Some MSX EMULATOR users ask that question quite often and I am really tired of reading the same messages over and over again, so here you should find answers on most common questions about file formats on MSX. Stop filling COMP.SYS.MSX with these questions!
What are the [.BAS] files?
The [.BAS] and [.LDR] files are MSX-BASIC files. These are not ASCII files! See below!
How do I run them?
They can be started by writing following (when you are in MSX-BASIC):
(Example file: EXAMPLE.BAS)
LOAD"EXAMPLE.BAS" <ENTER> RUN <ENTER> or
LOAD"EXAMPLE.BAS",R <ENTER> or
RUN"EXAMPLE.BAS" <ENTER>
from MSX-DOS it can be also done by typing at the command line:
A:>BASIC EXAMPLE.BAS <ENTER>
<ENTER> = PUSH Return/Enter key.
I tried to load a [.BAS] file in my text editor but I got only some garbage!?
That's because normally, a BASIC program is saved in a special format. This is called `tokenized' BASIC. It means every BASIC-command has it's own special byte or byte-combination. These files seem pretty binary if you don't know that it's BASIC. But ofcourse you can also save a BASIC program in ASCII format.
To save a [.BAS] file in ASCII format try:
(Example file: EXAMPLE.BAS)
LOAD"EXAMPLE.BAS" <ENTER>
SAVE"EXAMPLE.ASC",A <ENTER>
Now it is possible to open the file in an text editor. It's possible to write the BASIC program in an text editor too, but who does that? :-)
Note: When a [.BAS] file has been saved with [,A] option it will take longer to load it in MSX-BASIC (especially when the program is on tape!). This is way the described method of tokens is used. It's a way of compressing the BASIC files.
What's the purpose of [.LDR]-basic files?
Some MSX-BASIC files have a .LDR extension. LDR is short for "loader". This usually means that this particular basic program loads a machine-language-binary (often called .BIN file, see below) program in the computer's memory. It's often seen with games.What are the [.BIN] files?
The [.BIN] files are binary files and contain machine language. On
disk, the structure is like this:
First 7 bytes of file-header:
byte 0 : ID byte #FE byte 1+2: start-adress byte 3+4: end-adress byte 5+6: execution-adressThen follows the machine-language. Note that this is only true for BIN files on disk, because cassette-files have a seperate header with the address-information in it. The structure is as follows:
How do I run them?
They can be started by writing following (when you are in MSX-BASIC):
(Example file: EXAMPLE.BIN)
BLOAD"EXAMPLE.BIN",R <ENTER>
If the file will not start then there may be several reasons:
RUN"EXAMPLE.BAS" or RUN"EXAMPLE.LDR"
What are the these files and what to do with them?
These files are actually binary files, like the [.BIN] files. But they're just called different. They're called this way, because appearantly the machine-language program consists of more than one binary file. Try to find the [.BAS] or [.LDR] (loader, in BASIC) file and run it.
What are the [.COM] files?
The [.COM] files are MSX-DOS V1.X/V2.X executable. To execute them you must boot MSX-DOS V1.X/V2.X, and type EXAMPLE after the prompt, to run the program EXAMPLE.COM, just like MS-DOS.
How can I make an MSX-DOS V1.X disk?
Can MSX run CP/M V2.20 software under MSX-DOS V1.X?
Yes. With MSX-DOS V1.X you should be able to run most of CP/M V2.20 software.
Where can I find the list of MSX-DOS V1.X commands?
The commands of MSX-DOS V1.X are equal to MS-DOS's (except CD/MD/RD/MOVE - directory manipulation). Simply get, borrow or steal a MS-DOS manual/guide!
Here are the 3 BASIC ones:
[ ] = optional
I can't boot the MSX-DOS, my MSX (emulator) locks up!?
If you try to BOOT the MSX-DOS V1.X from a disk formatted in MS-DOS on a PC computer, then the fMSX-DOS emulator will lock up, because the BOOT sector is different. A disk formatted on PC will contain PC code in the BOOT trap equally a disk formatted on a real MSX or in fMSX-DOS emulator will contain MSX code. So it is important that the BOOT sector is MSX's and not PC's!
Where can I get the MSX-DOS V1.X or MSX-DOS V2.X files?
[MSXDOS.SYS] + [COMMAND.COM] - [MSXDOS1.LZH] MSX-DOS V1.X system files.
[MSXDOS.SYS] + [COMMAND.COM] + [CONFIG.SYS] + [MSXDOS14.TXT] -
[MSXDOS14.ZIP] MSX-DOS V1.4 system files. <- Will be online later (ehm, probably not).
[ksave105.lzh ] MSX-DOS(2) kernel saver V1.05 by K.TSUJIKAWA.
Use it to extract the ROM from your DOS2 cartridge on real MSX2. Then it (can) - (I assume that your emulator can emulate DOS2) be used with the MSX emulator. Consult the manual of your MSX emulator if in doubt. Since the DOS2 ROM and the system files are still copyrighted by ASCII I can NOT provide you with any DOS2 ROM file(s) and/or system files, and I don't know where you can get them for free.
What is a [.PMA] file?
The [.PMA] file is a compressed archive created by PMARC2.COM. PMARC2.COM is the most used archiving tool on the MSX platform. To extract [.PMA] files use PMEXT.COM. An [.PMA] extractor/packer for PC is available too, and it is recomended to use it if you have a PC compatible machine.
Where can I get a [.PMA] file extractor for my PC or my MSX (emulator)?
[PMEXT4PC.ARJ] - PMEXT-PC.ZIP] - PMEXT.COM for MS-DOS.
[PMARC-PC.ARJ] - PMARC.COM for MS-DOS.
[PMARC.COM] - [PMARC.PMA] - PMARC.COM for MSX-DOS(2)/CP/M V2.20.
[PMEXT.COM] - PMEXT.COM for MSX-DOS(2)/CP/M V2.20.
The [.PMA] extractor for PC is the same as on MSX, but it runs under 22NICE - CP/M V2.20 emulator [22nice.lzh]. When you have once executed 22NICE then you can run PMARC/PMEXT as many times as you want. It is not recomended to extract archives by using MSX-emulator due to the low speed. Use the 22NICE and PMEXT in MS-DOS instead.
Can I decompress [.LZH] & aMIGA [.LHA] files on MSX (emulator)?
The PMEXT.COM should also be able to decompress [.LZH] & aMIGA [.LHA] files. But there's also a program called LHEXT.COM, see below.
Are there any [.LZH] packers/(unpackers) for MSX (emulator)?
The [.LZH] files can be extracted by using above mentioned utility (PMEXT.COM or LHEXT.COM), in MSX-DOS.
A [.LZH] packer/extractor is available for MSX-DOS2. Can also extract LH6 archives.
[LHPACK.COM] - [LHPACK.COM] [.LZH] PACKER for MSX-DOS2 (LHPACK V1.03 by KYOJU '95)
[LHEXT.COM] - [LHEXT133.COM] [.LZH] UNPACKER for MSX-DOS2 (LHEXT V1.33 by KYOJU '95)
An [.LHA] packer & extractor was once adapted from UNIX and is available for MSX2 with MSX-DOS2 now:
[LHARC.COM] + [LHARC.OVL] + [LHARC.HLP] - [LHARC102.lzh ] - LHARC V1.02 by Y. TAGAWA 1989-1990 (Adapted from UNIX for MSX2 with MSX-DOS2 by Uwe S.) - This one requires MSX-DOS2 and is able to extract/pack with path names (slow but OK).
What's an [.AR] file?
It is a compressed archive (as ZIP, LZH etc.). The file is created by an MSX-DOS or MSX-DOS2 utility PR.COM by Egor Voznessenski (SOLID soft). This compressing format is especially made on/for MSX. It is the fastest compressor on MSX, but the compression is less good than PMA / LZH. Extractor is only available for MSX-DOS(2).
Where can I get the extractor/packer for my MSX?
[PRD.COM] + [PR.COM] + [PR.DOC] - [pr170.lzh ] - [.AR] archive packer/unpacker V1.70 for MSX-DOS. By SOLiD soft.
[PRD.COM] + [PR.COM] + [PR.DOC] - [pr200.lzh] - [.AR] archive packer/unpacker V2.00 for MSX-DOS2(1). By SOLiD soft 1997.
What is an [.XSA] file?
[.XSA] is a special disk image format developed by XELASOFT (Alex Wulms). An [.XSA] file contains usually a compressed MSX-floppy disk. This format becomes more and more popular in the MSX-WORLD.
How can I restore/make an [.XSA] file on my PC or MSX?
[D2FF2D.LZH] [.XSA] disk compress/decompress for MS-DOS & MSX-DOS(2) by XELASOFT.
How can I convert [.XSA] file to [.DSK] file or [.DSK] file to [.XSA] file on my MSX, PC or Unix station?
[XSCXSDMX.PMA] [.DSK] to [.XSA] and [.XSA] to [.DSK] converter for MSX-DOS by XELASOFT.
[XSCXSDPC.ARJ] [.DSK] to [.XSA] and [.XSA] to [.DSK] converter for MS-DOS by XELASOFT.
[XSC_XSD.SUN.TAR.GZ] disk compress/decompress for SunOS V4.x by XELASOFT.
[XSC_XSD.HP.TAR.GZ ] disk compress/decompress for HP-UX V9.x by XELASOFT.
[XSC_XSD.LINUX.TAR.GZ ] disk compress/decompress for LINUX V1.2.x by XELASOFT.
More general info about this can be found on The XelaSoft XSA Format page.
What is a [.DSK] file?
The most important and most widely used uncompressed disk-image file.
Which utility creates a [.DSK] floppy-disk image on my PC?
[DCOPY.EXE] - [dcopy.zip] Converts MSX floppy disk to [.DSK] image and back. For MS-DOS.
Examples:
[diskmgr.zip] - [Disk Manager 0.04] by Rudolf Lechleitner. For Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0. Can be used for making/restoring diskimages and for file transfer between disk and diskimage.
Can I also convert [.DSK] files to/from a real disk on a Unix/Linux computer?
Sure, it's very easy! Just make sure you have a correctly formatted floppy-disk in the disk-drive. Then type: cat example.dsk > /dev/fd0, if your disk-drive has the device-name fd0. That's it! To make a diskimage of your real disk, use the same procedure, but then the other way round: cat /dev/fd0 > example.dsk . (This is why I love Unix!)
How can I put a MSX [.DSK] image back to a floppy disk on a MACINTOSH computer?
This is a rather complicated procedure. The Red Devil described it on his Miscellaneous MSX tips-page... Please check that out for the answer to this question.
I have a multiple [.DSK] file. Can I split it into [720KB] [.DSK] files on my PC?
[SPLITDSK.EXE] - [splitdsk.zip] Splits multiple [.DSK] images into several 720KB [.DSK] files. For MS-DOS. By Meuse Soft.
[multidsk.c] - C source of a program that can add and extract [.DSK] diskimages to/from multiple [.DSK] files. Compile it yourself on your favourite platform. Written by Sean Young.
I have 720kB [.DSK] files. How can I make a multi disk image of it to use with fMSX-DOS?
This is quite clearly explained in the manual of fMSX. But to make this FAQ more complete, I'll repeat the expanation here.
Multi disk images are supported from fMSX-DOS version 1.6b1. To create one, simply copy several disks to 1 image like this: COPY /B DISK1.DSK+DISK2.DSK MULTI.DSK, start the emulator with the resulting disk image as disk A, and press RIGHT CTRL+1..0 when the game asks you to insert a new diskette. Please note that this only works for double sided disk images (720Kb ones). An alternative:
[multidsk.c] - C source of a program that can add and extract [.DSK] diskimages to/from multiple [.DSK] files. Compile it yourself on your favourite platform. Written by Sean Young.
Can I move files to/from the [.DSK] images on my PC/Unix system?
[RDDSK.EXE]/[WRDSK.EXE] - [rdwrdspc.zip] Utilities used to move files out of/into [.DSK] images. For MS-DOS.
By Arnold
Metselaar
Note: the sources of wrdsk/rddsk can be found on: Arnold's Disk Utils
page. Use them to compile your own Unix version.
[diskmgr.zip] - [Disk Manager 0.04] by Rudolf Lechleitner. For Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0. Can be used for making/restoring diskimages and for file transfer between disk and diskimage.
Can I move files to/from the [.DSK] images on my MSX?
[RDDSK.COM]/[WRDSK.COM] Utilities used to move files out of/into [.DSK] images. For MSX-DOS. By Arnold Metselaar
For clarity: these utilities are made to make you able to put BAS, BIN or other files on a diskimage, so some emulators, like fMSX, can work with these BAS or BIN files, or whatever. So to run these files, just put them on a diskimage and start fMSX with the diskimage (see manual). After booting the (virtual) MSX, you can see with the MSX-disk-BASIC command FILES if the files are really present on the diskimage. If they are, just run them. See the corresponding suffix-section for details.
Can I create/restore [.DSK] files on my real MSX?
[FDLOAD.COM] - [fdload11.lzh] File to Sector convert tool V1.10 by K. TSUJIKAWA. Use this utility to write [.DSK] images to a floppy disk on real MSX. For MSX-DOS(2).
[FDSAVE.COM] - [fdsave11.lzh] Sector to File convert tool V1.10 by K. TSUJIKAWA. Use this utility to convert a floppy disk to [.DSK] image on real MSX. For MSX-DOS(2).
What is a [.MSX] file? This is a diskimage created by a Korean programme called "updownc".
I have a [.MSX] disk-image file. Can I convert it to [.DSK] - MSX emulator compatible disk-image?
[MSX2DSK.EXE] - [msx2dsk.zip] Converts [.MSX] disk images to [.DSK] images. For MS-DOS.
[UPV25.LZH] Converts [.MSX] disk image to a floppy disk.
[msx2dsk.c] C-source code of a [.MSX] to [.DSK] convertor, download and compile it yourself on your favourite platform (thanks to Sean Young)
Can I convert it to a real 3.5" disk?
Yes, therefore you need the program "[updownc.lzh] - updownc" for MS-DOS.
What is a [.DDI] file?
It's a disk-image file created by the programme Diskdupe [diskdupe.lzh], I guess. It seems to be a [.DSK] file with a 4608 byte header. The programme is for MS-DOS.
I have a [.DDI] disk-image file. Can I convert it to [.DSK] - MSX emulator compatible disk-image?
[dditodisk.zip ] Converts [.DDI] disk images to [.DSK] for MS-DOS.
[ddi2dsk.c] C-source code of a [.DDI] to [.DSK] convertor, download and compile it yourself on your favourite platform (thanks to Sean Young)
What is a [.TD0] file?
This is a diskimage file created by a Brazillian program called "[td0todsk.lzh] - Teledisk". This program has to be used to convert it to a real disk and is for MS-DOS.
What is a [.CP2] file?
These files are diskimages created by the program "[cp2todsk.lzh]" Snatchit/Copy2PC"... This/these programmes are needed to convert the files to a real disk and work under MS-DOS.
What is a [.IMG] file?
This is also a diskimage-file. It's the same as a .DSK file, except for the first byte, which is a header-byte. If you delete it, it's exactly a .DSK file. On Unix this is easy, e.g. use VI or VIM in binary mode and press [DEL] once and save it. You can also use img2dsk by Patrick Lina. The file contains the source code in C and a compiled version for Unix. You can mail him for an EXE if you use DOS.
[img2dsk.c] Another C-source code of a [.IMG] to [.DSK] convertor, download and compile it yourself on your favourite platform (this one is by Sean Young)
What are the [.ROM] files and can I use them with my MSX-emulator or real MSX?
The [.ROM] files are images of ROM cartridges available for real MSX machines. Those files were meant to be used with fMSX or other MSX emulators but since we have LOADROM.COM V1.0 from TRUNKS they can be used on real MSX2 machines too! ROM files have size of 16KB, 32KB, 128KB, 256KB, 384KB or even 512KB (or bigger). [.ROM] files which are available in FTP archives are ready to run, no conversion is needed. When using CJS MSX2 emulator then the files must be chopped in smaller blocks (16KB). Read the manual of CJS' MSX2 emulator. I've read somewhere that there is a bug in the ROM splitter from CJS so please don't use it unless there is another one.
The usage of ROM files with an emulator is emulator dependant. Ofcourse it will be explained in the emulator's manual. Read that manual!
Where can I get the [.ROM] file loaders for real MSX2 machines?
To load [.ROM] files on real MSX, use the LOADROM.COM V1.0 by TRUNKS! But if you have a MegaRAM cartridge (that's a cartridge with a whole lot of RAM in it, similar to the structure of the ROM in a cartridge) you can also use ExecROM:
[EXECROM.COM] + helpfiles - [execrom.com] download or go to Adriano Camago Rodrigues da Cunha's Page (the author), for more info and other nice softwares.
[LOADROM.COM] + [ROM-SORT.DSC] + [SORT.COM] - [LOADR10.LZH ] download or go to TRUNKS page.
This utility is able to load files upto 256KB and has full support for SCC/R800 and MSX-DOS2.
[CARGA.COM] - [carga.lzh] MSX-DOS utility to execute small 16KB/32KB ROM files. By Victor Raposo.
[RROM.COM] - [rrom101.lzh ] ROM file loader V1.01. Another MSX-DOS utility to run 16KB/32KB ROM files (support for R800). By NOB 1997.
[RIMA.COM] + [RIMA130.DOC] - [rima130.lzh] ROM image maker V1.30. MSX-DOS utility to extract and run 8KB/16KB/32KB ROM files (support for R800). By NOB 1996-1998.
Where can I find the [.ROM] files?
Check out the MSX FTP sites. Here are some links!