Post by NetSamurai on Dec 7, 2004 6:04:51 GMT -5
Since I started discussing the "DTV ROM hacking", I have heard only
crickets chirping. I understand the hesitation and concern, however,
the best way to avoid a problem is to face it head on; not to ignore
it and hope it goes away. A simple discussion with me about my
intentions would have revealed that they are (probably) not as
sinister as they would seem.
Perhaps I should have clarified my position on this. I have been
contacted by a few to suggest discretion in offering the ROM up to
the community. I have NO intention to do that, it was never part of
my plan. I only feel I need to read the ROM to understand how the ROM
handler routines work and how to patch in a Flash ROM drive.
Electronically, this would be easy now. Programmatically is where the
issues lie.
Here's what I WANT to do:
1. Read the ROM out to determine the layout (where the firmware is
located, how the firmware works, how the fs is set up.)
2. Map the Flash ROM around the firmware (thus leaving it intact.)
3. Leave the ability to access the new flash ROM with LOAD"*",1,1
Dumping the ROM and then offering it up publicly, etc.. has no value
to me. I have no desire nor intention to jeopordize the hackability
of the PAL unit. I do not want to piss off Ironstone, Tulip, Mammoth,
or Lobster. I appreciate enormously the amount of effort, risk, and
what have you that the developers have put forth. I also appreciate
enormously that the developers brought this awesome product to us. I
DO NOT want to jeopordize that. I simply want to maintain the
functionality of a portable unit, but be able to load my own programs
(with save capability.) This means a bulky 1541 floppy is out of the
question on the portability issue. In my view (and it could be
skewed, correct me if you think so) this is only slightly different
than allowing the IEC port in there in the first place. Since that
allows me to load my own programs anyway, then the flash drive is not
much different.
I realize it would skirt some issues to offer the flash drive on the
IEC port, but I rather like the way the ROM works now. I really don't
want to change the ROM perse (like modifying the menu, music, etc..)
I just want to see my own directory when I type load"$".
If anyone has any further concerns, suggestions, or compromises that
would keep this effort clean and out of the realm of pissing off the
developers/manufacturers, please Email me. We have to have trust. I
am within a day or two of being able to do this and I really would
like to help, not hurt the community. I have been holding off a
little hoping someone would Email me with constructive advice, rather
than simply telling me to excercise discretion (what makes them
assume I am careless?) But I am moving forward with this, even if it
means I will be the only one to have my hack, or knows the method (I
am fine with that, if that is what it takes.) However, I would like
to offer the information to the community on how to do it themsleves.
I am not planning to sell "mod chips" for the DTV. In fact, I really
only care that "I" want it. I just realize that a community is not
about being selfish and others may want it too. But I do not wish to
infringe on anything, or attempt to make ANY money out of it (not
even break even), etc...
Finally, my only concern at this point is Adrian's posts talking
about the trashing of the tape routines and the removal of any type
of save routines. If this is the case, then the firmware WOULD have
to modified to allow for saving back to flash or Flash would have to
go on the IEC port. I guess it isn't the end of the world not to have
save capabilities either, but that's not what I was hoping for.
Can we start a constructive dialog, please? Ignoring me will simply
result in me accidently revealing information that WOULD probably
jeopordize things. Realizing that I am not in the development loop, I
am unaware of the full concerns of the developers, thus, I could not
logically avoid them altogether. Simply standing back and watching a
train wreck occur when something could be done to help avoid it is
called complicity. So here's your chance!
Scott
crickets chirping. I understand the hesitation and concern, however,
the best way to avoid a problem is to face it head on; not to ignore
it and hope it goes away. A simple discussion with me about my
intentions would have revealed that they are (probably) not as
sinister as they would seem.
Perhaps I should have clarified my position on this. I have been
contacted by a few to suggest discretion in offering the ROM up to
the community. I have NO intention to do that, it was never part of
my plan. I only feel I need to read the ROM to understand how the ROM
handler routines work and how to patch in a Flash ROM drive.
Electronically, this would be easy now. Programmatically is where the
issues lie.
Here's what I WANT to do:
1. Read the ROM out to determine the layout (where the firmware is
located, how the firmware works, how the fs is set up.)
2. Map the Flash ROM around the firmware (thus leaving it intact.)
3. Leave the ability to access the new flash ROM with LOAD"*",1,1
Dumping the ROM and then offering it up publicly, etc.. has no value
to me. I have no desire nor intention to jeopordize the hackability
of the PAL unit. I do not want to piss off Ironstone, Tulip, Mammoth,
or Lobster. I appreciate enormously the amount of effort, risk, and
what have you that the developers have put forth. I also appreciate
enormously that the developers brought this awesome product to us. I
DO NOT want to jeopordize that. I simply want to maintain the
functionality of a portable unit, but be able to load my own programs
(with save capability.) This means a bulky 1541 floppy is out of the
question on the portability issue. In my view (and it could be
skewed, correct me if you think so) this is only slightly different
than allowing the IEC port in there in the first place. Since that
allows me to load my own programs anyway, then the flash drive is not
much different.
I realize it would skirt some issues to offer the flash drive on the
IEC port, but I rather like the way the ROM works now. I really don't
want to change the ROM perse (like modifying the menu, music, etc..)
I just want to see my own directory when I type load"$".
If anyone has any further concerns, suggestions, or compromises that
would keep this effort clean and out of the realm of pissing off the
developers/manufacturers, please Email me. We have to have trust. I
am within a day or two of being able to do this and I really would
like to help, not hurt the community. I have been holding off a
little hoping someone would Email me with constructive advice, rather
than simply telling me to excercise discretion (what makes them
assume I am careless?) But I am moving forward with this, even if it
means I will be the only one to have my hack, or knows the method (I
am fine with that, if that is what it takes.) However, I would like
to offer the information to the community on how to do it themsleves.
I am not planning to sell "mod chips" for the DTV. In fact, I really
only care that "I" want it. I just realize that a community is not
about being selfish and others may want it too. But I do not wish to
infringe on anything, or attempt to make ANY money out of it (not
even break even), etc...
Finally, my only concern at this point is Adrian's posts talking
about the trashing of the tape routines and the removal of any type
of save routines. If this is the case, then the firmware WOULD have
to modified to allow for saving back to flash or Flash would have to
go on the IEC port. I guess it isn't the end of the world not to have
save capabilities either, but that's not what I was hoping for.
Can we start a constructive dialog, please? Ignoring me will simply
result in me accidently revealing information that WOULD probably
jeopordize things. Realizing that I am not in the development loop, I
am unaware of the full concerns of the developers, thus, I could not
logically avoid them altogether. Simply standing back and watching a
train wreck occur when something could be done to help avoid it is
called complicity. So here's your chance!
Scott