Rewriting Spectrum ROMs on a ZXEvolution/TS-Conf

Here I am exploring another interesting feature of the ZX Evolution, the Z80-based hobby computer that has ZX Spectrum modes. What I'm looking at here is changing the ROMs, as the Evo has a fully re-writable EPROM chip.

For a noble cause.

Using the ROM burner in Wild Commander file explorer, I can rewrite the ROM with some of the original Psion/Sinclair 16k ROM cartridge binaries. This is quite an interesting prospect for an old Spectrum-head, since these ROMs have been quite hard to get and usually require an Interface 2. Also, ROM burning usually requires some special equipment and boards, but the TS-Conf/Wild Commander makes it very simple.

I'm talking about one of these thingies. Interface 2 required, but not pictured.

There are a few 16k games for the Spectrum on the cartridge format. Since Ultimate/Rare has actively discouraged the distribution of their games, Jet Pac, PSSST, Tranz Am and Cookie binaries can be harder to find. This leaves Psion Chess, Backgammon, Hungry Horace, Horace and the Spiders, Planetoids and Space Raiders. The chess and backgammon games are pretty well done for what they are, Horace and the Spiders is nice enough and Space Raiders is a passable Space Invaders rip-off. Planetoids I don't care much about. (Of course, all these games are available on tape.)

ZX Spectrum 48k simplified memory map.

Burning chROMe 

I've explained a little bit about using the TS-Conf and Wild Commander here. The Wild Commander is renamed as boot.$c and placed at the card root. Also, a WC folder at the root contains all the plug-ins and the INI file that lists them. Selecting a .ROM file activates the ROM WRITER plug-in, if it is correctly installed.

The version number 0.1 tells that we are doing this on our own responsibility...

After picking the ROM file select the block #01. DO NOT use the ROM block #00. I did once, and although the computer nicely boots to the desired ROM, it will not boot into anything else after that! (Thankfully I could flash the T&S firmware and rewrite everything).

Symbol Shift+F12 returns to the TS Conf frontend. Here, adjust the "Reset to:" into ROM #04 and use the bank SYS. After that, a plain RESET (F12) will activate the ROM.

ZX Evolution transformed into a chess computer.

Rom Writer v0.2 

Edit 2015: The new version of the ROM WRITER makes it possible to write the ROM files into RAM. When the ROM WRITER v0.2 activates, select the last option, RAM #F8.

Then, In the TS-BIOS Setup-utility use parameters Reset To: RAM #F8 and bank:SYS, then reset to run the ROM. Soft reset will not destroy the contents. This is very handy for testing ROMs.

Other ROMs

This here page describes efforts to build new ROM cartridges for the Spectrum, plus also the games mentioned above and some prototypes. There are also zx80, zx81 and the Forth-based Jupiter Ace emulators, which all run on the Sinclair Spectrum as ROM cartridges. The 128k versions can be burned on the ZXEvo and they work. They are not 100% compatible with the original computers but it is neat work nevertheless.

"Jupiter Ace" on a ZX Evolution. Ok, so I'm not very good at Forth.

Another exciting use for the ROM burner is re-writing or modifying the original Spectrum ROM. For example, there is some free space before the character graphic definitions. (14446-15615) Some code can be positioned there without harming compatibility. There could be utilities, a small machine code monitor, et c. (In the russian ROMs, the TR-DOS might get conflicted, though.)

TS-Conf for (us) Dummies

I've previously talked about ZX Evolution, the new "Spectrum" from Russia. What I did not mention there's something called the "TS-Conf", which makes more use of the underlying hardware. Don't ask me what it is, I don't fully understand myself. All I know it's not really a Spectrum anymore. It's maybe more comparable to the Amiga or some 1990s games consoles. Recently more demos and software have started to arrive on it. I've wanted to try it for a while, but very simple instructions seemed to be missing.

Now I at last found the time to make the configuration run. I used the soft reset key method of flashing the firmwares. This is just one way to install the TS-Conf, I think.

First:

Currently, the required files are perhaps best accessed from this forum post at TSlabs.

-Download the WildCommanderWide.$C file from the link that says about Wildcommander.

-Download the TS-CONF firmware zxevo_fw.bin from the first link that says "keyboard layout by NedoPC"

-Download the full 512kb ROM image zxevo.rom from the link that says "Full 512kB ROM image compatible with both TS and Base configs". This contains the TS BIOS. (Also as a separate file)

You need another firmware for flashing the zxevo.rom file. Following from this forum post, somewhat downwards, download the file from the link that says zxevo_fw.bin. The firmwares have the same name, so best have them in separate folders (first and second) or something... 

Edit: As pointed out in the comments, the Test&Service firmware has an English language option. After booting, press CAPS LOCK to activate. I only updated a couple of the images. Anyone who wants to use these computers should figure out a little bit of Russian :)

Step by Step:

-Copy the zxevo.rom and the second zxevo_fw.bin to the SD root. (Remember to backup the existing files.)

-Flash the firmware: Turn on Evo while holding down the soft reset key. A LED should start flashing, you can release the key.

You should have something like this: (Left, in Russian. Right, in English)



-Go to the last item on the menu and select it. (That says something about a Flash-ROM)



-Here, go to the second last item on the menu and select it.

-Find the zxevo.rom file and select it. 

-All the ROM slots will be yellow. Select.

-Go to the last item on the menu and select it.

-Press Y and wait...

-Everything OK. You can exit this menu from the top item.

-Now it's time to completely turn off the Evo. 

-Copy the first zxevo_fw.bin to the SD card root. This is the actual TS-CONF firmware. Again, overwrite the previous zxevo_fw.bin.

-You should have the WildCommanderWide.$C. Rename it to boot.$c, and copy it on the SD root.

-Flash the firmware: Turn on Evo while holding down the soft reset key. A LED is should start flashing, you can release the key. You should see something like this:

(Remember, pressing Symbol Shift+RESET should always return to this screen.)

-Change the "Reset to:" into BD boot.$c. Press RESET. (There's an alternate RESET that uses Caps Shift+RESET, that's why there is also a  "CS Reset to:")

The Evo boots the boot.$c file. If all is well, you should be in the Wild Commander screen. If there is no boot file or it is incorrectly named, you will have a black/red "system meditation" screen.



-Select a *.SPG file. I used this one for testing, you should of course copy it on the SD beforehand, or whatever you want to load. (It seems here you cannot load TRD images. Edit: Except if you install the required plug-ins. Check that link...)



That's it!