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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Software Issues and Discussion => Topic started by: doctorq on September 20, 2009, 07:28:43 PM

Title: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on September 20, 2009, 07:28:43 PM
Hello everyone,

I have an issue when running WHDLoad on my Amiga equipped with Blizzard PPC, and I hope someone here can shed some light on the issue, or maybe even a solution if I should be so lucky.

Here is the thing; WHDLoad keeps quitting with an requester saying the following

Exception "Access fault" ($7008)
PC = $6B192
Byte Read from $DFD6EC

WHDLoad doesn't quit right away, but when I reach a certain point in a game. That would suggest taking a look at the installed game (in this case Pang), and so I did.

I disabled the Blizzard PPC and startet the game from my Compact Flash card and I was able to finish the game, and start all over again without any issues. Enabled the Blizzard PPC again, and startet the game in the exact same way, by booting from the Compact Flash card instead of the harddrive attached to the Blizzard PPC. The game quits once again. I replaced the 2 x 128 MB ram installed on the Blizzard with 2 x 64 MB ram, but the issue still remains.

I'm thinking of trying to reflash the Blizzard PPC, play with the memory settings in the Blizzard PPC menu, and as a last attempt, remove hardware and/or replace the motherboard.

As for the software, the latest CPU libraries are installed, and I believe the latest version of WHDLoad. I'm not sure on the latter, so will have to check up on it.

My system config is as follows, A1200, Kickstart 3.1, Blizzard PPC 603e+, 68040@25 MHz, 603e@160 MHz, BVision PPC, BMon monitorswitcher, 80 GB hdd connected to SCSI through bridge, 2 x SCSI CD drives, 8 GB CF card connected to onboard IDE controller, OS3.9, regged WHDLoad.

Does anyone have any idea what could cause the issue I have here? I will be sending the same describtion and question to the WHDLoad team in a second.

Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on September 20, 2009, 07:41:45 PM
Failed to mention. When running the game with the Blizzard PPC enabled I use preload as well as nocache to get the sound to play correctly; with the Blizzard PPC disabled I only use preload.

I'm running version 16.9 of WHDLoad, and the issue happens in OS3.9 as well as OS3.1.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: amiga1260 on September 20, 2009, 09:11:00 PM
These faults are familiar to me. Try the following lower your Transfer mask to 00x001FE00 in HD toolbox and install or copy the game again. Now it should work.

If it doesn't work try an older WHDLoad version. You could find in the readme of Pang which version of WHDLoad it at least needs.

Sometimes the 16.9 version can have problems with older installation of WHDLoad games.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on September 21, 2009, 08:11:03 PM
Thanks for the input; I tried it out, but unfortunately with out any luck (the mask transfer was already set at the value stated by amiga1260).

I have since then played around with the computer. I have updated the slave, but that didn't have any effect.

If I start the game without the nocache switch, and then the game doesn't quit when the BPPC is enabled. Unfortunately the sound plays faster than it should, so it ruins the game a bit. Running with nocache makes the game quit, and always after finishing stage 9, when the screen should switch to the world map in order to go to the next destination.

I tried a different motherboard with a B1260 and SCSI attached, started with the nocache switch, and then the game doesn't quit. Attaching the BPPC instead with the ram from the 1260 combo and nothing else, the game still quits when running the game with the nocache switch.

All that's left to try out, is reflashing, and play with memory settings. My god, there are many combinations to go through :-(
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: x303 on September 21, 2009, 10:07:49 PM
Why not try to use one or more of these options:

NoAutoVec
NoFileCache
 NoMMU
NoWriteCache
NoVBRMove

ChipNoCache <- This option is especially for blizzppc.

Hope it worx now.

x303 :D :D :D
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on September 21, 2009, 10:22:00 PM
Quote from: x303;523614
Why not try to use one or more of these options:

NoAutoVec
NoFileCache
 NoMMU
NoWriteCache
NoVBRMove

ChipNoCache <- This option is especially for blizzppc.

Hope it worx now.

x303 :D :D :D


Well, it doesn't. I have tried all switches, and no matter what I do, the sound will be to fast if I start the game without the nocache switch, and will quit if I start the game with the nocache switch.

It's time to check if it's a general problem with WHDLoad on my machine (other games have crashed as well before), or only this game in particular.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: ddniUK on September 21, 2009, 10:29:15 PM
Don't be offended, as I am sure you have a legit WHDLoad key. But if you are using a cracked WHDLoad key then problems running games are a certainty.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on September 22, 2009, 11:29:27 AM
The key is legit, so the key is not the issue.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: amiga1260 on September 22, 2009, 04:06:32 PM
Did you already tried an older version of WHDLoad? You can find it on http://www.whdload.de/whdload/
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: foleyjo on September 27, 2009, 11:31:20 PM
did you find a fix for this? i get the same problem on my a1200 with a viper 060 and 64 mb ram os3.1.

one of the games that does it is robocop3.

i tried jst but got the same crash.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on October 03, 2009, 12:50:23 PM
@foleyjo

I'm going to try out Robocop 3 to see if it does the same here with me. Is it the exact same error?

I wrote the WHDLoad team, but unfortunately the replies I got didn't solve the problem.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: foleyjo on October 03, 2009, 01:22:56 PM
DoctorQ - With Robocop 3 I get  

Exception "Access Fault" ($4800)
PC=$152EE
Word Read From $E1E382

If I change some settings (nocache mmu=off etc) I get the same error with slighly different numbers and in different places. Sometimes I get into the actual game but once the car starts moving it crashes again.
Tried the game in Winuae with the same settings as my 1200 and it worked fine so Im guessing it's related to faulty hardware.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on October 03, 2009, 03:43:31 PM
Quote from: foleyjo;524608

Tried the game in Winuae with the same settings as my 1200 and it worked fine so Im guessing it's related to faulty hardware.


I have also narrowed it down to a hardware issue. I wouldn't call it faulty hardware as such, but the accelerator is the problem in my case.

I just tried out Robocop 3. With the accelerator disabled, I can play the game without issues (even though it is incredibly slow because of lack of fast ram). If I play it with the accelerator enabled I get problems; tried it with both the preload switch alone, and with chipnocache and expchip switches, but get this error.

Exception "Access Fault" ($7008)
PC = $18F00
Word read from $103C6B7

With the switch nocache alone, I get a slightly different error

Exception "Access Fault" ($7008)
PC = $18C06
Byte read from $F0040280

I guess there is nothing else to do other than live with the problem. I'll have to bring out my A1200 with Blizzard 1230 when it comes to gaming.

-EDIT-

@foleyjo

Have you tried with Pang to see if you get the same problem as me?
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: foleyjo on October 03, 2009, 10:21:49 PM
yeah i tried pang and it seemed to work fine.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on October 03, 2009, 10:29:25 PM
So Pang doesn't crash after finishing level 9 on your machine??
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: x303 on October 03, 2009, 11:45:15 PM
Quote from: doctorq;524616
I just tried out Robocop 3. With the accelerator disabled, I can play the game without issues (even though it is incredibly slow because of lack of fast ram). If I play it with the accelerator enabled I get problems; tried it with both the preload switch alone, and with chipnocache and expchip switches, but get this error.

Have you tried to run whdload without running setpatch, as this util enables some (68040) routines and patches some things that might make the whdload slave crash.

x303 :D :D :D
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: foleyjo on October 05, 2009, 08:23:15 AM
It depends if you mean stage 9 as in each individual level then yes. If you mean stage 9 as in each location on the map then no.

Im wondering if it has something to do with the actual version of the games Im using. I noticed on the KG downloads theres more than 1 Robocop 3. I will try the other versions and see what happens.

Won't be able to try this for a while though.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: foleyjo on October 06, 2009, 12:55:36 PM
Doctor Q : Just been on the WHDLOAD site and notice this in the latest news

•05.10.2009 improved: Pang (Ocean) access fault removed

Might be worth trying it
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on October 07, 2009, 10:01:46 PM
Quote from: foleyjo;524850
Doctor Q : Just been on the WHDLOAD site and notice this in the latest news

•05.10.2009 improved: Pang (Ocean) access fault removed

Might be worth trying it


Yep, I already got the updated slave on 4th October, and it fixed the error :-D
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: foleyjo on October 19, 2009, 01:23:22 PM
doctorq: When you reported the problem to the WHDLOAD team who did you actually report it to?
I would like to report the Robocop 3 game to see if it's possible to have that fixed or ask if there would be anyway they could introduce a global fix into whdload itself which would get rid of the access fault errors.

I don't know if any of the team would have the time to do this but it's worth asking
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: AmigaMance on October 19, 2009, 03:48:41 PM
If the problem is with Robocop 3 and most of the other games are functioning, you should report this to the person who wrote the slave, not to the WHDLoad team, imho.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: foleyjo on October 19, 2009, 05:24:51 PM
The problem happens on other games too. Robocop 3 is just one I've been wanting to play.

Unfortunatly it was Mr Larmer who created the slave for this one so contacting him is out of the question.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: illy5603 on October 19, 2009, 07:48:47 PM
For what it is worth, I have a 128 meg SIMM and an 8 Meg SIMM for my accelerator and I get a lot more errors with the 128 meg SIMM in WHDload and almost none with the 8 meg SIMM. The 128 meg Simm Works everywhere else fine...
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: utri007 on October 19, 2009, 10:17:54 PM
Are you running any tcp/ip stacks in background?

I had similar situation and it was because of genesis
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: ZeBeeDee on October 20, 2009, 03:13:01 AM
I got peeved at the constant crashes from WHDLoad and Pinball Dreams/Fantasies/Illusions and Slam Tilt Pinball when my Blizzard PPC was installed, yet nothing crashes when my Apollo 1240 is plugged in. I tried every setting there was, got updated slaves etc until finally I gave up.

Since I can't go without my weekly fix of pinball, the PPC is up for sale on Ebay ... c'est la vie! -  Shameless plug but what the hell! :)
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: AmigaMance on October 20, 2009, 03:55:32 PM
Some of these pinball games, doesn't even require WHDLoad. I'm certain that SlamTilt doesn't.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: doctorq on October 20, 2009, 04:20:00 PM
@foleyjo

I just reported it to Bert Jahn. After he fixed Pang I asked if it was the same problem with Robocop 3. He told me that it wasn't easy to get the game running with WHDLoad  so he was reluctant in trying to fix the error. Fully understandable, if the game has been a nightmare to get working in the first place. I doubt a global fix is even possible.

@ZeBeeDee

Yep, the BPPC isn't always the easiest piece of kit to play around with, but I'm happy with my card despite the issues I have with WHDLoad (Pinball Fantasies being one of them :().

I'm glad I have another machine to play around with as well, when I need to play Pinball Dreams as well as Fantasies (I have a non WHDLoad HD version I'm about to try out very soon). I was hoping that the BPPC tower could become my main Amiga until I get my A3000 and A4000 put together.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: ZeBeeDee on October 20, 2009, 05:05:07 PM
Quote from: AmigaMance;526628
Some of these pinball games, doesn't even require WHDLoad. I'm certain that SlamTilt doesn't.

Slam Tilt will load and you can play for about 2-3 mins before it bombs out and crashes. With the Apollo? Multi-million scores are gained on a regular basis with much joy :)
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: ZeBeeDee on October 20, 2009, 05:11:36 PM
Quote from: doctorq;526634
@ZeBeeDee

Yep, the BPPC isn't always the easiest piece of kit to play around with, but I'm happy with my card despite the issues I have with WHDLoad (Pinball Fantasies being one of them :().

I'm glad I have another machine to play around with as well, when I need to play Pinball Dreams as well as Fantasies (I have a non WHDLoad HD version I'm about to try out very soon). I was hoping that the BPPC tower could become my main Amiga until I get my A3000 and A4000 put together.

Just give me a working machine and I'm happy ... so long BPPC, it was nice knowing you!
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: Mad-Matt on October 20, 2009, 06:13:10 PM
I play the pinball games quite often on my 040 BPPC Amiga.   The main setting that should be enabled in s:whdload.prefs is chipnocache for ppc cards.  Thats will bring the success rate of running games up much higher.  NoAutovec can be a useful option too.  Generly no game specific settings required, maybe nocache for some older games.

Just be sure no tcp stack is online (can be running) and you should be problem free for the most part.  If using a Mediator make sure VoodooInt is dissabled too.
Title: Re: Issues with WHDLoad on Blizzard PPC
Post by: foleyjo on October 21, 2009, 10:27:52 AM
@Doctorq

Thanks for letting me know.
I guess Winuae is my option for that game then.