DOS ain't dead

FM Towns (Fujitsu Micro) -- booting from CD-ROM using MS-DOS (Miscellaneous)

posted by Rugxulo , Usono, 01.01.2022, 21:32

I was never personally aware of this, but it sounds fascinating:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_Towns

= Japanese personal computer, built by Fujitsu (1989-97)
= based on 386DX 16 MHz, 1 or 2 MB RAM, single-speed CD-ROM drive
= includes gamepad, mouse, microphone
= OS loaded from CD-ROM by default (five years before El Torito)
= OS used is Windows 3.x/95 and graphical OS called Towns OS, based on MS-DOS and Phar Lap DOS extender (RUN386.EXE)
= games were written in pmode asm + C using Phar Lap DOS extender
= games used Towns OS API (TBIOS) for graphic modes, sprites, sounds, mouse, gamepads, CD-audio
= able to play regular audio CDs
= also supports eight PCM voices (Ricoh RF5c68) and six FM channels (Yamaha YM2612)
= ports in the front to accommodate karaoke, LEDs to indicate volume level, and software to add popular voice-altering effects such as echoes
= games regularly used Red Book (audio CD) orchestral music tracks

"
To boot the system from CD-ROM, the FM TOWNS has a 'hidden C:' ROM drive in which a minimum MS-DOS system, CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX.EXE are installed. This minimal DOS system runs first, and the DOS system reads and executes the Towns OS IPL stored in CD-ROM after that. The Towns OS CD-ROM has an IPL, MS-DOS system (IO.SYS), DOS extender, and Towns API (TBIOS).

A minimal DOS system that allows the CD-ROM drive to be accessed is contained in a system ROM; this, coupled with Fujitsu's decision to charge only a minimal license fee for the inclusion of a bare-bones Towns OS on game CD-ROMs, allows game developers to make games bootable directly from CD-ROM without the need for a boot floppy or hard disk.
"

Complete thread:

• FM Towns (Fujitsu Micro) -- booting from CD-ROM using MS-DOS - Rugxulo, 01.01.2022, 21:32 (Miscellaneous)