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Emulation on MS Windows 3.1x ?

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Reply 160 of 331, by Jo22

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Quick update. Found an interesting link dating back to 1996.
It was a news site about DOS/Windows emulators, apparently.
Unlike other sites, it does (did) describe the emulators in full sentences. Has links, too. 😎👍

https://web.archive.org/web/19970616020855/ht … ~nyun/game.html

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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Reply 161 of 331, by Jo22

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Quick update. Found some more stuff for Win95..
Let's cross our fingers that something Win32s compatible is somewhere in between! 😃

Oh, and at least one more emulator seems to be made for good old Windows 3.1!

Keep tuned! 🙂

Edit: I do keep a copy of the Win95 stuff, of course. 🙂
Maybe I'll add it to this thread at some point , even.
The only condition is that the stuff is not absolutely requiring DirectX and is able to run on Win NT 3.x.
Because, such early emulators will be more likely to work on Windows 3.1 era hardware
(286/386/486) that's running Win3x/95/NT3 or OS/2.

Emulators that are requiring NT 4, on the other hand,
will be fitting very well in ppgrainbow's fine thread over here: Emulation on Windows NT 4.0

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"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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Reply 162 of 331, by Jo22

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Quick update. Found an interesting aracde/multi machine emulator site.
It mentions DOS and Windows emulators from the '90s.

https://emyutuu.tripod.com/multi-arcadeemu.html

Perhaps because it's a legacy itself (last update in '99)?

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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Reply 163 of 331, by Jo22

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Here are some very Japanese sites from the late 90s, too.
It's a bit like browsing a parallel world, imho.
The art style of some personal homepages were very colorful and vibrant.

https://web.archive.org/web/19991022011343/ht … jp/%7Etoyoshim/

http://hlc6502.web.fc2.com/NesPal2.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/19991001075608/ht … /Playtown/2004/

https://web.archive.org/web/20010106071700/ht … tt.com/gameboy/

This page isn't Japanese, but I've found it through a link on a Japanese site.
And it's very colorful, too!

https://web.archive.org/web/19990508141601/ht … rohwei/gameboy/

I hope you don't mind for me spamming my own thread a bit. 😅
It's just.. The links might be useful. One might lead to other ones that are interesting. Finding Japanese links or an equivalent to a"web ring" from the western internet/web is tough.

It's a bit like browsing YT for animes. If you look out for something special, you'll likely won't find it at first.
But once you watched a random anime, YT will begin to display more and more useful results in Kanji..

In essence, that's what's happening if you browse old websites long enough.
It's both exciting and exhausting. Speaking of, I need to get to be now. Was on a discovery the whole night long. 😴

Edit: Also, the Japanese users were developing early on for Windows, despite all its shortcomings.
Windows allowed them do develop platform independently when different x86 PC architecture fought each other's.
Windows 3.x was like an multimedia API or runtime to them (like SDL, Allegro, QT etc now is for us).
Programs written for Windows ran on all of these, essentially.
That's why I hope that there are some forgotten Win16/Win32s emulators left.
On the other hand: Emulation as such was stigmatized at the time in Japan, if my information is correct.
In people's heads it was often associated with pira**.
Today it's different maybe thanks to Virtual Consoles etc.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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Reply 164 of 331, by Jo22

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I'll post some more screenshots of new emulators for Windows 3.1x soon..
I already tested them in emulation and they do run, but I would like to test them on a real 80286 PC first before showing them.

Unfortunately, they want 256 colors which aren't easy to get going on a 286 in Windows' Standard-Mode.

Because, many SVGA drivers were optimized for 386/486 PCs and demand 386 Enhanced-Mode.
I now have to find out which ISA SVGA cards in my possession have had Standard-Mode compatible 256c drivers at some point.

Or I'll try to use older SVGA drivers written for Windows 3.0.
They may include 80286/Standard-Mode compatible drivers that can display 256c.

Anyway, I just want to say that we haven't reached a dead end yet. 😃👍

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 165 of 331, by Jo22

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Quick update. An C64 emulator that I've found recently runs on Win32s.
However, the video output stays black - similar to that early build of vMac.
That really makes me think that Win32s has some limitations in its DIB engine here.

For example, from what I've read, Win 95's GDI had the transformation matrices GM_COMPATIBLE and GM_ADVANCED.
Unfortunately, the second type isn't available to Win31+Win32s.
Further information here.

Maybe the GDI Explorer from Mr. Newcomer can help to find out what does/doesn't work on Win32s ?
You can find it on his website, with sources - it's part of one of his excellent books, too.
- I also recommend reading the other stuff. The SF books, for example. Very interesting, afaik.
http://www.flounder.com/

Edit: Correction! The CBM64 emulator does display a graphical output on Win32s! 😀
It just was a bit too slow for me to notice - just read what the author said.

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Last edited by Jo22 on 2022-03-29, 02:15. Edited 1 time in total.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 166 of 331, by Jo22

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Also interesting: Windows Native Programming by Dr. Csurgai-Horváth László.
Covers many generations of Windows.

http://eik.bme.hu/~csurgai/Mswin_en/Mswin_en.htm
http://www.hvt.bme.hu/~csurgai/Bsc/WinProg.pdf
http://eik.bme.hu/~csurgai/

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 167 of 331, by Jo22

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Tiny update. Found some weird site with pictures of old computers and art.
https://weirdlandtv.tumblr.com/post/183825683 … omputer-designs

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 168 of 331, by Jo22

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Quick update. Saw an obscure "COMX PC1" computer at eBay and looked it up online.
This brought me to that Emma02 emulator that doesn't run on old Windows releases,
but also Jaap's Computer Garden.
That used to be a fine little site in 2000, I suppose.
Unfortunately, geocities is no more and the few sites that survived are incomplete. 😔
Anyway, if you feel nostalgic, please have a look at http://www.geocities.ws/SiliconValley/Station/4283/

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 169 of 331, by Jo22

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Quick update. Just learned about the Wang 2200 BASIC computer line from the erarly 70s.
It originally was a BASIC terminal with a processor made of discrete TTL chips.
And boy, was this thing quick! Not like your typical ViC20, at all.

Anyway, why I'm telling you? There's an emulator written for it..
- I almost raised my hopes for Win32s compatibility.
I mean, how complex could it be?

https://www.wang2200.org/emu.html

But I was very wrong - unfortunately, it's very huge. 13MB for emulating a BASIC machine. That's hefty.

Then, on the other hand, the processor/microcode itself changed multiple times completely and the last model was based on a 386 chip (!).
And the main window does simulate a green CRT realistically, too.
And it was compiled using modern tools on Windows 7 - a far cry from MS VC++ 4.1, VB 3 or Delphi 2.
So that contributes to its complexity, as well.
If it was written in the 90s, I would have been ~700KB in size, would have required one external DLL and would have used GDI/WinG/DIB outputs. 😉

But there's hope. The author generously includes the source code for both Win/Mac versions.
So maybe, some day, it could be ported to Windows NT 3.51 or Win32s.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 170 of 331, by Jo22

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Quick update. Gemulator 95 also ran on Windows 3.1+Win32s at some point.
I hope I can find a demo of this one, at least. *sigh*

However, there's a catch. According to my source, it required an ISA card with the TOS chips.
Perhaps due to licensing concerns. The 96 release worked without it.

gemulator95-1.jpg

gemulator95-2.jpg

gemulator95-3.jpg

gemulator95-4.jpg

Source: https://www.stcarchiv.de/stc1995/12/gemulator-95-test

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 171 of 331, by Jo22

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Quick update. Found an 6502 Software Development Kit that seems to be running on Windows 3.1! 😀

Source: https://www.zophar.net/utilities/nesdev/6502- … opment-kit.html

Edit:
"6502 SDK is an integrated development environment that allows you
to write, assemble, test and debug your 6502 assembly programs.
If you have a Commodore 64, a VIC-20, an old Apple or any other 6502-based machine,
you can cross-assemble your own software on the PC under Windows 3.1.It includes:

Multi-window text editor;
Integrated assembler with macro capabilities;
6502 emulation with disassembler/debugger;
Project manager;
Memory and stack dump;
Object disassembler;
Breakpoints, expression watching, step-by step execution, ... all what you may need."

Source: https://web.archive.org/web/19990203204036/ht … 54/6502sdk.html

Edit: Tested. Runs on Windows 3.1x! Sample screenshot attached.

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"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 172 of 331, by Mister Xiado

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Jo22 wrote on 2022-03-12, 11:59:
Mister Xiado wrote on 2020-07-30, 23:32:

I'd made icons for several of the computers and consoles that had emulators for DOS and Windows 3.X a while back. I think I used EmulationZone and Zophar's Domain to look them up. I should probably gather the emulators up, considering the purpose of my site and the content already on it...

Hi! I would like to include your icons in one of the archives. Is that okay for you ? 😀

I don't mind at all. I'd make more, but I really do think I burned out my creativity forcing myself to make them back to back to back to back like I did.

b_ldnt2.gif - Where it's always 1995.
Icons, wallpapers, and typical Oldternet nonsense.

Reply 174 of 331, by Jo22

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Mister Xiado wrote on 2022-05-03, 02:28:
Jo22 wrote on 2022-03-12, 11:59:
Mister Xiado wrote on 2020-07-30, 23:32:

I'd made icons for several of the computers and consoles that had emulators for DOS and Windows 3.X a while back. I think I used EmulationZone and Zophar's Domain to look them up. I should probably gather the emulators up, considering the purpose of my site and the content already on it...

Hi! I would like to include your icons in one of the archives. Is that okay for you ? 😀

I don't mind at all. I'd make more, but I really do think I burned out my creativity forcing myself to make them back to back to back to back like I did.

Thank you very much! You did a great job! 😎

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 175 of 331, by Jo22

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Kahenraz wrote on 2022-05-04, 17:57:

This is pretty cool. I love Windows 3.1.

Thanks, you're welcome! Windows 3.x is/was a friendly little companion really .

To be fair, though, many of these emulators were likely written with Win95 in mind, I'm afraid.

On the other hand, Win 3.x and 95 are/were a bit like sisters/brothers.
Or two eras which were related, say, the 80s (16-Bit/3.x) and the 90s (32-Bit/Win95).

Both had their own culture, though also had moments of convergence.
Were the 80s (Win3.x) slowly faded, the 90s (Win95) slowly blossomed.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 176 of 331, by Jo22

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Quick update. Found something interesting while browsing OS/2 Museum..

User/commenter GL1zdA mentioned this old article here..

Implementing Games for Windows - Using the WinG API and the WaveMix DLL by James Finnegan

It describes the workings of DIB. DRV, the WaveMix API etc. Very interesting, imho!
The same mechanics are used in the writing of emulators, after all.

Personally, I've made first contact with WaveMix or a similar library in a later version of Comet Busters, an Asteroid game for Windows 3.1x.
The original version used GDI and worked on my 286-12 back in the mid-90s.

https://www.mobygames.com/game/win3x/comet-busters

A few years (?) later, I encountered a different version of the same game, but with multiple sound effects playing at once (!).
And these weren't MIDI/OPL3, but PCM samples!

I know, that's nothing special these days, but back then, this was impressive. On Windows 3.1. 😃
Because, you could hear multiple explosions (comets going boom!) simultaneously.

Unfortunately, this version nolonger ran on my 286 or in Standard-Mode.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 177 of 331, by Jo22

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Tiny update. Found an interesting vintage article about Pentium III vs Pentium IV.
It mentions which processor is better for Windows XP and includes emulation for benchmarking! ^^
http://www.emulators.com/docs/pentium_3.htm

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 178 of 331, by creepingnet

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Jo22 wrote on 2022-03-31, 08:01:
Quick update. Saw an obscure "COMX PC1" computer at eBay and looked it up online. This brought me to that Emma02 emulator that […]
Show full quote

Quick update. Saw an obscure "COMX PC1" computer at eBay and looked it up online.
This brought me to that Emma02 emulator that doesn't run on old Windows releases,
but also Jaap's Computer Garden.
That used to be a fine little site in 2000, I suppose.
Unfortunately, geocities is no more and the few sites that survived are incomplete. 😔
Anyway, if you feel nostalgic, please have a look at http://www.geocities.ws/SiliconValley/Station/4283/

Actually, on a side note - Geocities.ws is where Geocities was sold to and is still an active webhost. I use them for my future vintage PC resource site, and to host the downloads for my NeoCities site as they allow hotlinking. It's basically unlimited space for free on a free account with FTP access so might not be a bad site for people wanting to make a retro site. It's also reachable with a vintage PC web browser the last time I checked.

~The Creeping Network~
My Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/creepingnet
Creepingnet's World - https://creepingnet.neocities.org/
The Creeping Network Repo - https://www.geocities.ws/creepingnet2019/

Reply 179 of 331, by Jo22

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creepingnet wrote on 2022-07-12, 19:38:
Jo22 wrote on 2022-03-31, 08:01:
Quick update. Saw an obscure "COMX PC1" computer at eBay and looked it up online. This brought me to that Emma02 emulator that […]
Show full quote

Quick update. Saw an obscure "COMX PC1" computer at eBay and looked it up online.
This brought me to that Emma02 emulator that doesn't run on old Windows releases,
but also Jaap's Computer Garden.
That used to be a fine little site in 2000, I suppose.
Unfortunately, geocities is no more and the few sites that survived are incomplete. 😔
Anyway, if you feel nostalgic, please have a look at http://www.geocities.ws/SiliconValley/Station/4283/

Actually, on a side note - Geocities.ws is where Geocities was sold to and is still an active webhost. I use them for my future vintage PC resource site, and to host the downloads for my NeoCities site as they allow hotlinking. It's basically unlimited space for free on a free account with FTP access so might not be a bad site for people wanting to make a retro site. It's also reachable with a vintage PC web browser the last time I checked.

I see, thanks a lot for the information! 🙂👍
It's great that some parts of Geocities survived, I think.
It had such a huge cultural impact to teenagers and hobbyists at the time.
People who had no own PC, but visited an internet café or a library could create their own personal site within a few minutes.
I suppose that really lowered the initial hurdle to many.
All it needed was a browser, some creativity and some content. Pictures, sounds, ZIP files.. 😁

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//