Extracting files from a kickstart rom

[AF-Domains.net]

Is there any sort of command or program that can extract files or code from a kickstart rom?

Thanks

AF-Domains.net

[Piru]

Is there any sort of command or program that can extract files or code from a kickstart rom?

No.

There is no generic solution to this problem (basically the problem is that relocs needs to be resolved properly, the code needs to be de-relocated. This is handwork).

Some tools might exist that extract single module (typically these tools have the specific relocs hardcoded).

[Matt_H]

There's a tool on Aminet by THOR that will extract the modules from the 3.5 or 3.9 update files, but I don't think there's any way to break apart the actual kickstart.

[AF-Domains.net]

What is the name of the tool?

[Matt_H]

It's included in the ShellUpdate package. I have no idea how to use it properly, however.

[AF-Domains.net]

What sort of coding or programming languages was the kickstart rom written in?

Since that might help.

[Piru]

@AF-Domains.net

What sort of coding or programming languages was the kickstart rom written in?

Assembler and C.

Since that might help.

No, it really doesn't.

[Piru]

@AF-Domains.net

I wrote such tool for BlizKick, too. It's called "romupdatesplit" and comes with full source code (well, it's AmigaE though... :-)) BlizKick.lha has the binary and source code included.

The usage is quite easy, for example:

Code: [Select]

romupdatesplit from "DEVS:AmigaOS ROM Update" to T:
This extracts the modules matching the current system.

To extract all modules, regardless of system type, use ALL/S.

[AF-Domains.net]

Since it is next to impossible to extract files from the kickrom is it possible to disassemble a kickrom file?

[Matt_H]

Since it is next to impossible to extract files from the kickrom is it possible to disassemble a kickrom file?

A) I don't think so, and
B) The legality of such an attempt is questionable.

What are you trying to do, anyway?

[AF-Domains.net]

I am trying to merge kcikstart 1.4 A15 with kick 3.1 to create a custom rom for my use only.

[Piru]

@AF-Domains.net

Since it is next to impossible to extract files from the kickrom is it possible to disassemble a kickrom file?

Yes.

However, the problem remains the same: You need to decide whether values between 0x00f80000-0x00ffffff are pointers (reloc) or data. If you get even single item wrong, the reassembled module will misbehave (in some conditions).

[AF-Domains.net]

Which are the best Assembly and C programming tools to use to disassemble the kick roms with?

[seer]

You need to decide whether values between 0x00f80000-0x00ffffff are pointers (reloc) or data

Ok, this is something I don't understand. I mean, something must read the ROM otherwise the Amiga doesn't work/boot. So, doesn't that mean you can make a tool that does almost the same ? Read the rom and extract the needed modules ?

Ok, I really have no clue about programming issues, but to me this sounds like "nobody can read a certain book but it can be translated..."

[AF-Domains.net]

I have already downloaded several programs off aminet to attempt to look inside the kickrom file but it mostly comes out as total garbage, I assume that it probably has something to do with the C programming that the rom was also programmed in.