Issues upgrading GEOS

Hello,

MP3 and a Commodore 128 has been an issue for me also. I honestly could never get it completely running correctly.

Let me check on what Desktop 128! I’m using.

i did eventually abandon MP3 for my 128 and went with Wheels for 128 instead which has worked great for years now. So that’s something to consider.

What rev version of MP3 for 128 are you trying to get installed and what rev version of GEOS 128 are you starting with?

Just to be clear you are using VICE and not real hardware….correct?

-Sutehk

@sutehk didn't realize this was gonna be so hard...

So using x128 Vice on a microsloth machine.  The version I got as far as the MP3 boot disk was 3.3r11 and the GEOS was bog standard 2.0.  I have tried a bit with Gateway, but same amount of no luck...  I haven't tried on my flat 128 yet, I figure if I can't get it working in VICE why bother with the real thing.

So truely the stumbling block is getting a version of "128 Desktop" onto the MP3 disk.  I also tried TopDesk without success.  If I can get that done and be able to boot from the floppy I will try getting it onto a CMD-HD.

Ar maybe I should just sell all the hardware and stick with my Amigas. 🙁

@robbhar Wait!!! Don’t get too frustrated! I’m biased 64’s and 128’s are my favorite Commodores…. I know some people love amigas but in my history I went from the 64 to a Mac SE and never had the Amiga experience.

Let’s see if I can find my 128 Desktop! That worked.

-Sutehk 

In the meantime …. Some of the things I did are coming back to me for the 128…..

Try:

Take TopDesk128 (it’s in the MP3 disk) and rename it exactly to “128 DESKTOP” (uppercase only — GEOS cares about case here).

Also copy 128 CONFIGURE (or 128 CONFIG RL) to the same place both to the boot disk you made.

This may fix it…..

-Sutehk 

Posted by: @sutehk

↑

Take TopDesk128 (it’s in the MP3 disk) and rename it exactly to “128 DESKTOP” (uppercase only — GEOS cares about case here).

-Sutehk 

This worked 100% for me when I created my MP3 boot disk.

I would not suggest using CONFIGURE with MP3... only use GEOS128.Editor which comes with MP3.

Some things to keep in mind... 

GEOS 2.0's "128 DESKTOP" (I call it the base desktop) can only see 1541/71/81 drives and a 512Kb expansion.  I tried using it with MP3 + SD2IEC and it would partially work but was unusable.

To see all the hardware that MP3 can use (SD2IEC, CMD, 16Mb REU) you need a desktop that can also see it all.

The latest version of any desktop for the 128 that I could find was TopDesk128 v5r1.

This is what I am using on my upgraded C128 flat.

I'm not sure if MP3, or TopDesk, or both, need 64K VDC RAM... but it is needed... 1as well as RAM expansion. 

I have A=1541 emulated by Ultimate II+L, B=1581 emulated by Ultimate II+L, C=16Mb SD2IEC DNP file, D=12Mb REU emulated by Ultimate II+L.

I boot off the SD2IEC, then reload the REU using GeosUMount (look for Xander Mol GeoUTools), and then run everything from the REU.

I go from flipping the power switch, to running from REU in 1 minute and 55 seconds.  This does include me typing a boot program, and manually using GeosUMount.

You know, I think I missed your original issue. 

I like to copy/rename files using the REU.

To get TopDesk128 on to the MP3 bootdisk, I ran VICE with A=1581, B=1541, and 16Mb REU.

Start by mounting the GEOS128 d81 file (from cbmfiles) to drive 8, and mounting the TopDesk128 v5r1 d64 file (from zimmers) on drive 9.

Boot GEOS128.

Make sure to run CONFIGURE (again, we are in the base GEOS128) and make drive C a RAMdrive (doesn't matter if it's a 1541/71/81).

You now have the base GEOS128 on drive A, the TopDesk128 disk on drive B, and a blank drive C.

Open the B drive and copy the 128desktopUS file from B to C (click once to select, wait a second, click a second time to be able to move file, move mouse to C drive and click a third time).

Open C.

Click once on 128desktopUS.

Click on File, Rename, and change to 128 DESKTOP (all caps).

Click on A drive.

Close A drive (click on the dot box in upper left corner of the file listing).

In VICE's menu, mount your MP3 boot disk to 8.

In GEOS, open the A drive and you should now see your MP3 boot disk.

Open your C drive and copy the 128 DESKTOP file from C to A.

Open drive A and you should now see 128 DESKTOP as the last file on your MP3 boot disk.

Close the A drive.

That should do it.

Power cycle VICE, mount your MP3 boot disk to drive 8, and run MP3.