ZVG Configuration on DOS

[wolfeel]

A big thank you to awarner for this thread as it has made it possible for me to build my ZVG cab. Having never used DOS before this was a HUGE help! I have been learning a lot.

I have it running but, I am having issues with my Sound Blaster working. I started a thread here: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?p=3458472#post3458472

Thanks for any help that anyone can provide and again, thanks awarner!

 

[bheineck]

A big thank you to awarner for this thread as it has made it possible for me to build my ZVG cab. Having never used DOS before this was a HUGE help! I have been learning a lot.

I have it running but, I am having issues with my Sound Blaster working. I started a thread here: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?p=3458472#post3458472

Thanks for any help that anyone can provide and again, thanks awarner!

So there is hope for me after all when I decide to go for it.

 

[ArcadeDanger]

Wish ZVG were available to buy...

 

[orangewhip]

I finally found my brand new in package Zektor board. And it's for sale! Anybody interested send me a PM

Posted via TapaTalk

 

[ledzep]

I downloaded it from MSDN but you need a subscription (or someone who has one). The MSDN version is an "Upgrade" meaning that you have to have a version of DOS installed for it to work.

Now that said, If you boot disk 1 of the Upgrade version. Exit at the first screen. Run FDISK and partition your drive. Run FORMAT C: /S to format and put the boot stuff on the drive. Reboot with the Upgrade diskette 1. You can then install since there is a copy of DOS on the drive.

I just rebuilt my machine two days ago to get a clean install on a different Hard Disk. I had done quite a bit of experimenting to get things working so it was a mess.

This went really well this way.

You may be able to get a Boot Disk from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and then download the "Step-Up" from:

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=21936

and make that work similar to how I did it, but I haven't tried it that way. It's still a commercial product so M$ still owns it.

Good Luck.

A very belated thank you for going through this hell and documenting it. I just ran across this thread and I have a ZVG board so I'm interested in avoiding the pitfalls when I finally get to the point of trying this.

I have a question about DOS. As you say, it's Microsoft's still. But has anyone tried using FreeDOS?

http://www.freedos.org/

I was wondering if it truly is compatible in terms of dealing with MAME. It seems like it might be a good alternative, might even be more up-to-date as far as hardware issues goes? I have not idea but it sounds like a good solution.

I'd prefer using Linux but I'm assuming FreeDOS would be way smaller and quicker for a MAME cab.

 

[digitaldocc]

Did anyone get boxing bugs to work with sound by chance?

 

[Nightbringer]

A very belated thank you for going through this hell and documenting it. I just ran across this thread and I have a ZVG board so I'm interested in avoiding the pitfalls when I finally get to the point of trying this.

I have a question about DOS. As you say, it's Microsoft's still. But has anyone tried using FreeDOS?

http://www.freedos.org/

I was wondering if it truly is compatible in terms of dealing with MAME. It seems like it might be a good alternative, might even be more up-to-date as far as hardware issues goes? I have not idea but it sounds like a good solution.

I'd prefer using Linux but I'm assuming FreeDOS would be way smaller and quicker for a MAME cab.

I tried it and it works, but FreeDOS isn't any better for something like this and may even use more memory.

 

[Nightbringer]

Did anyone get boxing bugs to work with sound by chance?

Sound doesn't work for Boxing Bugs in any version of mame. The sound hardware isn't emulated yet and there isn't a known set of samples.

 

[i86time]

Old thread, I know, but why not.
So I recently picked up a working ZVG setup (https://forums.arcade-museum.com/threads/multi-vector-zektor-zvg-plug-and-play.553536/). It mostly works, but there are a few issues.

First, pressing TAB in game doesn't do anything. In fact, it seems that other than the X key exiting a game, no others keys do anything. So I can't edit controls or anything else.

Second, sometimes it throws an error that the ZVG is not detected on the EPP. This is odd because this does not happen on boot, ONLY when a game is launched AFTER the menu was working just fine- many times after playing another game, exiting to menu and then selecting a new game... quite random. This requires a hard reboot.

Third, it doesn't ignore ROM issues (prototypes, etc.), so I have to do the joystick left/right for some games.

And finally, it came with the spinner hooked to an optiPAC via serial. It also has an unused decased mouse board connected to the PS/2 port. If I remove the cable from the PS/2 port, it will boot, but when a game is selected it will attempt to load but will kick right back to the menu.

So, given these issues, I figured I'd try to just rebuild the software from scratch, but that is where I am having issues.

I was able to get DOS 6.22 up and running. I tried to compile with mame .106 (setup currently uses .96). I was using Zektor's .mak for .96, so it only got part way through before erroring out. Then I found this thread with @haywood .106 .mak. When using that, I get further in the compile, but it still doesn't complete (see photo).

I should note I am doing this in an XP environment CMD prompt. Would that make a difference? Also I am not sure what is meant by

...
Tweaks
1. The expat libraries refer to filenames that violate 8.3. Rename them in the source if you're on a DOS that doesn't support that
2. Lots of decalared but unused variables and functions. Turn off that compiler warning.
mame.c:164:
if (!scrbitmap[0]) /* JSR was "if (!scrbitmap)" which doesn't make sense */

For 1, I understand the filename being too long, but I don't know how to rename them in the source. Do I search through the .c files for the long files names and change them to the short names I renamed the file?

For 2, I searched through mame.c for "!scrb" and it didn't find it anywhere. Is that a whole new line I am supposed to add? If so, where in the code?

Are either of those causing the issue, or is it something else? Any help is appreciated.