Made by The Red Devil & Manuel Bilderbeek
version 0.948 (beta)
Last updated on 17 September 2006
As of 11 June 1998, the FAQ's
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Introduction
This FAQ contains information about the MSX system, its expansions and a lot of
other things. If you have texts you would like to be added to this FAQ, feel free
to mail me. If you discover any bugs, please mail the corrections to me. This FAQ is an ongoing project, so
help me make it as good as possible.
Although this FAQ was started by the Red Devil, it is now being
maintained by Manuel Bilderbeek.
(Bjørn B.S. &) Manuel B.
Of course there are other (outdated) MSX FAQs, and you can find them at:
<
http://www.komkon.org/fms/ > by Marat Fayzullin - fMSX emulator related.http://www.komkon.org/fms/MSX/Docs/EasyGuide.txt > by
Hans Guijt - fMSX Amiga related.
Give me feedback!
If you would also like to give me feedback, then go to the
feedback section at the bottom of this page. Feedback is always welcome and
appreciated!
General part:
The interview with Kay Nishi (The Japanese guy behind the whole MSX project) What is MSX? MSX on the Internet:
Are there still MSX
fairs/exhibitions? For a lot of general and technical info about several MSX
hardware, check out the following resources:
MSX Assembly Page The documentation of the RuMSX emulator (See section 17 (Emulators) , topics: Moonsound , BDOS, BIOS, etc.)
Maurizio's hardware
page Tech info at MSXNet Hans Otten Various
documentation about MSX on Marat's MSX pageMiLC ,
which is partially in DutchThe MSX Red Book , which can be downloaded from my MSX page , software section
Mayer's I/O Map Mayer's I/O Map,
updated version by Martin Korth here , see previous!)
MSX2
Technical Handbook Nestor Soriano
MSX Tech Doc page Info
on how to change a Panasonic diskdrive Also check out the links database of The MSX Resource Center (and Manuel Bilderbeek's Bookmarks ), which contain a lot of
useful links about MSX.
General info on MSX systems :
FAQ about several MSX Hardware (music expansions):
What's an SCC? What are the specs of an SCC? What's the purpose of getting a Konami cartridge with an SCC? Can I use my SCC sound cartridge for other purposes than playing Konami games? What's an SCC+? Are there any MSX emulators which support the SCC?
What is MSX-Music? What is an FM-PAC? What are the specs of the individual MSX-Music cartridges? Which MSX computers have MSX-Music built in? Which music programs are the most used? Which editor is the newest one? Where can I buy this wonderful music source? Are there other music composing programs for MSX-Music? Which software uses MSX-Music? Are any of available MSX emulators supporting MSX-Music?
What is MSX-Audio? Are there different kinds of MSX-Audio modules? What software supports the MSX-Audio? Are there any MSX emulators which support MSX-Audio? Where can I buy an MSX-Audio cartridge? I have a Philips Music Module with the NMS-1160 keyboard. Can I use this keyboard as a MIDI keyboard on my PC?
What is a Moonsound? What are the specs of the Moonsound cartridge? Is there any software supplied with it? Where can I find the newest MBWAVE and MBFM editors? Is Moonsound able to replay [.MID] files? Are there any [.MWM] or [.MFM] replayers? Where can I find technical (programming) info about it? Where can I buy it?
FAQ about several MSX hardware (video expansions):
What is GFX9000? What resolutions, colours and other specs does it have? What is supported by PowerBASIC? What software is made for GFX9000? What is the Video9000? What can I do with a Video9000? What are the Video9000's main features? Where can I buy this wonderful hardware? (some general info can be read in the file [V9990.TXT] - [V9990.ZIP ],
written by Stefan Boer. Briefly: it's an MSX 15-bit graphiccard)
What is a Video Digitizer? What is included in the Video Digitizer package? Which screen modes does the HBI-V1 Video Digitizer support? How can I digitize pictures in the 256×424 (interlaced) resolution? How can I load the interlaced pictures in MSX-BASIC? How can I export my MSX pictures to (PC/MAC etc.)?
FAQ about several MSX hardware (disk/os expansions):
What is MSX-DOS 2? Can I use MSX-DOS 2 in MSX-BASIC too? Can I run MSX-DOS 1 software under DOS2? Does it support directories? What about the compatibility with MS-DOS disks? What will I get if I buy DOS2? When is DOS2 needed? Can I use DOS2 on MSX2 emulator? How much RAM can DOS2 use? What do I need to run DOS2? Is there a way to get DOS2 in my MSX, other than buying the cartridge? What's the newest version of COMMAND2.COM? Where can I buy the DOS2 cartridge? Is there another way to access directories on MSX? Where can I find technical info on DOS2? What is this Wrong version of MSX-DOS error I keep getting?
What is the use of a SCSI interface? What is SCSI? What SCSI interfaces exist for MSX? What hardware do I need to use a SCSI interface on MSX? What are partitions and why do I need them? What about terminators? Novaxis: all my partitions seem write protected. What to do? Novaxis: my MSX hangs when booting with the SCSI interface. What to do? Novaxis: my BIOS settings are gone after turning off my MSX. Why? Novaxis: at boot, the system hangs displaying please wait ---' . What now? What basic commands are available in the Novaxis ROM? What do the errors mean I get from my Novaxis ROM?
What is the use of an IDE interface? Where can I find such IDE interface? My IDE interface has never worked properly. What can I do? Where can I find technical data concerning the IDE I/O system? Where can I find IDE software? What kind of devices can I connect to the interface? I installed a new bios version and my computer doesn't boot anymore. What now? How many devices can I connect to this interface? How should I configure the jumpers on my IDE devices? I can't figure out what jumperposition is 'MASTER' or 'SLAVE'. Help? My IDE Iomega ZIP drive has a lot of jumpersettings. Which should I use? How can I format my harddisk? Can I connect my MSX formatted harddisk to a PC? What other things should I be aware of?
General info on several MSX (related) hardware :
by The Red Devil (new layout, new items), Manuel Bilderbeek (newer layout, maintenance) and Alex Wulms (original concept, see there)
Miscellaneous general info and FAQ:
Which emulators exist? What is the best MSX emulator? Is it possible to make a [.CAS] tape image of a [.WAV] file (with data from the tape)? Is it legal to spread ROMs? How do I use BAS, BIN or other (MSX-)files in my emulator? Why does holding down the CTRL key in fMSX have no effect?
Executables (from MSX-BASIC)
17.1 [.BAS ]/[.LDR] MSX-BASIC - BASIC file
What are the [.BAS]/[.LDR] files? How do I run them? I tried to load a [.BAS] file in my text editor but I got only some garbage!? What's the purpose of [.LDR]-basic files?
17.2 [.BIN ] MSX-BASIC - BINARY file
What are the [.BIN] files? How do I run them?
17.3 [.001 ], [.002], ... , [.00n] Just a
series of MSX-BASIC binary files
What are the these files and what to do with them?
Executables (from MSX-DOS)
17.4 [.COM ] MSX-DOS 1.x/2.x executable file
What are the [.COM] files? How can I make a MSX-DOS disk? Can MSX run CP/M 2.20 software under MSX-DOS 1.x? Where can I find the list of MSX-DOS V1.x commands? I can't boot the MSX-DOS, my EMULATOR locks up!? Where can I get the MSX-DOS V1.x or MSX-DOS V2.x files?
Archive/Crunched/Packed
17.5 [.PMA/LZH/.LHA ] Compressed archives
What is a [.PMA] file? Where can I get a [.PMA] file extractor for MS-DOS, (L)UNIX or my MSX (emulator)? How do I extract [.PMA] files on a MacIntosh computer? Can I decompress [.LZH] & aMIGA [.LHA] files on MSX (emulator)? Are there any [.LZH] packers/(unpackers) for MSX (emulator)?
17.6 [.AR ] Compressed archive
What's an [.AR] file? Where can I get the extractor/packer for my MSX?
17.7 [.XSA ] Compressed disk
What is an [.XSA] file? How can I restore/make an [.XSA] file on my PC or MSX? How can I convert [.XSA] file to [.DSK] file or [.DSK] file to [.XSA] file on my MSX, PC or Unix station?
Graphical file formats
17.8 [.MIF ] MSX Interchange Format
Emulator-related (diskimages)
17.9 [.DSK ] Image of MSX floppy disk
Which utility creates a [.DSK] floppy-disk image on my PC? Can I also convert [.DSK] files from/to a real disk on a Unix/Linux computer? How can I put a MSX [.DSK] image back to a floppy disk on a MacIntosh computer? I have a multiple [.DSK] file. Can I split it into [720KB] [.DSK] files on my PC? I have 720kB [.DSK] files. How can I make a multi disk image of it (to use with fMSX-DOS or with FDD emulator)? Can I move files to/from the [.DSK] images on my PC or Unix system? Can I move files to/from the [.DSK] images on my MSX? Can I create/restore [.DSK] files on my real MSX? Can I run diskimages on my real MSX (from harddisk)?
17.10 [.MSX ] FloppyDisk image
What is a [.MSX] file? Can I convert it to [.DSK] - MSX emulator compatible disk image? Can I write it to a real 3.5" disk?
17.11 [.DDI ] DiskDupe FloppyDisk image (also used with CJSMSX2 emulator)
I have a [.DDI] disk image file. Can I convert it to [.DSK] - MSX emulator compatible disk image?
17.12 [.TD0 ] FloppyDisk image
17.13 [.CP2 ] FloppyDisk image
17.14 [.IMG ] FloppyDisk image
Emulator-related (tape/cassette images)
17.15 [.CAS ] Cassette image
What is a [.CAS] file? How can I read a [.CAS] file on a real MSX?
17.16 [.TAP ] Cassette image
Emulator-related (misc)
17.17 [.ROM ] ROM image extracted from a cartridge
What are the [.ROM] files and can I use them with my MSX-emulator or real MSX? Where can I get the [.ROM] file loaders for real MSX2 machines? Where can I find the [.ROM] files?
What is the universal slot-select-correct POKE? My Philips VG-8235 (or NMS-8245 or MSXturboR) gives strange disk-errors, whatever I try! What is this? I installed the password on my MSX, but I forgot it. What now? Where can I get info on JoyNet, the MSX network standard? The sound on my Philips NMS 8250/55/80 sounds terrible. How can I fix it? I have a Philips VW-0030/NMS-1431 (or some other MSX-) printer. Where can I find drivers for Windows for this printer? I want to buy/sell an MSX. What should I do? Can I install a PC diskdrive in my Philips NMS-8250/55/80? Can I use my mouse in joystick-controlled software? Where can I find plotter pens for my Sony PRN-C41? How can I use modern (?) floppy discs on my MSX, or MSX formatted modern floppies on my PC? Can I use PAL software on an NTSC MSX (or vice versa)?
Can I put a translated version of your FAQ on my web site? Can you make the FAQ available for off-line usage, i.e. make it possible to download it in a big ZIP file, e.g?
Thanks & Credits Thanks to everyone who contributed!
If you contibute to this FAQ, your name will be listed here.
The interlace digitize program for HBI-V1 Video Digitizer - Trunks
Beta FAQ reading, comments, pictures for the Hardware List, etc. - Manuel Bilderbeek
Info about TR's LEDs etc. - NYYRIKKI
Lot of info about whole MSX system, during last 7 years. - HACKER GROG
(from here on, the names are added by Manuel Bilderbeek...)
The Red Devil himself, for starting this FAQ!
Bastiaan Hubers , for info on some fileformats and conversion
programs and for suggestions regarding the setup
Marat Fayzullin for giving permission to use texts of his FAQ
Konami Man for his comment on the DOS2 section
Laurens Holst for several comments and additions (I need this!)
Patriek Lesparre for letting me use the pictures from MSX-Banzai!
Giovanni R. Nunes and Erik de Boer for sending me some connector-schemes!
Marcel Delorme for info about OPL1/MSX Audio (and other comments)!
Sean Young for making the existance of the FAQ on MSXNET possible and for some additions!
Alwin Henseler for several comments, additions and improvements
Joeh Cheung (sorry if I misspelled your name!) for Kanji-mode
info!
Maarten ter Huurne for nice animated gifs and pics (SCC section)
Frank Salomon & Ian Marshall for giving permission to use their MSX pics
Sander van Nunen for layout suggestions/new background/logo (check out
www.msx.org )
Stats and info This page is
There have been exactly 600 visitors from 09 December 1997 until 1 April 1998 From then on, you can see the stats via Nedstat, click the button:
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If you have any
Ideas
Suggestions
Texts you would like to add to this FAQ
Corrections
Software (e.g. image converters/packers)
Images of MSX computers/other MSX hardware & descriptions
Other stuff
e-mail me
Note: For questions about emulators: please read the manual of the emulator
carefully and if that does not help, ask your question in the MSX newsgroup, forum and/or mailinglist (see above, section 0) or if all fails, ask the author of the
emulator.
© The Red Devil & Manuel Bilderbeek 1996-2006 
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