The Ultimate MSX FAQ - Main (original) (raw)

The Ultimate MSX FAQ

Made by The Red Devil & Manuel Bilderbeek

version 0.948 (beta)

Last updated on 17 September 2006

As of 11 June 1998, the FAQ's log is online!

[Introduction] [Contents (FAQ index)] [Thanks & Credits] [Stats & Info] [Guestbook & Feedback]

[MSX FAQ]

[http://faq.msxnet.org\]

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Introduction

This FAQ contains information about the MSX system, its expansions and a lot of other things. If you have texts you would like to be added to this FAQ, feel free to mail me. If you discover any bugs, please mail the corrections to me. This FAQ is an ongoing project, so help me make it as good as possible.

Although this FAQ was started by the Red Devil, it is now being maintained by Manuel Bilderbeek.

(Bjørn B.S. &) Manuel B.

Of course there are other (outdated) MSX FAQs, and you can find them at:

<http://www.komkon.org/fms/ > by Marat Fayzullin - fMSX emulator related.
<http://www.komkon.org/fms/MSX/Docs/EasyGuide.txt > by Hans Guijt - fMSX Amiga related.
Benny Roger Gundersen's FAQ (one of the first MSX FAQs online) is offline.

Give me feedback!

If you would also like to give me feedback, then go to the feedback section at the bottom of this page. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated!

Contents

### 0 General info and FAQ about MSX
* The interview with Kay Nishi (The Japanese guy behind the whole MSX project)
* What is MSX?
* MSX on the Internet:
* What is comp.sys.msx?
* Where can I find MSX Web pages and FTP sites?
* Where can I find MSX software?
* Are there any MSX people on IRC?
* Is there an MSX mailing list?
* Is there an MSX internet radio station?
* Are there still MSX fairs/exhibitions?
* For a lot of general and technical info about several MSX hardware, check out the following resources:
* MSX Assembly Page, a huge source of information for MSX programmers
* The documentation of the RuMSX emulator (See section 17 (Emulators), topics: Moonsound, BDOS, BIOS, etc.)
* Maurizio's hardware page (a partial mirror of the previous resource)
* Tech info at MSXNet, about Z80, MSX1 VDP, SCC and ROM Mappers
* Hans Otten, a lot of technical hardware info collected by Hans Otten. Check the MSX Hardware page there!
* Various documentation about MSX on Marat's MSX page
* MiLC, which is partially in Dutch
* The MSX Red Book, which can be downloaded from my MSX page, software section
* Mayer's I/O Map (topics: I/O ports, connectors, useful tables)
* Mayer's I/O Map, updated version by Martin Korth (textversion is here, see previous!)
* MSX2 Technical Handbook digitized by Nestor Soriano
* MSX Tech Doc page by Alwin Henseler. Topics: diskROM disassembly, expanding MSX Audio sampleRAM, MSX Super Turbo, datasheets, etc.
* Info on how to change a Panasonic diskdrive
* Also check out the links database of The MSX Resource Center (and Manuel Bilderbeek's Bookmarks), which contain a lot of useful links about MSX.

### 1 MSX1 system (1983)
* 1.1 MSX1 standard definition and remarks
* 1.2 Graphic capabilities
* 1.3 Some examples of MSX1 machines
* 1.3.1 Spectravideo 318 & 328
* 1.3.2 Spectravideo 738 X'press
* 1.3.2 Pioneer Palcom PX7
* 1.3.4 Yamaha CX5M series
* 1.3.5 Other examples of special MSX1 computers
* 1.4 Software
* 1.5 Companies which produced MSX1 computers

2 MSX2 system (1985)

  * 2.1 [MSX2 standard definition and remarks](msx2.html#msx2sys)  
  * 2.2 [Graphic capabilities](msx2.html#msx2gfx)  
           * 2.2.1 [What are the screen modes used for?](msx2.html#SCREEN%5FUSE)  
  * 2.3 [Special MSX2 machines](msx2.html#msx2spec)  
  * 2.4 [Software](msx2.html#msx2soft)  
           * 2.4.1 [What do I need to run the newest MSX2 software?](msx2.html#NEW%5FSOFT)  
  * 2.5 [Companies which produced MSX2 computers](msx2.html#msx2compa)

3 MSX2+ system (1988)

  * 3.1 [MSX2+ standard definition and remarks](msx2p.html#msx2psys)  
  * 3.2 [Graphic capabilities and other features](msx2p.html#msx2pgfx)  
  * 3.3 [Software](msx2p.html#msx2psoft)  
  * 3.4 [Companies which produced MSX2+ computers](msx2p.html#msx2pcompa)

4 MSX Turbo R system (1990/1992)

  * 4.1 [MSX Turbo R (standard) definition and remarks](msxtr.html#msxtrsys)  
           * 4.1.1 [Panasonic FS-A1ST MSX Turbo R](msxtr.html#msxtr-st)  
           * 4.1.2 [Panasonic FS-A1GT MSX Turbo R](msxtr.html#msxtr-gt)

### 5 SCC (1987)
* What's an SCC?
* What are the specs of an SCC?
* What's the purpose of getting a Konami cartridge with an SCC?
* Can I use my SCC sound cartridge for other purposes than playing Konami games?
* What's an SCC+?
* Are there any MSX emulators which support the SCC?

6 MSX-Music (FM-PAC/FM-PAK/OPLL, 1987)

  * **_What is MSX-Music?_**  
  * **_What is an FM-PAC?_**  
  * **_What are the specs of the individual MSX-Music cartridges?_**  
  * **_Which MSX computers have MSX-Music built in?_**  
  * **_Which music programs are the most used?_**  
  * **_Which editor is the newest one?_**  
  * **_Where can I buy this wonderful music source?_**  
  * **_Are there other music composing programs for MSX-Music?_**  
  * **_Which software uses MSX-Music?_**  
  * **_Are any of available MSX emulators supporting MSX-Music?_**

7 MSX-Audio (Music Module (OPL(1)-compatible), 1985)

  * **_What is MSX-Audio?_**  
  * **_Are there different kinds of MSX-Audio modules?_**  
  * **_What software supports the MSX-Audio?_**  
  * **_Are there any MSX emulators which support MSX-Audio?_**  
  * **_Where can I buy an MSX-Audio cartridge?_**  
  * **_I have a Philips Music Module with the NMS-1160 keyboard. Can I use this keyboard as a MIDI keyboard on my PC?_**

8 Moonsound (OPL4, 1995)

  * **_What is a Moonsound?_**  
  * **_What are the specs of the Moonsound cartridge?_**  
  * **_Is there any software supplied with it?_**  
  * **_Where can I find the newest MBWAVE and MBFM editors?_**  
  * **_Is Moonsound able to replay \[.MID\] files?_**  
  * **_Are there any \[.MWM\] or \[.MFM\] replayers?_**  
  * **_Where can I find technical (programming) info about it?_**  
  * **_Where can I buy it?_**

### 9 GFX9000 (and Video9000 extension, 1994 and 1997)
* What is GFX9000?
* What resolutions, colours and other specs does it have?
* What is supported by PowerBASIC?
* What software is made for GFX9000?
* What is the Video9000?
* What can I do with a Video9000?
* What are the Video9000's main features?
* Where can I buy this wonderful hardware?
* (some general info can be read in the file [V9990.TXT] - [V9990.ZIP], written by Stefan Boer. Briefly: it's an MSX 15-bit graphiccard)

### 10 HBI-V1 Video Digitizer (1989)
* What is a Video Digitizer?
* What is included in the Video Digitizer package?
* Which screen modes does the HBI-V1 Video Digitizer support?
* How can I digitize pictures in the 256×424 (interlaced) resolution?
* How can I load the interlaced pictures in MSX-BASIC?
* How can I export my MSX pictures to (PC/MAC etc.)?

### 11 MSX-DOS 2 (1988-now)
* What is MSX-DOS 2?
* Can I use MSX-DOS 2 in MSX-BASIC too?
* Can I run MSX-DOS 1 software under DOS2?
* Does it support directories?
* What about the compatibility with MS-DOS disks?
* What will I get if I buy DOS2?
* When is DOS2 needed?
* Can I use DOS2 on MSX2 emulator?
* How much RAM can DOS2 use?
* What do I need to run DOS2?
* Is there a way to get DOS2 in my MSX, other than buying the cartridge?
* What's the newest version of COMMAND2.COM?
* Where can I buy the DOS2 cartridge?
* Is there another way to access directories on MSX?
* Where can I find technical info on DOS2?
* What is this Wrong version of MSX-DOS error I keep getting?

12 SCSI interfaces (from 1989?)

  * **_What is the use of a SCSI interface?_**  
  * **_What is SCSI?_**  
  * **_What SCSI interfaces exist for MSX?_**  
  * **_What hardware do I need to use a SCSI interface on MSX?_**  
  * **_What are partitions and why do I need them?_**  
  * **_What about terminators?_**  
  * **_Novaxis: all my partitions seem write protected. What to do?_**  
  * **_Novaxis: my MSX hangs when booting with the SCSI interface. What to do?_**  
  * **_Novaxis: my BIOS settings are gone after turning off my MSX. Why?_**  
  * **_Novaxis: at boot, the system hangs displaying please wait ---'. What now?_**  
  * **_What basic commands are available in the Novaxis ROM?_**  
  * **_What do the errors mean I get from my Novaxis ROM?_**

13 IDE interfaces (1995?)

  * **_What is the use of an IDE interface?_**  
  * **_Where can I find such IDE interface?_**  
   (following part of the IDE section is related to the IDE interface from Sunrise!)  
  * **_My IDE interface has never worked properly. What can I do?_**  
  * **_Where can I find technical data concerning the IDE I/O system?_**  
  * **_Where can I find IDE software?_**  
  * **_What kind of devices can I connect to the interface?_**  
  * **_I installed a new bios version and my computer doesn't boot anymore. What now?_**  
  * **_How many devices can I connect to this interface?_**  
  * **_How should I configure the jumpers on my IDE devices?_**  
  * **_I can't figure out what jumperposition is 'MASTER' or 'SLAVE'. Help?_**  
  * **_My IDE Iomega ZIP drive has a lot of jumpersettings. Which should I use?_**  
  * **_How can I format my harddisk?_**  
  * **_Can I connect my MSX formatted harddisk to a PC?_**  
  * **_What other things should I be aware of?_**

### 14 Descriptions of several connectors
* 14.1 Cassette connector
* 14.2 Joystick connector
* 14.3 Printer connector
* 14.4 RGB (DIN) connector (to SCART connector)
* 14.5 SCART connector (Philips: Audio/Video out, Sony: RGB)
* 14.6 Monitor connector Philips
* 14.7 Monitor connector Sony (Audio/Video)
* 14.8 RGB Monitor connector Gradiente Expert
* 14.9 RGB connector (Japanese)
* 14.10 MSX standard AV DIN-5 connector
* 14.11 Yamaha CX-5Mx RGB connector
* 14.12 SCART connector (Japanese)
* 14.13 Philips CM-8833-II RGB-connector (monitor)
* 14.14 Commodore 1084s DIN RGB-connector/SCART modification (monitor)
* 14.15 S-Video connector (Turbo R)
* 14.16 Sunrise GFX9000 video output
* 14.17 Video Interface Sony HB-G900P
* 14.18 MSX cartridge connector/bus expansion/extension side slot
* 14.19 Diskdrive connector (34pin)
* 14.20 Diskdrive connector (VG8230/35, NMS8245 (internal))
* 14.21 Second diskdrive connector SpectraVideo
* 14.22 Diskdrive connector MSX Turbo R
* 14.23 Laptop diskdrive (26pin) to 34 pin MSX drive connector
* 14.24 ESE'S Harukaze Serial Port
* 14.25 Standard RS-232
* 14.26 Power supply connector SVI-728
* 14.27 Power supply connector Yamaha CX5M
* 14.28 Power supply connector Panasonic FS-A1
* 14.29 I/O connector Pioneer LD-700/LD-7000

15 The MSX hardware list

by The Red Devil (new layout, new items), Manuel Bilderbeek (newer layout, maintenance) and Alex Wulms (original concept, see there)

### 16 MSX emulators
* Which emulators exist?
* What is the best MSX emulator?
* Is it possible to make a [.CAS] tape image of a [.WAV] file (with data from the tape)?
* Is it legal to spread ROMs?
* How do I use BAS, BIN or other (MSX-)files in my emulator?
* Why does holding down the CTRL key in fMSX have no effect?

### 17 Several MSX(-emulator) related file formats/types
#### Executables (from MSX-BASIC)
* 17.1 [.BAS]/[.LDR] MSX-BASIC - BASIC file
* What are the [.BAS]/[.LDR] files?
* How do I run them?
* I tried to load a [.BAS] file in my text editor but I got only some garbage!?
* What's the purpose of [.LDR]-basic files?
* 17.2 [.BIN] MSX-BASIC - BINARY file
* What are the [.BIN] files?
* How do I run them?
* 17.3 [.001], [.002], ... , [.00n] Just a series of MSX-BASIC binary files
* What are the these files and what to do with them? 

  **#### Executables (from MSX-DOS)**  
  * 17.4 \[[.COM](suffix.html#COM)\] MSX-DOS 1.x/2.x executable file  
           * **_What are the \[.COM\] files?_**  
           * **_How can I make a MSX-DOS disk?_**  
           * **_Can MSX run CP/M 2.20 software under MSX-DOS 1.x?_**  
           * **_Where can I find the list of MSX-DOS V1.x commands?_**  
           * **_I can't boot the MSX-DOS, my EMULATOR locks up!?_**  
           * **_Where can I get the MSX-DOS V1.x or MSX-DOS V2.x files?_**  
       
  **#### Archive/Crunched/Packed**  
  * 17.5 \[[.PMA/LZH/.LHA](suffix.html#PMA)\] Compressed archives  
           * **_What is a \[.PMA\] file?_**  
           * **_Where can I get a \[.PMA\] file extractor for MS-DOS, (L)UNIX or my MSX (emulator)?_**  
           * **_How do I extract \[.PMA\] files on a MacIntosh computer?_**  
           * **_Can I decompress \[.LZH\] & aMIGA \[.LHA\] files on MSX (emulator)?_**  
           * **_Are there any \[.LZH\] packers/(unpackers) for MSX (emulator)?_**  
  * 17.6 \[[.AR](suffix.html#AR)\] Compressed archive  
           * **_What's an \[.AR\] file?_**  
           * **_Where can I get the extractor/packer for my MSX?_**  
  * 17.7 \[[.XSA](suffix.html#XSA)\] Compressed disk  
           * **_What is an \[.XSA\] file?_**  
           * **_How can I restore/make an \[.XSA\] file on my PC or MSX?_**  
           * **_How can I convert \[.XSA\] file to \[.DSK\] file or \[.DSK\] file to \[.XSA\] file on my MSX, PC or Unix station?_**  
       
  **#### Graphical file formats**  
  * 17.8 \[[.MIF](suffix.html#MIF)\] MSX Interchange Format  
           * **_What is a \[.MIF\] file?_**  
       
  **#### Emulator-related (diskimages)**  
  * 17.9 \[[.DSK](suffix.html#DSK)\] Image of MSX floppy disk  
           * **_Which utility creates a \[.DSK\] floppy-disk image on my PC?_**  
           * **_Can I also convert \[.DSK\] files from/to a real disk on a Unix/Linux computer?_**  
           * **_How can I put a MSX \[.DSK\] image back to a floppy disk on a MacIntosh computer?_**  
           * **_I have a multiple \[.DSK\] file. Can I split it into \[720KB\] \[.DSK\] files on my PC?_**  
           * **_I have 720kB \[.DSK\] files. How can I make a multi disk image of it (to use with fMSX-DOS or with FDD emulator)?_**  
           * **_Can I move files to/from the \[.DSK\] images on my PC or Unix system?_**  
           * **_Can I move files to/from the \[.DSK\] images on my MSX?_**  
           * **_Can I create/restore \[.DSK\] files on my real MSX?_**  
           * **_Can I run diskimages on my real MSX (from harddisk)?_**  
  * 17.10 \[[.MSX](suffix.html#MSX)\] FloppyDisk image  
           * **_What is a \[.MSX\] file?_**  
           * **_Can I convert it to \[.DSK\] - MSX emulator compatible disk image?_**  
           * **_Can I write it to a real 3.5" disk?_**  
  * 17.11 \[[.DDI](suffix.html#DDI)\] DiskDupe FloppyDisk image (also used with CJSMSX2 emulator)  
           * **_I have a \[.DDI\] disk image file. Can I convert it to \[.DSK\] - MSX emulator compatible disk image?_**  
  * 17.12 \[[.TD0](suffix.html#TD0)\] FloppyDisk image  
           * **_What is a \[.TD0\] file?_**  
  * 17.13 \[[.CP2](suffix.html#CP2)\] FloppyDisk image  
           * **_What is a \[.CP2\] file?_**  
  * 17.14 \[[.IMG](suffix.html#IMG)\] FloppyDisk image  
           * **_What is a \[.IMG\] file?_**  
       
  **#### Emulator-related (tape/cassette images)**  
  * 17.15 \[[.CAS](suffix.html#CAS)\] Cassette image  
           * **_What is a \[.CAS\] file?_**  
           * **_How can I read a \[.CAS\] file on a real MSX?_**  
  * 17.16 \[[.TAP](suffix.html#TAP)\] Cassette image  
           * **_What is a \[.TAP\] file?_**  
       
  **#### Emulator-related (misc)**  
  * 17.17 \[[.ROM](suffix.html#ROM)\] ROM image extracted from a cartridge  
           * **_What are the \[.ROM\] files and can I use them with my MSX-emulator or real MSX?_**  
           * **_Where can I get the \[.ROM\] file loaders for real MSX2 machines?_**  
           * **_Where can I find the \[.ROM\] files?_**

18 Miscellaneous MSX FAQ

  * **_What is the universal slot-select-correct POKE?_**  
  * **_My Philips VG-8235 (or NMS-8245 or MSXturboR) gives strange disk-errors, whatever I try! What is this?_**  
  * **_I installed the password on my MSX, but I forgot it. What now?_**  
  * **_Where can I get info on JoyNet, the MSX network standard?_**  
  * **_The sound on my Philips NMS 8250/55/80 sounds terrible. How can I fix it?_**  
  * **_I have a Philips VW-0030/NMS-1431 (or some other MSX-) printer. Where can I find drivers for Windows for this printer?_**  
  * **_I want to buy/sell an MSX. What should I do?_**  
  * **_Can I install a PC diskdrive in my Philips NMS-8250/55/80?_**  
  * **_Can I use my mouse in joystick-controlled software?_**  
  * **_Where can I find plotter pens for my Sony PRN-C41?_**  
  * **_How can I use modern (?) floppy discs on my MSX, or MSX formatted modern floppies on my PC?_**  
  * **_Can I use PAL software on an NTSC MSX (or vice versa)?_**

19 FAQ about this FAQ

  * **_Can I put a translated version of your FAQ on my web site?_**  
  * **_Can you make the FAQ available for off-line usage, i.e. make it possible to download it in a big ZIP file, e.g?_**

Thanks & Credits

Thanks to everyone who contributed!

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