Sofarun and Megaram: Function Errors when trying to load some ROMs

Resident (51)

16-12-2021, 13:57

Hi everyone!

I'm brand new to the MSX platform and have only *just* purchases a mapper / megaram cartridge. It's preloaded with Sofarom 8, which is great.

However, I get 'function error on line xx' on several ROMs that prevent them from loading. For example, I can't load Moonblaster or similar music tools such as Philips Music Creator. These are larger 360K DSKs, mind you, but I thought they might load with help from the megaram.

Is there something I am doing wrong or something I can change to get them to load?

Thank you from an MSX n00b!

بواسطة sdsnatcher73

Prophet (3959)

17-12-2021, 05:37

Hi, DSK are disk images. ROM are rom dumps. They should be treated differently. SofaRun should use SRI command to execute the disk emulation and MegaRAM will not help here, it is best to use the mapper in this case. Note that disk emulation is not perfect (neither is ROM emulation of course but it is better). So some disk based software may not work properly.

بواسطة Soft Automaton

Resident (51)

19-12-2021, 22:08

Aha OK. I better figure out those distinctions in Sofarun and elsewhere.

Is there a basic user guide around for any of this? I'm seeing Sofarun for the first time. I have no idea what it's capable of, nor do I know any meaningful commands (at all, frankly, in both MSX or Sofarun).

بواسطة Soft Automaton

Resident (51)

30-03-2022, 23:14

Hi again,

What is SRI? I don't see if this is something need to edit somewhere in Sofarun. I have tried to look at the settings for a particular DSK or ROM but I don't actually understand how most of it should be configured. I don't see a reference to "SRI".

- Is Sofarun supposed to just apply SRI on its own?
- Is there Soafarun documentation that explains the settings so I know when something needs a specific change on a ROM/DSK/CAS?

بواسطة Manuel

Ascended (19468)

30-03-2022, 23:54

SRI is SofaRunIt, the program that attempts to emulate a disk controller, so you can run a disk image on your real MSX.

All info here: https://www.louthrax.net/mgr/

بواسطة Soft Automaton

Resident (51)

06-04-2022, 23:44

Fantastic. Thank you!

Every single step in this environment is new to me.

I see that SRI is the SR folder on the SD MR/MM Cartridge I have so it must be ready to go. I'll try it out and hopefully I can get it working. I guess this means that Sofarun is not for that purpose. Is it just for ROM support but nothing else? I thought it was DSK, ZIP and maybe IMG too? I must be wrong.

EDIT1: I'm trying to run it from Sofarun didn't know what to do with the SRI.COM file - It loaded it and ran through what looked like the HELP / README, then the program closed. Now I'm trying Nextor but I get a redirection error. One the surface it looks like I'm close but I could be using the wrong tool for the job. I can't tell.

a) Am I supposed to be running Nextor to load SRI?
b) What's the correct syntax for a path? I have the DSK in an Audio folder on the and SD: A:/PROG/AUDIO/moonbl~.dsk

EDIT2:
As you can see I'm trying to load Moonblaster. I tried another DSK file of it and did seem to do something more than the last file. Still no luck. Seems to freeze in the native basic. However, I'm on MSX1 too (Yamaha CX5M) with an SD cartridge. Maybe it's not compatible.

بواسطة Manuel

Ascended (19468)

07-04-2022, 00:27

Moonblaster is for MSX2.

There's no need to run SRI separately. Sofarun will use it for you when you select a disk image file.

بواسطة Soft Automaton

Resident (51)

07-04-2022, 01:16

OK that's what I just found out so thank you for confirming that ... so quickly too!

I suppose that means that even an SD Mapper / Megaram won't make any difference. Right now I'm just trying to see what will run at all. I'm still acquainting myself with the machine and this environment (which I'm enjoying quite a bit despite not knowing what I'm doing at all!

بواسطة Haze

Master (151)

07-04-2022, 10:30

Oh, there are still so many good recommendations for MSX (1)! You'll probably find some "top" or "best of" lists here on the forums for recommendations, if you want to find out what some of the classics are.

If anything, I can always recommend looking at the amazing games are still being put out for the MSXdev competitions! Those always feel like a treasure trove of content.