New upload: COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY

All aspects of programming on the Commander X16.
Post Reply
User avatar
svenvandevelde
Posts: 488
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:30 am
Location: Belgium, Antwerpen

New upload: COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY

Post by svenvandevelde »




COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY




View File






Please find below a new ROM flash utility that we ( @Wavicle and myself ) have created in preparation for the CX16 production release.

When you have the CX16 actual hardware, then this utility is to be used to update your CX16 ROM with a newly released ROM.BIN file, once such become available.

However, for those curious to try, you can run this tool on your emulator. Just deploy the PRG file and a newly ROM.BIN file onto an SD card image.

Start the emulator with the SD card image option, and load the CX16-ROM-FLASH.PRG, and run the program.



You'll see the flashing procedure in action, first loading the ROM.BIN completely into the internal memory first, and it will wait for a key press from the user.

Once you press the key, the ROM will be flashed. Once the ROM flashing process is completed, the CX16 will reset.

(Not sure that after reset, the rom will have the latest image then in the emulator, but it's worth to try ...).

This is the first release of this, and further release will be made. Also this tool will like make its way to the official production software stack.

The execution of this program, on official CX16 hardware, confirmed that the ROM upgrade process is feasible and that the ROMs are upgradable.

 






 
KICKC home page by Jesper Gravgaard.
My KICKC alpha with Commander X16 extensions.
Fabio
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2021 12:13 pm

New upload: COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY

Post by Fabio »


upgradable ROM ? inside The CX16? ?

How does it work? if you write in the ROM area do you overwrite the flash?

User avatar
JimmyDansbo
Posts: 468
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:10 pm
Location: Denmark
Contact:

New upload: COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY

Post by JimmyDansbo »



On 10/18/2022 at 3:15 PM, Fabio said:




How does it work? if you write in the ROM area do you overwrite the flash?



You need to write a special unlock sequence before you are actually allowed to overwrite anything in the ROM

Visit my Github repo
or my personal site with CX16/C64/6502 related information.
Feel free to contact me regarding any of my projects or even about meeting up somewhere near Denmark
Wavicle
Posts: 277
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:40 am

New upload: COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY

Post by Wavicle »


The PCB also has a jumper that must be closed to enable ROM writes - just in case some poorly behaved (hopefully not malicious!) software sends random writes to the ROM that just happen to be an unlock sequence and a byte write.

User avatar
svenvandevelde
Posts: 488
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:30 am
Location: Belgium, Antwerpen

New upload: COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY

Post by svenvandevelde »


Please find here the first batch of documentation what this utility does. It is still work in progress...

https://flightcontrol-user.github.io/cx16_flash/html/

 

Sven

 

 

KICKC home page by Jesper Gravgaard.
My KICKC alpha with Commander X16 extensions.
Fabio
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2021 12:13 pm

New upload: COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY

Post by Fabio »



On 10/19/2022 at 9:51 AM, Wavicle said:




The PCB also has a jumper that must be closed to enable ROM writes - just in case some poorly behaved (hopefully not malicious!) software sends random writes to the ROM that just happen to be an unlock sequence and a byte write.



That was exactly what i was about to suggest!?

User avatar
Strider
Posts: 522
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2020 4:34 pm
Location: In my time machine, Circa 1985.
Contact:

New upload: COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY

Post by Strider »



On 10/20/2022 at 12:22 PM, svenvandevelde said:




Please find here the first batch of documentation what this utility does. It is still work in progress...



https://flightcontrol-user.github.io/cx16_flash/html/



 



Sven



Just an FYI, the link returns a 404. ?

Image
A classic geek & family man who enjoys all things retro! Computers, hardware, games, electronics, etc. Expert at nothing, professional hobbyist, and old-school blogger!
User avatar
svenvandevelde
Posts: 488
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:30 am
Location: Belgium, Antwerpen

New upload: COMMANDER X16 ROM FLASH UTILITY

Post by svenvandevelde »



On 10/26/2022 at 5:13 AM, Strider said:




Just an FYI, the link returns a 404. ?



Sorry, I corrected the link here:

Commander X16 ROM Flash Utility: cx16-rom-flash.c (flightcontrol-user.github.io)

 

KICKC home page by Jesper Gravgaard.
My KICKC alpha with Commander X16 extensions.
Post Reply