Great Free Software

[CrazyBernie]

My SE30 was always run with MODE32 as an extension, but the ROM SIMM would have been the ROM SIMM it came with, not one pulled out of a IIfx or a IIsi.

I believe the ROM file was the size it was supposed to be(?). I'm not sure that I ever checked.

I was merely asking to verify that the ROM file was 256k in size... it's possible that if you actually did have a corrupted file that it wouldn't match up. Although sifting through the Basilisk II documentation that I have, it claims you need a 512k or 1M ROM for it to work properly, which is interesting since they support the 68020 through 68040. My Mac knowledge is extremely limited though.

I don't think it matters, though when I last looked at this issue, Basilisk II bascially implied that you were best off trying to emulate an SE (68000) over the other models (68030, 68020). It's not that it won't work with the latter, but there are sometimes issues... like with my SE30 issue.

This guy Had no problems emulating a 68040 and running System 8.1

However, I was only asking this to see if I had a matching ROM file. I wouldn't want to step on any sensitive toes... since providing a ROM to someone that didn't own that particular machine is generally viewed as piracy. Although I doubt Apple would care much, since they even provide System 7.5.3 free of charge. ^_^

I've got a 512k Mac IIci ROM that I can load into Basilisk II but it crashes... of course, I'm using the Windows JIT port, so I can't really speak much for what you guys are trying. I'm guessing it has something to do with my AMD X2 Processor. It does load, however. I've tried a couple others that BII will give me a "not supported" error. I'd be glad to "loan" the ROM file out to whoever wants to "test" it out on their system.

[CrazyBernie]

Well it looks like I had some better luck with an older version of BII...

[Evnissyen]

Bernie:
Looks good; any way you can get that ROM file onto disk or usb drive and send it on to me?

And to answer your question: I'm trying to use files that were taken from my old iMac (the type that's shaped like a really, really big bullet?) after it fell asleep and never woke up. It was running System 9.04, if I remember correctly.

And... also if I remember correctly, I think both Sheepshaver & B2 suggest the program will emulate OS7-OS9? So OS6 (going way back to my IIcx; I should still have it's hard drive around here somewhere, actually more likely in Connecticut; this is sort of like collecting vital body parts post-mortem) won't work but OS7, OS8 or OS9.04 will. Do you think I have that right?

[CrazyBernie]

Looks good; any way you can get that ROM file onto disk or usb drive and send it on to me?

And to answer your question: I'm trying to use files that were taken from my old iMac (the type that's shaped like a really, really big bullet?) after it fell asleep and never woke up. It was running System 9.04, if I remember correctly.

I actually have an iMac ROM file that should work in SheepShaver... it does on the Windows side, anyway. It's a 2MB file, so it should make it through pretty much any email client. Just send me an addy.

And... also if I remember correctly, I think both Sheepshaver & B2 suggest the program will emulate OS7-OS9? So OS6 (going way back to my IIcx; I should still have it's hard drive around here somewhere, actually more likely in Connecticut; this is sort of like collecting vital body parts post-mortem) won't work but OS7, OS8 or OS9.04 will. Do you think I have that right?

Quotes from their respective websites:

"SheepShaver runs MacOS 7.5.2 thru MacOS 9.0.4"

Basilisk II "Emulates either a Mac Classic (which runs MacOS 0.x thru 7.5) or a Mac II series machine (which runs MacOS 7.x, 8.0 and 8.1), depending on the ROM being used"

In Basilisk II, I was using a Mac IIci ROM (32-bit "Clean") to run 7.5.3. However, none of the older ROMs (Mac Classic, SE, IIcx, etc,) would actually work. It seems that the older chips being emulated is currently a broken feature (BII ver .08 build 142 actually describes the Mac Classic rom support as broken, where ver 1.0 just gives an "unsupported rom" error when you try to run it). So in theory, it supports the earlier OSes, but in practice: not so much. I also haven't yet been able to successfully install 7.5.3 on sheepshaver; even after installing a universal build through Basilisk, I just get a question-mark floppy symbol upon booting it up. Of course, I see SheepShaver more for people who want 8.5+. Basilisk runs (on windows anyways) a bit quicker.

So I have a Mac IIci ROM for Basilisk, and an iMac ROM for SheepShaver. Take your pick. Oh, and I also have a Quadra 700-900 ROM that can do system 8.1 in Basilisk.

Also, keep in mind that the ROM isn't any sort of system file that would be hanging around on your hard drive or a backup disk; it's information that's hard-coded onto a chip inside the machine. So it's not something you could just retrieve off your computer if it won't turn on.

[IJBall]

Basilisk II "Emulates either a Mac Classic (which runs MacOS 0.x thru 7.5) or a Mac II series machine (which runs MacOS 7.x, 8.0 and 8.1), depending on the ROM being used"

In Basilisk II, I was using a Mac IIci ROM (32-bit "Clean") to run 7.5.3. However, none of the older ROMs (Mac Classic, SE, IIcx, etc,) would actually work. It seems that the older chips being emulated is currently a broken feature (BII ver .08 build 142 actually describes the Mac Classic rom support as broken, where ver 1.0 just gives an "unsupported rom" error when you try to run it). So in theory, it supports the earlier OSes, but in practice: not so much.

Oh, that sucks! So much for my idea of just buying an old SE, cheap, on EBay, just for the ROM!

Grrrr! They're pretty much forcing people to pirate ROMs if there are so few systems that are actually supported (it looks like from what you're saying, only ROMs from the IIci, or possibly the IIsi, would even work!).

Oh well, I may go take a look to see how cheap IIci's are selling for on EBay; though, of course, that will bring up the whole monitor issue...

[CrazyBernie]

Well once you own the piece of hardware, there's nothing morally wrong with downloading a ROM for it. Of course, that means you'll the proud new owner of a large paperweight... I see a couple of IIci's for under 20 bucks, and a hilarious no-chip MLB that someone's trying to pawn off for big money.

And as an update, I was successfully able to boot 7.5.3 in Sheepsaver using a Power Mac 7300 ROM.

[IJBall]

Actually, I found a Quadra ROM on the web. Seems that Basilisk II is working right now for me with that.

It's not exactly what I'd call fast on my plain vanilla MacBook. I may have to play with this now - I'll see if I can get some things from one of my SE30 backups on my disk image.

I mean, let's face it - the only reason I wanted this is so that I have a system that will let me play Armor Alley!!

[Evnissyen]

I mean, let's face it - the only reason I wanted this is so that I have a system that will let me play Armor Alley!!

And all I wanted to do was play Iraq Attack again! (From the first Gulf War? Anyone remember? See, that was the good war, not the bad one.)

Seems we're on a similar page, there.

Also, keep in mind that the ROM isn't any sort of system file that would be hanging around on your hard drive or a backup disk; it's information that's hard-coded onto a chip inside the machine. So it's not something you could just retrieve off your computer if it won't turn on.

Ahah! So, that's why stupid me wasn't able to collect a ROM file off the archive disc. (And I was wondering in the first place what ROM would be doing sitting in written format on a hard disc . . . I figured it was just a name for, well, I don't know . . . operational extract? Entrails?)

Anyhow, thanks: I'll send you a PM with my email.

[CrazyBernie]

Actually, I found a Quadra ROM on the web. Seems that Basilisk II is working right now for me with that.

It's not exactly what I'd call fast on my plain vanilla MacBook. I may have to play with this now - I'll see if I can get some things from one of my SE30 backups on my disk image.

I mean, let's face it - the only reason I wanted this is so that I have a system that will let me play Armor Alley!!

That's an Intel Mac, isn't it? Is that the original Core or Core 2 Duo? Have you tried the JIT build of Basilisk II? It's compiled to specifically increase the performance on x86 cpus. Runs pretty snappy on my computer, although I don't have working sound yet. All I get is the system beep.

It could also be because of the Quadra ROM... the 68040 was a bit more complex than the 68030.

[IJBall]

Actually, I found a Quadra ROM on the web. Seems that Basilisk II is working right now for me with that.

It's not exactly what I'd call fast on my plain vanilla MacBook. I may have to play with this now - I'll see if I can get some things from one of my SE30 backups on my disk image.

That's an Intel Mac, isn't it? Is that the original Core or Core 2 Duo? Have you tried the JIT build of Basilisk II? It's compiled to specifically increase the performance on x86 cpus. Runs pretty snappy on my computer, although I don't have working sound yet. All I get is the system beep.

It could also be because of the Quadra ROM... the 68040 was a bit more complex than the 68030.

Bernie, to answer your question, my MacBook is an Intel Mac, and it's a Core 2 Duo. And the most recent version of Basilisk II that I'm using is the JIT build. But I haven't done anything to see if I can optimize the emulator's performance - when I have some time I'll give that (and Armor Alley!) a shot.

And to answer your earlier question, I checked - the ROM image from my old SE30 was 256kB in size, so that wasn't the issue...

Interesting - I just tried my old SE30 ROM file with the new JIT build of Basilisk II, and now it seems to work!... Scratch that, I was confused - the SE30 ROM still doesn't work (even with an older build of Basilisk II - still get the "Unsupported ROM" message). But the Quadra ROM works fine.

It does seem CPU intensive (it runs my laptop fan as much as, or more! than, Eschalon does!)
Oddly, the problem seems to actually be the GUI app, not the Basilisk II app itself! Weird!!

I'll have to play with this further this weekend...

BTW, Bernie - thanks for all of your help getting this to work!

And all I wanted to do was play Iraq Attack again!

Hmmmm... Never heard of this one! I may have to check it out...

[Evnissyen]

Iraq Attack was a dumb, simple game with a dumb, simple soundtrack, but for some reason both appealed to me. If I remember right, the whole point was that you had a helicopter and you had to shoot/destroy tanks and oil rigs on the ground. One of those scrolling-type games.

The soundtrack still invades my head from time to time.

[Devon]

cross platform C/C++ IDE, use with many different compilers
http://www.codeblocks.org/

great, simple, IDE for many different languages. have to know your compiler command lines...
http://www.geany.org/

free painting and natural media art program, pro version is better than Corel Painter and is $25
http://www.ambientdesign.com/

vector art, fun and powerful
http://www.inkscape.org


I haven't tried any of the following yet, but they look like the could be VERY useful for creating a game like Eschalon, if anyone has experience with them let me know if they're good:

3d tree generation:
http://arbaro.sourceforge.net/

incredibly easy 3d modeling, ruby scripts available to allow the free version to export to other formats
http://sketchup.google.com/download/

then use your blender or sketchup models with this powerful renderer:
http://www.kerkythea.net/

[Draconiac]

For audio i sugest Foobar, really nice

[azraelck]

http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html DevC++. Windows only AFAIK. But, I use something else in Ubuntu that's in the repositories, and don't have a Mac (Apple needs some serious overhauling at their store here). I've used this extensively, but won't swear that it's the best thing since sliced bread. It does work.

[allenborder]

Hello BasiliskWrangler...
It was great software list and the all software's are most recommended for windows systems...
Thanks for sharing...