new Nova drivers

[Idek Tramielski]

- new type 8 Nova ET4000 driver for MegaSTE and TT with added SC15025 support
https://silicon-heaven.org/atari/nova/

- added CrazyDots MegaSTE driver with opitonal redirect
https://silicon-heaven.org/atari/nova/MegaSTE

[TheNameOfTheGame]

Thank you!

[joska]

Would it be possible to build the ET4000 driver for the Falcon?

[Idek Tramielski]

Would it be possible to build the ET4000 driver for the Falcon?

I am quite sure that this is possible. It requires modifying the drivers and it might also be necessary to change the GAL content.
Since my Falcons are currently not on my workbench, I can't easily check the situation right now. Next time when I have a Falcon in front of me, I will do a quick test, but I will not promise how soon that will happen.

[piotrk]

Hi @Idek!

Is any change to compile Menu for Nova with English version?

Best,
Peter

[dimfil]

Hi @Idek!

Is any change to compile Menu for Nova with English version?

Best,
Peter

I think you should try xmenu. Better option to my opinion with a point 'n click interface and you need not to know any German at all, just what the words "speichern" and "abbruch" mean

This is how it looks like :

20171109_184535.jpg

[piotrk]

OK.. Works... : )))

Well... I should talk with Lotharek, that all Polish software and documentation for retro computers should be written in Polish for fun

[piotrk]

Cubase with NOVA driver (ATI Mach32, 1024x768x256):

Zrzut ekranu 2017-12-09 o 18.57.43.png

and after reboot I have this:

Zrzut ekranu 2017-12-09 o 18.57.52.png

[dimfil]

Have you checked the order of the files in AUTO folder?
Emulator.prg should be first, then menu (or xmenu) then sta_vdi.

[piotrk]

AUTO folder without sorting:
emulator.bib
emulator.prg
xmenu.prg
sta_vdi.bib
sta_bdi.prg
xmenu.inf

but.... after cold reboot (turn off computer) works fine.... This is after Cubase hang.

[piotrk]

Cubase 640x480x2 Nova ATI Mach32 / Atari MSTE:

Zrzut ekranu 2017-12-09 o 19.21.50.png

[piotrk]

It will be nice to debug this... if any chance to that... After all many of us want to use Cubase with hi res....

In next few days I will have latest orginal Cubase 3 + Cubase Score with red dongle. I will test it again.

[piotrk]

I've noticed that Cubase hangs after move of mouse...

[piotrk]

@dimfil

I've changed order with belowed (XMENU instead of MENU). Right now booting is lottery.. Sometimes it works, sometimes is like the last screen in previous message.

Atari Mega STE 4Mb /TOS 2.06 UK / 40Mb disk / Nova ATI Mach32

Is any chance to make it stable? Maybe this is case of Hard Disk driver ?

-------------------

"EMULATOR.PRG initialisiert die Grafikkarte, wirft auf dem Originalbild-
schirm 2 Bomben, wenn er die Grafikkarte nicht findet. Dies
kann zwei Ursachen haben, entweder defekter VME-Bus oder
falscher Treiber installiert.
EMULATOR.BIB wenn vorhanden, wird die Grafikausgabe nach dem EMULATOR.PRG
auf die Grafikkarte umgeschaltet. Hierbei wird die erste in
der EMULATOR.BIB angegebene AuflĒsung benutzt.
MENU.PRG hier werden die AuflĒsungen und Farbanzahl ausgewĄhlt. Man
kann hier auch angeben, daě das Bild auf dem ATARI-Ausgang
erscheinen soll, dann wird das STA_VDI.PRG in STA_VDI.PR um-
benannt. Es kann eine Tastenkombination festgelegt werden,
bei der nach dem Booten das Menu erscheint. Bei Sondertasten
wei z. B. Shift hat der ATARI leichte Schwierigkeiten diese
zu erkennen, wenn vorher nicht eine beliebige "klickende"
Taste gedrĀckt wurde. Wenn es Probleme gibt auf "3 Sekunden"
stellen, dann wartet das Menu 3 Sekunden auf irgendeinen
Tastendruck.
STA_VDI.PRG das NOVA VDI fĀr alle Farbtiefen, macht das gleiche wie NVDI,
sollte daher nicht gleichzeitig betrieben werden. Ausnahme:
Sie verwenden NVDI als GDOS, dann darf aber kein Screentreiber
geladen werden und NVDI muě hinter STA_VDI stehen. Das Laden
der Screentreiber verhindert man, indem die NVDIDRV?.SYS-
Dateien lĒscht oder umbenennt oder aus dem GEMSYS-Ordner ent-
fernt.
STA_VDI.BIB die AuflĒsungsbibliothek, daraus kĒnnen Sie im Menu auswĄhlen.
Sie kĒnnen im Ordner Monitore die fĀr Sie passende .BIB aus-
wĄhlen, in STA_VDI.BIB umbenennen und in den Autoordner
kopieren.
Eventuell:
STA_VDI.INF hier kĒnnen zusĄtzliche Funktionen des STA_VDI.PRG eingestellt
werden."


-------------------

[dimfil]

@dimfil

I've changed order with belowed (XMENU instead of MENU). Right now booting is lottery.. Sometimes it works, sometimes is like the last screen in previous message.

Atari Mega STE 4Mb /TOS 2.06 UK / 40Mb disk / Nova ATI Mach32

Is any chance to make it stable? Maybe this is case of Hard Disk driver ?

Well, sorry but I am not familiar with Cubase and maybe there are some specs of this app that are not compatible with the graphics card.
I don't believe that it could be a driver issue. At least, I checked my setup with two different drivers (ppera and hddriver) and there were no problems at all.

I should advise to double check the following :
- that the adapter and the card are in position
- that the jumper on the adapter is at the mega ste position
- that you use the correct gal
- that the driver you use is the proper one for your dac (check again photos on idek's site for the dac chip)
- the order of emulator, xmenu and sta_vdi using Autosort utility

If you have nvdi do checks with and without it. Use xboot to do it easily. Also, do checks with the GDOS option of menu/xmenu initialized or not. It makes a difference in some occasions.

Don't forget that if you find a working setup in menu/xmenu then you have to save it (Speichern) for it to be used on next boot.

Sorry but I cannot think of something else that could be an issue except that Cubase is incompatible with resolutions other than the fixed st ones (and it is a common issue with a lot of apps).

[piotrk]

@dimfil

1. Well after cold reboot (power on) usually I don't have a problem. Only Cubase's hang. Maybe I will check Autosort utility as well, but I've hard that is mostly usably in case of TOS <=2.05 because in 2.06 it is possible to set View > Not sorted.

2. How to check NVDI (version / enable/disable ) ?

Best,
Piotr

[dimfil]

@dimfil

1. Well after cold reboot (power on) usually I don't have a problem. Only Cubase's hang. Maybe I will check Autosort utility as well, but I've hard that is mostly usably in case of TOS <=2.05 because in 2.06 it is possible to set View > Not sorted.

2. How to check NVDI (version / enable/disable ) ?

Best,
Piotr

The autosort utility is just easier to check and resort the auto folder, that's all.

If you have NVDI installed you will see the nvdi file in auto folder. If yes, it should be sorted after all files relative to the graphics card.
Even if you have it installed, in the menu/xmenu you can enable/disable by the gdos option. So you have some combinations to check.

[Bikerbob]

Sorry I am new to this, but I have my VME card from Frank, and I have an ET4000AX on the way. Is this xmenu or menu? is this part of the ET4000 T8 driver? or is this something else? is there a noob thread for the video card setup?

Thanks

James

[dimfil]

this is a good place to start...

Use the installer provided but before restart make sure to copy your own STA_VDI.PRG and STA_VDI.BIB that you downloaded for your version of the card from Idek's site.
Also, copy NOVA_COL.ACC to your root because it is a useful accessory to use.

Especially for ET4000 cards, make sure that you choose the correct version of the driver by comparing the photos for card revision and dac chip version. There are many different versions out there...

Menu.prg and xmenu.prg are two different apps that practically do the same thing. But xmenu is much more easy to use.

Also, don't forget that the correct order in AUTO folder is:
Emulator.prg
Menu.prg/Xmenu.prg
Sta_vdi.prg

[Bikerbob]

OK, I see that the T8 drivers from the site are the ones I want to use. thats fine, I see in the archive, there is even a AUTO folder I can copy over.. great.

I see no .acc and I see no xmenu.. where do I get those??

James

ps my ET4000ax is in, I am all ready to try this out. I assume I need 2 monitors? one to boot normal? display the menu.. then it will go to the new monitor? - Do I always need 2 monitors? just the way it works?

[dimfil]

OK, I see that the T8 drivers from the site are the ones I want to use. thats fine, I see in the archive, there is even a AUTO folder I can copy over.. great.

I see no .acc and I see no xmenu.. where do I get those??

James

ps my ET4000ax is in, I am all ready to try this out. I assume I need 2 monitors? one to boot normal? display the menu.. then it will go to the new monitor? - Do I always need 2 monitors? just the way it works?

You don't need to copy anything over.
Just run the installer and all neccesary work will be done according to your system (MSTE or TT) regarding the option you choose. Then just copy the appropriate files from your correct driver.

In the archive there is the NOVA_COL.ACC. This is the one you need to copy to your root. It is mainly neccesary to "move" the display area if it is a little bit offset in your monitor.

You could use only one monitor connected to the vga port of the card. Since the EMULATOR.PRG is the first one in the AUTO folder, all output will be redirected to the vga monitor. But, whatever software relies on the video port of the Atari (games, demos mostly) then when you run them the output will be redirected to that port!
I use a tv/monitor which has both vga and scart inputs, and both simultaneously connected to the mega ste . My main use is through vga port but when I run lets say a game, I just change the "source" of the tv/monitor!
If you don't have something like this, then I would advise to get a second monitor connected to the normal video port if you are interested in gaming and demos.

Xmenu is not included there. I will attach it here. Use only one of them, menu or xmenu, not both of them.

XMENU.zip

[Bikerbob]

You don't need to copy anything over.
Just run the installer and all neccesary work will be done according to your system (MSTE or TT) regarding the option you choose. Then just copy the appropriate files from your correct driver.

Ok I am on this site https://silicon-heaven.org/atari/nova/MegaSTE/ET4000/ The T8 zip file there has no installer, no nova_col.acc. So I am on the driver site.. I assume? and there is another site that has other stuff? What is that site? I have not found it?

Thanks for the Xmenu. and the info, I am getting much closer.

James

[dimfil]

You don't need to copy anything over.
Just run the installer and all neccesary work will be done according to your system (MSTE or TT) regarding the option you choose. Then just copy the appropriate files from your correct driver.

Ok I am on this site https://silicon-heaven.org/atari/nova/MegaSTE/ET4000/ The T8 zip file there has no installer, no nova_col.acc. So I am on the driver site.. I assume? and there is another site that has other stuff? What is that site? I have not found it?

Thanks for the Xmenu. and the info, I am getting much closer.

James

Wait a minute... There is a misunderstanding...
I thought that you already had visited the site that I suggested above, right after your first question. There you can find the complete package that I was refering to, includiing the installer and the accessory...

So, let's start from the beginning:

a) Visit this place and download the complete package. It doesn't matter that it says TT. Just download the VME8 package.
b) Visit Idek's site and download the driver's package appropriate for your card's version.
c) Run the installer from package (a). Do not reboot your system. Copy over the package from (b) of course overwiting the relevant STA_VDI files in AUTO folder. You may (and I suggest to) use also xmenu.prg instead of menu.prg for easier use.
d) Also copy NOVA_COL.ACC from (a) to your system's root
e) Use Autosort application to make sure that the order in AUTO folder is Emulator --> (x)Menu --> STA_VDI
f) Now reboot your system and if everything went well you will see the xmenu options to choose resolutions. Available resolutions are included in STA_VDI.BIB file, and if needed you can edit these using VMG.PRG application. If you don't have this in package (b) just take the relevant version from folder VORSICHT of package (a).
g) Using the accesory you can "move" the display area so it will be all inside your monitor's creen.

These steps are the only necessary to start. Please have in mind that in most cases not all default resolutions are OK for your system because it has definetely to do with your monitor. To tune all necessary resolutions you will have to use the VMG application and find on the internet your monitor's manual so you can have a table of the resolution details that it can support. If needed also me or someone else can give you his own STA_VDI.BIB file to check this too. But first start with what you have and you will see what is needed during trying...

I think these are all the info you need...

[Bikerbob]

Thanks, I think what threw me was the TT drivers.. I thought VME8 was for TT.. so I was not understanding what you were pointing me to.

James

[dimfil]

Thanks, I think what threw me was the TT drivers.. I thought VME8 was for TT.. so I was not understanding what you were pointing me to.

James

The installer has an option for your system, if it is a MegaSTE or TT. The drivers are out of interest because you will use the correct from Idek at the end...

Please also note that some of the drivers packages from Idek are quite complete and there would be no need to use the vme8 installer at all. In this case you could just copy the nova_col.acc as extra and nothing else.
Above I described a procedure just to be safe that everything is in place. Using common sense you can decide if installer is needed or not by checking the contents of Idek's driver package.