Windows CE 5.0 on Dreamcast?(!)

Well i've been messing with this for many hours today, and getting the access lights to blink after running from the hardware register is about as far as i'll get without programmer assistance. However i did find that the .map files are the memory maps for each of the binaries/applications, so it gives a good idea how it loads and maps the memory

NK.map to correspond with NK.bin, the runtime image/binary :
( pastebin link since the post was too long http://pastebin.com/01YvjTLB )

When i try running at 0x8c580000 the system reboots. So I'm stumped on what to do next. Unless a programmer wants to help or someone here has some other advice/ideas. Was kinda hoping i'd get farther

 

Make a github and short tutorial for setting up the environment and I'll give it a shot. I don't own a DC but I'll pick one up. What do I need to get in order to mod it?

Also I don't really see how this is piracy. Its developing open source software on what is essentially an abandonware system.

-doulomb

 

Dreamcast systems really don't need to be modded to run burnt discs or unsigned code. Only something like 5% of systems made towards the end of the manufacturing process would need to have something like a bios mod to re-enable the same exploit all the previous mil-cd systems had. Typically just look for a system made before October 2000 you should be ok if it has a #1 inside the circle on the bottom below the MFG date. It is really rare to even get one of those systems that can't play backups so you shouldn't really worry too much. The included pic should help you discern how to read the bottom. Where the region is that circle with the number is what you want to look for.

 

Short tutorial:

Install a Windows XP virtual machine, Microsoft offers Windows XP mode, it's possible to make one legally that way
Download Windows CE 5.0 Platform Builder Evaluation Edition
Download (it might not be this but i'm fairly certain) .Net framework 1.1
Download the Windows CE Dreamcast Dev Kit floating about the net
Install .Net
Install VC++ 6.0 ( Install key is all 1's )
Uncheck Install MSDN ( or get the msdn october 2001 iso if you want the help libraries )
Install Dreamcast CE tools
Exit installer when it asks to connect the katana box
Install platform builder, making sure to install the SH4 libraries. As i'm pretty sure its unchecked by default

That's pretty much it

 

If someone does this and makes an image, then it'd be pirating. But if a tutorial is made on how to run it, and the hardware drivers for the dreamcast are downloadable, then someone can compile their own OS with whatever features they want and buy a key from MS i'm pretty sure

There's actually a perforation on the left side of the system where a windows genuine sticker would go nicely

 

Also I think you might be good to link us all to the legal links to it. I am not saying to pirate, but you would help others out with showing them how to compile things at least or where to find things. I know we have to be vigilant to keep the topic of piracy away from this site since we do get unreleased games here and some might gripe about that aspect of it. And, I know others here want to keep getting betas so we should strictly adhere to the rules. If we want to do something questionable it is best to keep to to the PM's.

That being said, PM away.

 

Windows XP mode : https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002
CE 5.0 evaluation edition : http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3584

It says it needs 128mb of ram, but i'm pretty sure that's all of the components added into the OS build. I'm fairly certain the 'thin client' only needs 6mb ram https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms927515.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

 

I looked into this a bit more today by running some files via emulator; It looks like the problem is it tries to write to the bootrom. Which it obviously can't

I'd be all for modding another dc i have to write to the bootrom. I'd just have to fix the controller board first. Anybody have an idea how and if writing to the bootrom is possible? Or would that proccess be really overly difficult to the point where its not even worth it? I also think CE 5.0 needs 4mb of bootrom, DC has 2mb


Anyways just a quick info update, in case anyone ends up trying to get this to run

 

If only stacking dreamcast memory worked

 

Just an update on this, i tried booting the binary from a disc by modifying the DCDoom.sbi, renamed NK.BIN to DCDoom.bin ( the original bin that is supposed to load ). It boots it, and i can see on my GD access LED the process runs, but it reboots like emulator when it can't write to the bootrom (as mentioned before). If someone figured out how to boot the OS without flashing the bootrom, this will probably work. I'm unsure if you can do that or not, but if someone has the skill/aptitude to do something like that then please do. I can't really get much further


Edit : Get the sbi here http://dreamcast.onlineconsoles.com/downloads/DCDoom-SW-CW-1.2.sbi
Get selfboot inducer here http://download.sizious.com/dc/sbi/sbinducr-5.0.7z
Install selfboot inducer, for example to C:\sbi
Place the doom sbi in C:\sbi\packages
Run sbinducer.exe
Click the disc icon

Navigate to C:\sbi\cd_root\Games
Place the WindowsCE files from platform builder in that folder
Rename NK.BIN to DCDoom.bin
Go back to sbinducer.exe
Click the DiscJuggler icon

Generate the image
Burn with Alcohol 120% Free Edition with the Write Method set to RAW DAO

 

Try this method
http://dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3155#p30929

 

The issue isn't loading the binary, its that the binary tries to write to the bootrom to install windows. Which is kind of impossible. Someone needs to figure out how to boot without flashing the bootrom, or make a new bootloader specifically for the Dreamcast. Which can be done using Platform Builder

But thanks for the input anyway