TestVMSfs 1.0 ------------- Copyright 2001 Peter Bortas Disclaimer: This is an experimental application. If something breaks, it's your fault. Distribution: Feel free to copy it for whatever purpose you wish. Note ---- VMS and VMU both refer to the same type of memmory cards used in a Dreamcast. If you failed to save with DreamSNES 0.9.4 and this test works, I'd like to hear it. What it does ------------ TestVMSfs is a test application for Dreamcast. It tries to find a VMS with 18 blocks free, save 18 blocks of data to it, read the save 18 blocks back and then verifies that the data didn't get mangled in the preocess. The purpose is to see if the routines DreamSNES uses to access VMS's works on all kinds of original and 3rd part VMS's How to run it ------------- There are several binaries in this archive that are to be used depending on what equipment you have. cd/1ST_READ.BIN IP.BIN Use thses to create a self-booting disk with the test application. 1ST_READ.BIN is scrambled.If you are not a developer, this is probably the files you want to use. Burning process described on http://mc.pp.se/dc/cdr.html ex_vmsfscheck.elf Use this if you have a broad band adapter AND a serial cable. Upload to your favourite ipslave. ex_vmsfscheck_noserial.elf Use this if you have a broad band adapter but NO serial cable. Upload to your favourite ipslave. ex_vmsfscheck.srec Use this if you intend to upload the binary through the serial cable. Upload to your favourite serial slave. ex_vmsfscheck.bin An unscrambled binary. not normally used. There is also a separe archive available that contains only one file: testvms10.cdi This is a self-booting discjuggler image. Use DJ3 to burn it and then just pop it into your Dreamcast. How to prepare a test --------------------- Make sure you have a VMS with 18 blocks free in one of the controllers connected to your Dreamcast. The test application will tell you if it can't find a VMS or if there are to few blocks available, but this way you will save some time. How to run a test ----------------- After having prepared the test, insert the CD and start the Dreamcast, or if you use an upload slave; upload the application. Now sit back and wait while the tests run and some test is printed on the screen. It should not take more than 15 seconds. Probably much less. How to interpret the results ---------------------------- If everything went ok you should have this text on the screen in green: Font loaded, test starting ... Maple BUS initiated. Saving. Saved. Restoring ... File restored. Restored. Verifying ... Verification successfull. A-OK! If not, here is a list of error-outputs: Font loaded, test starting ... Maple BUS initiated. Saving. Not enough space on VMU. Need 18 blocks. As it says, you need to free up some space and then run the test again. Don't report this. Font loaded, test starting ... Maple BUS initiated. Saving. 1- 2- 3 No memory unit found. As it says, it can't find a working VMU. Try moving the VMU to another controller or port in case the current one has a bad contact. Only report this if you are SURE it works with normal games but not with TestVMSfs. All other errors should be reported. How to interpret the colors --------------------------- Green: Test OK. All test should be green when the tests finishes. Yellow: Test in progress. Red: Test failed. How to report a problem ----------------------- First, make sure to check the date. It's after July 2001 this program and the output from it is probably obsolete. Send an email to peter@bortas.org containing the type and brand of your VMU plus the exact text printed on the screen from "Font loaded," to the last letter. If you used a version with serial output (coders cable), then include the output from that too.