Software hacking overview

[goldfish64]

Hello.
After reading tons of docs for months about the various tools to customize the DTV's software I am a little confused.
I didn't find a document that would explain the workings of the device from a software point of view, for instance, what it looks for and executes when it's turned on or reset.
I saw that there are alternate kernals and tools to create your own custom kernals (kernalpatcher). I keep reading warnings in capital letters that suggest you not to overwrite the original kernal, because it's dangerous and there are other ways to use a new kernal. That is, there are programs that let you use the kernal(s) you want, but how is this accomplished? How can I have my own kernal up and running when I turn the DTV on? Do I always have to issue some command to load my kernal?
What are the differences between the C64 original kernal and the one in the DTV? If I'm correct, tape routines are left out, device #1 is the internal flash, and there are 16 bytes somewhere that represent the color palette.

[1570]

Jan 17, 2009 7:30:56 GMT -5 goldfish64 said:

I didn't find a document that would explain the workings of the device from a software point of view, for instance, what it looks for and executes when it's turned on or reset.

The DTV's 'processor' performs just like a C64 at startup. The only differences on startup stem from the kernal changes.
picobay.com/dtv_wiki/index.php?title=Flash_the_DTV_Rom#Flash_new_programs
In detail: picobay.com/dtv_wiki/index.php?title=DTV2_Kernal_disassembly

How can I have my own kernal up and running when I turn the DTV on?

Why do you want to use an own kernal at all? What do you want to do?
I wonder why for the DTV everyone asks "How do I install a new kernal" as first question. I doubt this was the case back in 1984 for the C64 .

What are the differences between the C64 original kernal and the one in the DTV?

See the second link in this posting.

[goldfish64]

Jan 17, 2009 8:12:57 GMT -5 1570 said:

Why do you want to use an own kernal at all? What do you want to do?

JiffyDOS!

[1570]

I added a note for that to picobay.com/dtv_wiki/index.php?title=Flash_the_DTV_Rom#Patch_kernal, see the second paragraph.

Never put a normal C64 kernal to $00E000 on the DTV! This might break the DTV (since it doesn't do some chip initializations the normal DTV kernal performs) and in any case will make loading from flash impossible.

[goldfish64]

Ok. I am creating my own Flash with DTVSlimIntro in it. I put all the Kernals I wanted in "runnable" format, plus some games.

I found that "International Soccer" only works with the standard unpatched C64 Kernal and the JiffyDOS Kernal.