PSX CD-Player only Project

[adamoda]

Hello,

i hope this is the right place to ask for this:

what i'd like to do:
1) use my PS ( SCDH-1002 ) only as CD player
2) VIDEO is not necessary , but with external "LCD"-Display ( for example 2 rows with 16 characters , easy to program )
3) Quick-Start ( like Xploder -> I have got Xploder classic )

Questions:
I think the cd-player-program can only exist on patched Xploder or memory module, doesn't it?
Is it possible to "patch/reflash" Xplorer with own binary? ( I would prefer not to mod my PS with any modchips )

Which outputs should be taken for communication with LCD/or external LCD-controller?
Which SDK you prefer to do this "simple" project?
Where to start with my mini project?
Some verified links known?

Thanx for first advices

[Administrator]

Yes. If you want to use your PS1 as a CD player only, then an xplorer flashed with your (binary) project's executable will work fine!

If you want to communicate with an external LCD controller, the PS1 does have a serial port that can be used.

If you want to start on your CD code, have a look at the Sony CD-ROM player example code found in the PSY-Q samples directory.

[adamoda]

Where is any documentation, how to connect/reflesh the Xploder device?
Which format of binaries is needed? ( ISO, .PSX, .BIN ... )

[Administrator]

I need to type it up for you and describe the process with images, but for now, you can read it here (look for 'Runner ROM'):

http://xianaix.net/filez/runrom.zip
(Backup Link: http://web.archive.org/web/201009021407 ... /filez.htm)

[adamoda]

I still can't start to communicate with my Xploder classic.
I think it''s a base for me to continue the project -> to see the 1-st success -> "Hallo world"
I've tried under DOS and XP and different LPT BIOS-modes.
With 1:1 parallel cable and with bi-directional cable.
One of programs i've used: caeflash.exe -P10 [-XT] -T ( port 0x378 )
With 1:1 cable I could see that the 1-st menu line/button if Xploder freezes, but nothing else happend
with bi-directional cable -> seems nothing to do
Thanks for further supporting

[adamoda]

I've found an "old" xlink DOS program. It seems to do something -> 1:1 cable
It reads memory, shows cartridge info,....but has some timeouts if i for axample try "grab screen"

I've found an caetla.035 rom and tried to download it to cartridge with "xlink U caetla.035 0"
Progress was shown: ***!!!!! --> timeout
What is going wrong?
How many bytes/kB or MB are in Exloder-Classic, how many could be [re]flashed?
Any ideas?

[Administrator]

Xlink DOS will only work with the original firmware on it.
Also, make sure your parallel port is set to SPP mode in your computers BIOS.

[adamoda]

The settings are already SPP
advice: Read seems to wors: "xlink G backup.rom 0 131072" -> Is this data of Exploder-Cartridge?
"xlink U data.rom 0" doesn't work -> ***!!!!

[Administrator]

Try using the CAETLA PSEXE.COM upload tool. This is what I use to upload a .cpe, .psx or .exe, as well as different files into different addresses to the PSX.

I place the program in 'C:\', make a bat file called 'go.bat' and have this code in it which will also debug for you

Code: Select all

CALL C:\PSEXE.COM -P10 MAIN.EXE

NOTE: -P10 is for the Xplorer on LPT1 (0x378)

PSEXE.COM

[adamoda]

It still doesn't work ( DOS and XP )

Which requirements must be met ?
a) PC: System DOS/XP/FreeDos maybe 95/98 ?
b) PS: ROM-Version of Cartridge -> My version is 3.20 LIT "Germany LITE"
c) Some PS-CDs or Modchips -> I hope that it's not neccesary

I still can't find software witch changes "firmware" to CAETLA. ( 034 or 035 ) -> I think it must be the problem.
Do you know, about some "Step by step" documentation or really good tutorial ?
It's very difficult for an absolute PS beginner to find some programs that works

Thanx for previous advices

[Administrator]

A) You must be running Windows 98. Windows XP and 7 will work, but its a lot more effort to get running...
B) It must be flashed with CAETLA 0.35 (though, I think 0.34 is more stable).
C) You don't need a modchip, but it will become useful when you want to burn your compilation to a CD-ROM.

[adamoda]

B) Can you/someone show an explicit example how to flash CAETLA on Explorer-Classic ?
* Is there any "Flash-Program" with verbose/debug information?
* which tricks must be done under XP to get it started?
* perhaps some source code of them to port this software to linux?

"Is anybody out there", who had the same problem?

[Administrator]

You flash it using XFlash. You need a modchipped PSX to boot the disc, and to use PSEXE.COM under Windows XP, you need 'GiveIO' if I remember correctly.

[adamoda]

caetla 0.35 is on the xploder now
But psexe ... doesn't work.
How can I load an example helloworld.exe to PS and execute it?

[Administrator]

Go to the configuration menu in CAETLA and set the boot mode to stand by for comms.
Exit the configuration menu, reboot your PSX and you will see coloured bars saying "waiting for comms".

Then, use this command to upload your exe's to the PSX:

Code: Select all

C:\PSEXE.COM -P10 MAIN.EXE

This will start PSEXE.COM with the port set to 0x378 and upload the executable main.exe into RAM.
Make sure you have a straight through parallel cable (male to female) plugged into your parallel (DB-25) port.

If you want to upload into address space (such as uploading a .TIM image into VRAM), let me know and I will type out the command switches for you.

[adamoda]

I can see the coloured bars. PSEXE still does not work .
I have tried with USB-Booted DOS, and XP with and without UserPort-Application.
Port settings 0x378 SPP, cable 1:1 ( tested ).

Am I the only one where startup is so hard ?

[adamoda]

There were several problems, but I could download 1-st "Hello world".psx -> not .exe to the PS
psexe.com -P11 something.exe does not work.

The Settings of CHEAT-Module ( Xploder with caetla 0.35 ):
1) HOOK-Style: DATEL. With coloured bars "picture" it does not work -> blue screen
2) Xploder must be "switched on" mode ( no coloured bars )

XP: I've tested download as:
1) Admin
2) Normal user: "UserPort-like" program must be running to give access to LPT1
3) psexe started with -P11 -> for LPT1

Download works not always, but more than 50% times

---- Next step -----

1) how to burn/flash the XPloder module with this "Hello world".psx program ?
2) is it possible to burn/flash small programs directly to PS. -> This would be the best solution for the CD-Player.

[Administrator]

Try using Windows 98.

1) There is a program you can use, but I will need to search for it. It wont be for a while, so Google around. I will reply when I find it...

2) No. All the memories in the PSX are volatile, except for the BIOS and MCU IC's (of course). You will need to flash your Xplorer with the custom ROM and leave it plugged in, unless you internally wire it, pin for pin (not worth it).

[adamoda]

Hallo, I'm back from holidays...
Did you ( shadow ) find something about point 1) from previous post?
-> 2) what to do if i really would like to "upgrade" the firmware after the tests with the Xploder? -> EEPROM-part with my EXE. Do you know, where is the chip on the mainboard placed?

[Administrator]

Hi! Welcome back. Hope your holidays were good

Did you even try Windows 98 yet?

1) No. I did not find the link sorry. Give me another week and I will search my PSX files for information on it.
2) Yes. If you open up the Xplorer, you will see a PLCC-32 or DIP EEPROM. I actually started to dump it, but I never got around to wiring it all up. I am not 100% sure you can simply just 'write' an EXE to the chip and expect it to boot. It needs the correct header in the boot sequence for which the PSX actually looks for.

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