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About

The kernal patcher creates improved kernals for the C64 DTV and the Hummer-game. The new kernal can be tested with the patcher but to install the kernal permanently you need to use a separate Flash utility.

Note to end users: Typically only people who want to program on the DTV might be interested in patching the kernal (for getting the early DTVMON $1F8000 hook). Another reason might be to hardcode video timings (to free the userport).

• If you just want the colorfix and a different list of games, use DTVSlimIntro and leave the kernal alone.
• If you want to use JiffyDOS on the DTV, see JiffyDOS.
• If you want to use the TRSI kernal, put the RAM version of that kernal (kernal.prg) in the games list.

Activating/installing a kernal using kernalpatcher can be done by

• replacing the original kernal at $00e000-$00ffff in flash using the Flash utility (dangerous - errors will make the DTV unusable)
• flashing the patched kernal to another address ($xxe000) and activating using a small helper program (“V” functionality)
• load the patched kernal into RAM to $xxe000 and activating using a small helper program (“W” functionality)

The kernalpatcher has been created by Daniel Kahlin/tlr.

Features

For features of the original DTV kernal see DTV2 Kernal disassembly.

• Create patched kernal that can be flashed using the Flash utility - “C”
  • REVERSE CTRL-KEY FUNCTION IN BOOT? N (Hummer: Y)
    • Holding CTRL normally exits to BASIC. Selecting Y exits to BASIC _unless_ CTRL is held down.
  • REPAIR FLASH LOAD ROUTINE? Y (Hummer: Y)
    • Fixes the end address reported by load.
  • PATCH TO CHECK FOR RESET HOOK IN FLASH AT $1F8000 + IMPROVE DIRECTORY SUPPORT, APPLY PATCH? Y (Hummer: Y)
    • If Y, When reset $1F8004 is checked for $C4 $D4 $D6 $38 $30 (DTV80) and jumps indirect to $1F8000 (mapped to $8000) if found. Holding Joystick down skips this check. (JoyA0 on the Hummer) Directory scanning is modified to skip entries beginning with $00 and terminate on entries beginning with $ff.(the original kernal terminates on entries beginning with $00)
  • HARDCODE VIDEO TIMING? Y (Hummer: Y)
    • The DTV normally sets the video timing from the user port pins. If Y, skip this check and set hardcoded values. The suggested defaults should be ok. (PAL for the DTV and NTSC for the Hummer)
  • IMPROVED PALETTE (ZEE)? Y (Hummer: N)
    • Improved C64 colors on PAL systems.
  • AUTOLOAD DTVMENU INSTEAD OF INTRO? N (Hummer: N)
    • Normally the file “INTRO” will be loaded as default when no $1F8000 hook or CTRL-key is detected. Saying yes here loads “DTVMENU” instead.
  • BIGFILE LOAD PATCH
    • In SVN only. This allows to LOAD files from IEC that extend into upper memory ($010000 and above). This breaks autostart programs. Handy for DTV programmers and for VICE autostart with big DTV files normally intended for putting into flash.
• The kernal buffer is at $6000-$8000.
• Save/load kernal from disk (RAW files/8192 bytes as well as PRG files/8194 bytes are supported)
• Install custom kernal in RAM at $01e000-$01ffff and activate (“T”)
• Install optional hook at $018000 to activate custom kernal in RAM with Left Button + Reset
• “Softkernal” in RAM (“W”): Save RAM kernal loader to disk (copying patched kernal to upper RAM and activating)
• “Softkernal” in Flash (“V”): Save flash kernal switcher to disk (activating a kernal flashed to $xxe000)
• Built-in help text.
• Includes pre-patched kernals.

Limitations

• The ram test hook only works with the original DTV V2 (or compatible) kernal in flash.
• A modified palette is not setup straight after reset. It is setup at the first call to $ff81/$ff5b though, so the impact is minimal. This can be noticed when having no dtvboot installed, going directly to basic using . Pressing Esc/Pause-Break sets up the colors.

Download

kernalpatcher-1.0.zip

Browse SVN repository