is a buffered memory card which replaces the console's ROM and GROM content. When you turn it on, MESS automatically unplugs all memory in the console until you turn off the card again. When you buy an HSGPL card you get a preloaded system. To achieve this in MESS, you have to set the HSGPL configuration switch to "Flash". This allows access to the card but prevents it from taking control. Now you can use a tool like DSRLDR to flash the (emulated) ROMs on the card using a ROM package. When done, you must copy the desired operating system version from the backup positions in the card to the location expected by the system (ROM and GROM). I have written a simple tool to perform this step. Finally, put the switch to the "on" position and reset the emulator.

	The HSGPL was sold by the System 99'er User Group (SNUG), so you should ask them to provide you with a suitable ROM package.		The HSGPL was sold by the System 99'er User Group ([[SNUG]]), so you should ask them to provide you with a suitable ROM package.

	=== Strange error message on startup ===		=== Strange error message on startup ===

Mizapf: /* During runtime */

2014-05-20T15:11:08Z

During runtime

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:11, 20 May 2014
Line 31:		Line 31:

	== During runtime ==		== During runtime ==

	~~=== Strange looking selection list ===~~
	~~'''Q: My cartridge selection list contains unreadable characters and colored boxes.'''~~

	~~A: You have plugged in the GRAMKracker cartridge, but you have not switched the cartridge system to "GRAM Kracker" mode. Check the DIP switch menu.~~

	~~=== INSERT CARTRIDGE ===~~
	~~'''Q: My selection list only says "INSERT CARTRIDGE".'''~~

	A: You have activated the GRAMKracker support, but no GRAMKracker cartridge is inserted. This is a RPK file like all the other cartridges and contains the ROM of the GK. Some were reported having the name "mg_gramkracker.rpk". You can plug in the cartridge at any slot; the guest cartridge goes in any other slot.

	~~mess ti99_4a -cart1 mg_gramkracker.rpk -cart2 ti_invaders.rpk~~

	=== Plugging in a cartridge ===		=== Plugging in a cartridge ===

Mizapf at 10:43, 21 December 2011

2011-12-21T10:43:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:43, 21 December 2011
Line 24:		Line 24:

	There is currently no work-around except to avoid setting properties in MESSUI. It is recommended to use [[Alternative MESS front-ends\|another front-end]] instead of MESSUI.		There is currently no work-around except to avoid setting properties in MESSUI. It is recommended to use [[Alternative MESS front-ends\|another front-end]] instead of MESSUI.

			=== Error loading multicart: no pcb found ===
			'''Q: I'm getting this message on startup.'''

			A: You seem to have attempted to mount a cartridge using the (long obsoleted) "bin" format. Please use only [[MESS multicart system \| RPK packages]] as cartridges. You can find almost all known cartridges on the FTP server of whtech.

	== During runtime ==		== During runtime ==

Mizapf at 17:33, 20 October 2011

2011-10-20T17:33:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:33, 20 October 2011
Line 50:		Line 50:

	A: You have probably forgotten to "insert" an image into the RS232 or PIO device. Check the file manager and define an output file (similar to inserting a disk image into a drive). When printing to PIO or RS232, the contents are appended to the image file.		A: You have probably forgotten to "insert" an image into the RS232 or PIO device. Check the file manager and define an output file (similar to inserting a disk image into a drive). When printing to PIO or RS232, the contents are appended to the image file.

			[[Category:MESS]]

Mizapf: /* On startup */

2011-04-27T19:20:00Z

On startup

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:20, 27 April 2011
Line 17:		Line 17:
	The HSGPL was sold by the System 99'er User Group (SNUG), so you should ask them to provide you with a suitable ROM package.		The HSGPL was sold by the System 99'er User Group (SNUG), so you should ask them to provide you with a suitable ROM package.

	=== ~~Emulation does not start with strange~~ error message ===		=== Strange error message on startup ===

	'''Q: Emulator refuses to start, outputs "Could not load controller file τîÇµà«τÖ░µò⌐w%d x %d.cfg"'''		'''Q: Emulator refuses to start, outputs "Could not load controller file τîÇµà«τÖ░µò⌐w%d x %d.cfg"'''

Mizapf: /* On startup */

2011-04-27T19:19:18Z

On startup

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:19, 27 April 2011
Line 16:		Line 16:

	The HSGPL was sold by the System 99'er User Group (SNUG), so you should ask them to provide you with a suitable ROM package.		The HSGPL was sold by the System 99'er User Group (SNUG), so you should ask them to provide you with a suitable ROM package.

			=== Emulation does not start with strange error message ===

			'''Q: Emulator refuses to start, outputs "Could not load controller file τîÇµà«τÖ░µò⌐w%d x %d.cfg"'''

			A: You have attempted to start an emulation using MESSUI (version 0.142 and higher). There is a bug in MESSUI which causes a corrupted line to be inserted in the configuration file. As it seems this happens when you set the properties in the context menu of the system. To fix this problem, load the configuration file (systemName.ini or mess.ini) into an editor, search for a line starting with "ctrlr" in the configuration files (systemName.ini and mess.ini), remove this line, and save the file again.

			There is currently no work-around except to avoid setting properties in MESSUI. It is recommended to use [[Alternative MESS front-ends\|another front-end]] instead of MESSUI.

	== During runtime ==		== During runtime ==

Mizapf: /* On startup */

2011-04-09T16:39:06Z

On startup

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:39, 9 April 2011
Line 1:		Line 1:
	== On startup ==		== On startup ==

			=== Error message concerning shared object file (Linux) ===
			'''Q: When trying to start mess I'm getting an error message "error while loading shared libraries: libSDL_ttf-2.0.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory".'''

			A: You must install SDL support, in this case the TTF library is missing. Check your software installation and add the required libraries.

	=== Screen is black ===		=== Screen is black ===

Mizapf: /* During runtime */

2010-11-18T20:07:38Z

During runtime

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:07, 18 November 2010
Line 25:		Line 25:

	mess ti99_4a -cart1 mg_gramkracker.rpk -cart2 ti_invaders.rpk		mess ti99_4a -cart1 mg_gramkracker.rpk -cart2 ti_invaders.rpk

			=== Plugging in a cartridge ===
			'''Q: When I plug in a cartridge at runtime, the emulator resets, and then no cartridge is shown.'''

			A: MESS 0.140 saves the currently mounted media to a system-specific ini file. You need to set ''writeconfig'' to 1 in mess.ini. Note that all inserted media will be automounted on subsequent starts.

			New releases of MESS may require to recreate the ini file; this is possible with the command line switch ''-createconfig''.

	=== RS232/PIO output hangs ===		=== RS232/PIO output hangs ===

Mizapf: /* PIO output hangs */

2010-09-19T20:14:25Z

PIO output hangs

New page

== On startup ==

=== Screen is black ===
'''Q: The system does not start. The screen remains black.'''

A1 '''(GRAMKracker)''': You have activated the GRAMKracker support, you have set the GK DIP switches to point to GRAM 0 (instead of OpSys), and you have not inserted the GRAMKracker cartridge, or the cartridge is empty. Please read the GK manual.

A2 '''(HSGPL)''': You switched on the HSGPL without previously uploading an operating system to the HSGPL. As the HSGPL is always active for the SGCPU, you will encounter the same problem there.

The HSGPL is a buffered memory card which replaces the console's ROM and GROM content. When you turn it on, MESS automatically unplugs all memory in the console until you turn off the card again. When you buy an HSGPL card you get a preloaded system. To achieve this in MESS, you have to set the HSGPL configuration switch to "Flash". This allows access to the card but prevents it from taking control. Now you can use a tool like DSRLDR to flash the (emulated) ROMs on the card using a ROM package. When done, you must copy the desired operating system version from the backup positions in the card to the location expected by the system (ROM and GROM). I have written a simple tool to perform this step. Finally, put the switch to the "on" position and reset the emulator.

The HSGPL was sold by the System 99'er User Group (SNUG), so you should ask them to provide you with a suitable ROM package.

== During runtime ==

=== Strange looking selection list ===
'''Q: My cartridge selection list contains unreadable characters and colored boxes.'''

A: You have plugged in the GRAMKracker cartridge, but you have not switched the cartridge system to "GRAM Kracker" mode. Check the DIP switch menu.

=== INSERT CARTRIDGE ===
'''Q: My selection list only says "INSERT CARTRIDGE".'''

A: You have activated the GRAMKracker support, but no GRAMKracker cartridge is inserted. This is a RPK file like all the other cartridges and contains the ROM of the GK. Some were reported having the name "mg_gramkracker.rpk". You can plug in the cartridge at any slot; the guest cartridge goes in any other slot.

mess ti99_4a -cart1 mg_gramkracker.rpk -cart2 ti_invaders.rpk

=== RS232/PIO output hangs ===
'''Q: When I try to output a file through RS232 or PIO, the computer seems to hang.'''

A: You have probably forgotten to "insert" an image into the RS232 or PIO device. Check the file manager and define an output file (similar to inserting a disk image into a drive). When printing to PIO or RS232, the contents are appended to the image file.