REX Release 4.9: Difference between revisions

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== Supported Models ==
== Supported Models ==
*  Model 100 and Tandy 102 with either REX or REX2
*  Model 100 and Tandy 102 with either REX or REX2
*  Model 100 with REX and QUAD
*  Tandy 200 with REX
*  Tandy 200 with REX
*  NEC PC-8201 or PC-8300 with REX3
*  NEC PC-8201 with REX3




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   ***UPDATE*** confirmed that UK M100s need to use a US main ROM image.  Options include getting a  
   ***UPDATE*** confirmed that UK M100s need to use a US main ROM image.  Options include getting a  
   new main ROM burned using a known good binary image, or wiring your computer up using Main ROM Management feature.
   new main ROM burned using a known good binary image, or wiring your computer up using Main ROM Management feature.
=== PC-8300/8201 note ===
  October 14, 2015: 
  For all current owners of REX for NEC, I would like to recall those early units for a firmware update.
  There is a defect in this firmware that can cause REX to malfunction and require a rebuild, causing
  loss of all data.
  Please note that ROM Replacement mode does not work on PC-8300 since it has a very different ROM structure.


== New Features ==
== New Features ==
*  QUAD support - adding multi-bank support for M100 with QUAD installed.
*  QUAD support - has been removed from release 4.9 as of revision 254.
*  Y2K Fix - REX now automatically fixes the year displayed in MENU.
*  Y2K Fix - REX now automatically fixes the year displayed in MENU.
*  PC-8201 support (including TAB key in addition to SHIFT-F5 to bank-switch, like T200)
*  PC-8201 support (including TAB key in addition to SHIFT-F5 to bank-switch, like T200)
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'''Multi-Bank Operation'''
'''Multi-Bank Operation'''


Unlike Model 100 and Tandy 102, multi-bank machines (PC-8201, PC-8300, T200) have an advantage in that the user has 3 distinct memory spaces to work with.  Prior to release 4.9, all of those banks would have the same Option ROM active.  In Release 4.9, multi-bank machines now may access unique active RAM images and active OPTION ROM images on a per-bank basis.  For example, TS-DOS, UR-2 and R2C can be assigned to each bank, and each bank can have an associated RAM image.  This means the user can simply TAB between spaces and quickly use different Option ROMs, and each RAM space can be backed up separately.
Unlike Model 100 and Tandy 102, multi-bank machines PC-8201, T200 have an advantage in that the user has up to 3 distinct memory spaces to work with.  Prior to release 4.9, all of those banks would have the same Option ROM active.  In Release 4.9, multi-bank machines now may access unique active RAM images and active OPTION ROM images on a per-bank basis.  For example, TS-DOS, UR-2 and R2C can be assigned to each bank, and each bank can have an associated RAM image.  This means the user can simply TAB between spaces and quickly use different Option ROMs, and each RAM space can be backed up separately.


In REX Manager, images are marked with '*' next to the name when that image is ACTIVE in the current BANK.  Images that are ACTIVE in OTHER BANKS are marked with '#'.  Pressing B or b in REX Manager will indicate the BANK associated with an image, as well as the block number the image occupies in REX flash memory.
In REX Manager, images are marked with '*' next to the name when that image is ACTIVE in the current BANK.  Images that are ACTIVE in OTHER BANKS are marked with '#'.  Pressing B or b in REX Manager will indicate the BANK associated with an image, as well as the block number the image occupies in REX flash memory.


REX Release 4.9 supports the M100 4-bank 128kByte RAM Module, but only the first 3 RAM banks are supported.


'''Y2K Fix'''
'''Y2K Fix'''
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Prior to Release 4.9, users wanting a fix for Y2K would have needed to make use of Main ROM Replacement via REX.  This requires a hardware modification.  Now, a Y2K patch is automatically applied when in MENU.
Prior to Release 4.9, users wanting a fix for Y2K would have needed to make use of Main ROM Replacement via REX.  This requires a hardware modification.  Now, a Y2K patch is automatically applied when in MENU.


== Upgrading REX
== Rebuilding REX ==
All upgrades to REX software are `clean sweep` upgrades, meaning <B> you must save off all important stored RAM images to a TPDD device.</B>  After the upgrade, you can re-load your important RAM and OPTROM images into REX.  The FLASH memory in REX is completely wiped.
 
  In order to use revision 254, users must do a complete rebuild of their REX.
 
All rebuilds to REX are `clean sweep` upgrades, meaning <B> you must save off all important stored RAM images to a TPDD device.</B>  After the upgrade, you can re-load your important RAM and OPTROM images into REX.  The FLASH memory in REX is completely wiped.


'''Please see the section below for specific software release bundles.'''
'''Please see the section below for specific software release bundles.'''
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*  for M100 or T102: RF149.CO, RXF149.BR, TSD100.BX
*  for M100 or T102: RF149.CO, RXF149.BR, TSD100.BX
*  for T200: RF249.CO, RXF249.BR, TSD200.BX
*  for T200: RF249.CO, RXF249.BR, TSD200.BX
*  for PC-8201 or PC-8300: RFN49.CO, RXFN49.BR, TSDNEC.BX
*  for PC-8201: RFN49.CO, RXFN49.BR, TSDNEC.BX
*  your favorite TPDD device connected to the laptop
*  your favorite TPDD device connected to the laptop


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'''Step 2'''
'''Step 2'''
  Load the upgrader tool:  Load into RAM the RFx49.CO file using the TPDD device.   
  Load the rebuild tool:  Load into RAM the RFx49.CO file using the TPDD device.   
  You will need to CLEAR0,55000 to run the program.  But, don't run it yet.
  You will need to CLEAR0,55000 to run the program.  But, don't run it yet.


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  CALL63012 (M100/T102)
  CALL63012 (M100/T102)
  CALL61167,2 (T200)
  CALL61167,2 (T200)
  EXEC62394 (PC-8201/8300)
  EXEC62394 (PC-8201)


Voila!  You should see REXMGR in the MENU, and you should see the fancy new OPTROM indicator in the top right corner.  You are now running release 4.9!!!!
Voila!  You should see REXMGR in the MENU, and you should see the fancy new OPTROM indicator in the top right corner.  You are now running release 4.9!!!!
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== REX Release 4.9 Upgrade Packages ==
== REX Release 4.9 Upgrade Packages ==


The following files may be downloaded and used to upgrade your REX from an older release to R4.9 revision 162.  Remember this upgrade will fully wipe and rebuild your REX so save your data!
The following files may be downloaded and used to upgrade your REX from an older release to R4.9 revision 254Because the directory structure is new in release 4.9, users must do a full rebuild when on 4.8 or older. Remember a full rebuild will completely wipe and rebuild your REX so save important data to a TPDD device!


  Revision 162 is a bugfix release.  Note CNTL-X replaces CNTL-H.


<table border="1">
<table border="1">
<tr><td>Status</td><td>Release</td><td>Model</td><td>Description</td><td>File</td><td>Revision</td><td>Submitter / Date</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td>Release</td><td>Model</td><td>Description</td><td>File</td><td>Revision</td></tr>
<tr><td>Beta</td><td>4.9</td><td>M100/T102</td><td>REX Release 4.9 Upgrade Package</td><td>[[Media:R49_M100T102_162_upgrade.zip|R49_M100T102_162_upgrade]]</td><td>162</td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 07:07, 3 May 2015 (PDT)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Beta</td><td>4.9</td><td>T200</td><td>REX Release 4.9 Upgrade Package</td><td>[[Media:R49_T200_162_upgrade.zip|R49_T200_162_upgrade]]</td><td>162</td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 07:07, 3 May 2015 (PDT)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Beta</td><td>4.9</td><td>NEC</td><td>REX Release 4.9 Upgrade Package</td>
<td>[[Media:R49_NEC_162_upgrade.zip|R49_NEC_162_upgrade]]</td><td>162</td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 07:07, 3 May 2015 (PDT)</td></tr>
</table>


== REX Release 4.9 Source Code ==
<tr><td>Beta</td><td>4.9</td><td>M100/T102</td><td>REX Release 4.9 Rebuild Package</td><td>[[Media:R49_M100T102_254_rebuild.zip|R49_M100T102_254_rebuild]]</td><td>254</td></tr>


The following files are ZIP files containing the source code for REX Release 4.9 by Revision.
<tr><td>Beta</td><td>4.9</td><td>T200</td><td>REX Release 4.9 Rebuild Package</td><td>[[Media:R49_T200_254_rebuild.zip|R49_T200_254_rebuild]]</td><td>254</td></tr>


<table border="1">
<tr><td>Beta</td><td>4.9</td><td>NEC</td><td>REX Release 4.9 Rebuild Package</td><td>[[Media:R49_NEC_254_rebuild.zip|R49_NEC_254_rebuild]]</td><td>254</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td>Source Files</td><td>Revision</td><td>Submitter / Date</td></tr>
<tr><td>Beta</td><td>[[Media:R49_134.zip|REX source code Revision 134]]</td><td>134</td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 18:29, 21 February 2015 (PST)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Beta</td><td>[[Media:REX_source_117.zip|REX source code Revision 117]]</td><td>117</td><td> [[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 20:14, 11 January 2015 (PST)</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>[[Media:files_you_need.zip|support files]]</td><td>134</td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 14:28, 26 February 2015 (PST)</td></tr>
</table>
</table>


== About Main ROM Management  ==
== About Main ROM Management  ==
Please see the main REX wiki page for a description of this feature - how to prepare a ROM image, how to modify the hardware, and how to load REX with images.
Please see the main REX wiki page for a description of this feature - how to prepare a ROM image, how to modify the hardware, and how to load REX with images.
  This feature is not supported in PC-8300.
== Rel. 4.9 Trouble Reports==
<table border="1">
<tr><td>Status</td><td>Model(s)</td><td>Description</td><td>Impact</td><td>Work Around</td><td>User/ Date</td></tr>
<tr><td>resolved</td><td>M102</td><td>a problem occured upgrading from 4.8 to 4.9.  unknown fault at this time.--- problem found. TSDOS was corrupted.</td><td> Medium</td><td> resolved - user reloaded TS-DOS using REXMGR. </td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 12:30, 1 February 2015 (PST)</td></tr>
<tr><td>resolved in rev 119</td><td>T200</td><td>there was a minor issue in revision 117 relating to F1 BANK switching.  Using F1 rather than TAB effectively uninstalled REXMGR. </td><td> Low </td><td> Restart REXMGR by power cycling and CALL61167,2. This is resolved in the next revision.  </td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 06:23, 24 January 2015 (PST)</td></tr>
<tr><td>believed resolved in 134</td><td>T200/PC-8201/PC-8300</td><td>periodically, REX software is not removed/reinstalled on bank switch.  This disables REX in the new bank.</td><td> Low </td><td> Bank switch back to original bank and run REXMGR to reinstall. </td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 08:02, 25 January 2015 (PST)</td></tr>
<tr><td>resolved</td><td>PC-8300</td><td>An early PC-8300 install was defective for unknown reasons. Update - they unit was DOA, and it appears to have been a poor solder joint. Resoldering the FLASH and the CPLD has apparently resolved the problem.</td><td> High </td><td> None at this time. </td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 15:48, 10 February 2015 (PST)</td></tr>
</table>
== Enhancement Requests ==
<table border="1">
<tr><td>Status</td><td>Description</td><td>Requester / Date</td></tr>
<tr><td>under consideration</td><td> need an interface into REX from BASIC to do various things. </td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 07:12, 3 May 2015 (PDT)</td></tr>
<tr><td>under consideration</td><td> is there some way to modify all the bank settings within REXMGR without having to exit, change bank, and re-enter REXMGR?  Cool idea, hmmm.</td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 15:56, 1 February 2015 (PST)</td></tr>
<tr><td>under consideration</td><td>Support for so called Paired Switching, where a RAM image is swapped and an OPTROM image is switched in the same step. </td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] 05:17, 15 August 2009 (PDT)</td></tr>
<tr><td>unlikely</td><td>Support for TPDD-2, for drive 1: (0: is supported).</td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] 04:36, 19 April 2009 (PDT)</td></tr>
<tr><td>in planning</td><td>Flash disk for file storage</td><td>[[User:Sadolph|Sadolph]] ([[User talk:Sadolph|talk]]) 05:09, 12 January 2015 (PST)</td></tr>
</table>
nb: to put a username+datestamp just type 4 tildes <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>

Revision as of 19:22, 22 November 2018


Supported Models

  • Model 100 and Tandy 102 with either REX or REX2
  • Tandy 200 with REX
  • NEC PC-8201 with REX3


M100 note

 In Europe and UK, and probably elsewhere, there are newer versions of M100 that have different boards.
 Model numbers are 26-3801B and 26-3802B.
 It isn't clear if REX works in those systems; until I can verify, assume REX does not work in anything
 but a USA/Canada equivalent M100 (meaning it has a Modem, and the custom ROM pinout).
 ***UPDATE*** confirmed that UK M100s need to use a US main ROM image.  Options include getting a 
 new main ROM burned using a known good binary image, or wiring your computer up using Main ROM Management feature.

New Features

  • QUAD support - has been removed from release 4.9 as of revision 254.
  • Y2K Fix - REX now automatically fixes the year displayed in MENU.
  • PC-8201 support (including TAB key in addition to SHIFT-F5 to bank-switch, like T200)
  • Multi-bank support - see description below
  • Quick Menu features - see description below
  • REX status indicator in MENU - the active Option ROM (for each bank) is indicated in the display

REX Functionality Overview

REX remains similar to release 4.8, but several major new capabilities have been added. The differences are outlined below.

Quick Menu Features

For commonly used functions, now some shortcut keys are available in MENU. This avoids the need to start REXMGR to perform simple operations like ROM switching and backing up your RAM.

Summary of commands:

  • <CNTL-O>: Switch Option ROM - REX will display available Option ROMs, and the user can use arrow keys to move the cursor to the desired selection. <ENTER> to activate the new selection and start that ROM. <ESC> to exit. The Active Option ROM is indicated with a *.
  • <CNTL-B>: Back up RAM - REX will prompt the user to confirm, and if confirmed will copy RAM to the active RAM image, performing a backup.
  • <CNTL-R>: Restore RAM - REX will prompt the user to confirm, and if confirmed will copy the active RAM image to RAM, performing a restore.
  • <CNTL-X>: Hooks removal - REX will prompt the user to confirm, and if confirmed will remove all hooks relating to REXMGR from the laptop operating system, effectively disabling REX. REXMGR remains in the MENU, so REX can be easily reinstalled. Also, the Active Option ROM is accessible using the usual ROM start procedures. This feature is useful when it is desired to run the Option ROM without REX active.

Multi-Bank Operation

Unlike Model 100 and Tandy 102, multi-bank machines PC-8201, T200 have an advantage in that the user has up to 3 distinct memory spaces to work with. Prior to release 4.9, all of those banks would have the same Option ROM active. In Release 4.9, multi-bank machines now may access unique active RAM images and active OPTION ROM images on a per-bank basis. For example, TS-DOS, UR-2 and R2C can be assigned to each bank, and each bank can have an associated RAM image. This means the user can simply TAB between spaces and quickly use different Option ROMs, and each RAM space can be backed up separately.

In REX Manager, images are marked with '*' next to the name when that image is ACTIVE in the current BANK. Images that are ACTIVE in OTHER BANKS are marked with '#'. Pressing B or b in REX Manager will indicate the BANK associated with an image, as well as the block number the image occupies in REX flash memory.


Y2K Fix

Prior to Release 4.9, users wanting a fix for Y2K would have needed to make use of Main ROM Replacement via REX. This requires a hardware modification. Now, a Y2K patch is automatically applied when in MENU.

Rebuilding REX

 In order to use revision 254, users must do a complete rebuild of their REX.

All rebuilds to REX are `clean sweep` upgrades, meaning you must save off all important stored RAM images to a TPDD device. After the upgrade, you can re-load your important RAM and OPTROM images into REX. The FLASH memory in REX is completely wiped.

Please see the section below for specific software release bundles.

What you need

  • for M100 or T102: RF149.CO, RXF149.BR, TSD100.BX
  • for T200: RF249.CO, RXF249.BR, TSD200.BX
  • for PC-8201: RFN49.CO, RXFN49.BR, TSDNEC.BX
  • your favorite TPDD device connected to the laptop

Place the files in the root directory of your TPDD device for loading.

In order to make a "clean sweep" and make sure that no issues with older software, for the initial installation of 4.9 we take the approach of wiping the old directory, and all the flash contents (from block 6-31; the user space) and initialize things to default.

A note about Rom Replacement - if you are using this feature then you know that your main OS roms are stored in block 2-5. Those blocks are not erased, and they stay in place and operational the whole time. My three test machines are all running with REX based main roms.


Step 1

So then, the first thing to do is for you to 'Save' all your existing RAM and OPTROM images 
(the ones that you both want to keep and are not already stored on a PC somewhere) out of REX 
and onto your favorite TPDD device.  Please go through your saved images, decide what you want 
to save and use again, and get them out of REX.  After we install R4.9, all those images will 
be wiped.  You will have to reload anything you need.


Step 2

Load the rebuild tool:  Load into RAM the RFx49.CO file using the TPDD device.  
You will need to CLEAR0,55000 to run the program.  But, don't run it yet.

Step 3

Remove REX software from the laptop.   This is an easy step - just go into REXMGR and press F7 
(or SHIFT-F4 in PC-8201/8300)to DEINstall REX software.  
You should find yourself at MENU with RFx49.CO in the directory of the laptop.

Step 4

Issue the BASIC command CLEAR0,55000.  Exit BASIC and run RFx49.CO from Menu.  
RFx49.CO will do the necessary steps of erasing blocks, loading the REX software, 
copying it to backup block 1, and then loading TS-DOS into block 8.

Step 5

Once RFx49.CO completes, you should be able to start REXMGR.  Power cycle the laptop.  
Cold restart the machine to clean out any funny memory stuff.  Enter BASIC and type either

CALL63012 (M100/T102)
CALL61167,2 (T200)
EXEC62394 (PC-8201)

Voila! You should see REXMGR in the MENU, and you should see the fancy new OPTROM indicator in the top right corner. You are now running release 4.9!!!!

REX Release 4.9 Upgrade Packages

The following files may be downloaded and used to upgrade your REX from an older release to R4.9 revision 254. Because the directory structure is new in release 4.9, users must do a full rebuild when on 4.8 or older. Remember a full rebuild will completely wipe and rebuild your REX so save important data to a TPDD device!


StatusReleaseModelDescriptionFileRevision
Beta4.9M100/T102REX Release 4.9 Rebuild PackageR49_M100T102_254_rebuild254
Beta4.9T200REX Release 4.9 Rebuild PackageR49_T200_254_rebuild254
Beta4.9NECREX Release 4.9 Rebuild PackageR49_NEC_254_rebuild254

About Main ROM Management

Please see the main REX wiki page for a description of this feature - how to prepare a ROM image, how to modify the hardware, and how to load REX with images.