QIMSI Gold - getting started

[Harbars]

Hi there!

I've just got my QIMSI Gold and am having trouble getting started with it. Hoping some of you might be able to help and perhaps point out where i've gone wrong and anything else stupid I've missed.

Here's what I've done thus far:
1.formatted new (32Gb) micro SD card with SD Card Formatter - on Mac - as directed to in the QIMSI manual
2. Copied Q68_SMSQ.WIN from the Qimsi Gold.zip (https://dilwyn.theqlforum.com/qimsi/index.html) to the SD card
3. renamed QLROM_uk.bin to QL_ROM.sys and copied to SD Card
4. copied QLWA.WIN to the SD Card

When I boot up the BB QL with the QIMSI in the ROM port, it "freezes" at the boot, as shown in the attached image. I've tried it on both this machine (Minerva) and another BB with JM rom. With the same result.

Any help appreciated!

[Maskenlos]

Hi,

Am I right the the picture you have posted is from a monitor connected to the QL VIDEO OUTPUT?

If yes, everything is running very well. Connect a monitor to the QIMSI Mini LVDS video output and try again. With QIMSI GOLD the screen out from QL is disabled, you have to use the screen output from QIMSI Gold.

Didn't you know about this link:

https://dilwyn.theqlforum.com/qimsi/index.html

In the zip file at the very bottom of this side there is the manual. Kindly check for your reference. Thanks!

Hope this helps and have fun with it!

Stephan

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

Is there any way to use 2 monitors: HDMI and RGB outputs?

[Pr0f]

I think the only reason the original QL screen 'freezes' at that point is that the QL ROM that's loaded at 0C000h does not return control to the original OS, and just acts to provide keyboard access for the QIMSI Gold. If you were to rewrite that ROM, then it's theoretically possible to have both the QIMSI Gold and original QL running concurrently - but it's a little beyond my understanding at present.

[Peter]

Is there any way to use 2 monitors: HDMI and RGB outputs?

Yes. With the 68008 feeding QL RGB and the MiniQ68 feeding digital video.

If you do not load the Support ROM für the accellerated CPU, it will still be able to boot SMSQ/E and run the boot file.
The 68008 will then load the microSD card driver and run independently.
But: Control over the microSD card will switch to the 68008 side, once it has done its first access to the card.
From that time on, the accellerated CPU will only be able to access RAM disk as a direct storage,
Also, the QL matrix keyboard will stay with the 68008, while the MiniQ68 will only see the PS/2 keyboard on the microUSB connector.

[Peter]

I think the only reason the original QL screen 'freezes' at that point is that the QL ROM that's loaded at 0C000h does not return control to the original OS, and just acts to provide keyboard access for the QIMSI Gold.

And joystick The two main reasons for not returning control are:
1. QDOS would never time out waiting for F1/F2 and even experts found no reliable way to "fake" that keypress.
2. Ctrl+C would go to the 68008, unless interrupts are switched off.

I do have a (not released) program that provides QL matrix keyboard to the MIniQ68 without need for the support ROM.
So it is possible in princple. It would also be doable if the OS (EP)ROMs are modified.

I see no practical use in accessing the microdrives or the poor QL SER while working with the accellerated CPU.
Microdrive files can be copied to microSD card in QIMSI standard mode to preserve data.
It is technically possible to extend the QIMSI Gold support ROM towards microdrive access, but that would be only a gimmick.

Already in the 1980's QLers wanted to replace the microdrives. Good riddance. I never use them at all.
They are super-retro, inadequate for a system with more than 68020 perfomance, highcolor and 32 MB RAM.

[Pr0f]

I think the only thing that may have been of interest is items plugged into the expansion port.

But I'd guessed that not being able to properly target certain keystrokes was one of the reasons the stock QL OS is not returned control.

[Peter]

I think the only thing that may have been of interest is items plugged into the expansion port.

But which? QubIDE comes to mind, but it is much slower than microSD card accessed directly from the accellerated CPU.
Files from slow media can be copied to card in standard QIMSI mode.

[Harbars]

Many thanks,

I did spend quite some time trying to find my mini-hdmi cable from the "safe place" i put it long ago before hooking things up, but was unsuccessful so tried without that. Will get another one before proceeding. I suspected I'd not done something right.

thanks again!
s.

Hi,

Am I right the the picture you have posted is from a monitor connected to the QL VIDEO OUTPUT?

If yes, everything is running very well. Connect a monitor to the QIMSI Mini LVDS video output and try again. With QIMSI GOLD the screen out from QL is disabled, you have to use the screen output from QIMSI Gold.

Didn't you know about this link:

https://dilwyn.theqlforum.com/qimsi/index.html

In the zip file at the very bottom of this side there is the manual. Kindly check for your reference. Thanks!

Hope this helps and have fun with it!

Stephan

[Harbars]

some progress

but unsure what to do next, it seems to stall at this point. perhaps I have done something wrong with the images copied to the SD card?