
FAST - The Fake Atari ST
Copyright (c) 1995-2001, Vincent Joguin

Version 0.41a

This version does not contain the Amiga part of FAST, since it has been put
on hold for some time.

Version 0.41 is mainly a bugfixed version of version 0.4. It doesn't
include any new feature. This version corrects a crashing bug at startup
that occured on some machines, and displays the updated URL of FAST.


  1. Disclaimer
  2. Known Problems
  3. System Requirements
  4. Getting Started
  5. Instructions
  6. What Is Emulated
  7. What Is Planed To Be Emulated
  8. Contact


  1. Disclaimer

This product is freeware but NOT public domain. You can copy this program
as long as it remains in its ZIP form, but you don't have the right to modify
any file of it. Future versions could become shareware.

The Atari TOS roms are under copyright (C) by Hasbro/Infogrames.
You don't have the right to use them unless you have a genuine ST in your
possession. Don't ask me these ROMs!

Use this product at your own risks! I can't be liable for any damage it could
do to your software and/or hardware.


  2. Known Problems

This version includes IKBD support, but neither the joystick nor the mouse
ports are emulated inside the 6301. So, to move the cursor, use ALT-Arrow and
to click, use ALT-Insert!

Video emulation is very weak, and mid-resolution is not emulated, for example.

This version has no sound support at all (but it supports MIDI).

TOS 1.02 is the version best supported. TOS 1.00 can work correctly in most
cases as well, and works much better than in the previous release.
TOS 1.04 and TOS 2.06 should be used only with bootable disks.
Other TOSes are NOT supported.


  3. System Requirements

Minimum requirements
- Intel 486SX processor or equal.
- 4 MB of internal memory.
- VGA graphics card.
- DOS 2.0 to DOS 7.x.

Average requirements
- Intel Pentium (tm) 133 MHz processor or equal.
- 4 MB of internal memory.
- VGA graphics card.
- MPU-401 UART-mode compatible card.
- DOS 2.0 to DOS 7.x.

Best configuration
- Intel Pentium (tm) 200 MHz processor or equal.
- 8 MB of internal memory or above.
- VGA graphics card.
- MPU-401 UART-mode compatible card.
- DOS 2.0 to DOS 7.x.


  4. Getting Started

To use the emulator, you will first need to transfer the ROMs from your Atari
ST (preferably 520 STf) to your FAST directory.
To do this, just copy the file TOSRIP.TOS, located in the ATARIST subdir
of your FAST directory, to a formated 720 KB disk. Insert this disk in your
ST drive and run TOSRIP.TOS. When finished, insert the disk back into your
PC drive and, with a 'dir', you should see a file named TOS1.02U (if you have
an STf with an American English TOS 1.02) as well as the KEYBOARD.ROM file.
Copy these files to your FAST directory.

This program is Himem unfriendly: you must run it in real DOS (not Windows)
without ANY memory manager installed (Himem, Emm386, Qemm, ...), but you
still can load your mouse, sound card, video card, ... drivers as it requires
less than 100 KB base memory.
For Windows 98, type F8 at startup, and Shift-F5 when the text menu appears.
For Windows 95, type Shift-F5 at startup.
For DOS 6.xx, type F5 at startup.
For older DOS versions, create a boot disk.

In any case, you can also create a boot disk using the "FORMAT A: /S" command,
and boot your computer with the "boot from A:" option enabled.

You can now run FAST by typing AE (stands for Atari Emulator).
If you have a TOS 1.02 file (from an Atari 520 STf), you should see the well
known green screen of the Desktop.


  5. Instructions

Here are the keys to use the options:
[Ctrl]+[Break] > Quit to DOS
[F11]          > Go to the current menu (disk menu currently unimplemented)
[F12]          > Go to the internal 68000 debugger

Inside menu:
[F3]           > Change configuration
[F4]           > Debugger mode
[F10]          -> Information


  6. What Is Emulated

99.9% 68000, cycle exact (except for the MUL and DIV instructions)
basic access to ST screen
ST VBL & HBL interrupts
60%   ST MFP (no serial port nor Timer B emulation)
99.9% ST Keyboard and MIDI ACIAs
90%   ST IKBD
80%   ST FDC (direct PC drives access)
some other little things...

Many bugs removed in the 68000, access to ST screen, MFP and FDC in this
version.

  7. What Is Planed To Be Emulated

In the next release, you should see full FDC emulation with FDI disk images
support.
Perfect emulation ... not before a year or two!
Mega ST/STe/Mega STe emulation ... somewhere in the millenium ;-)


  8. Contact

I'm not currently accepting bug reports, but you can contact me for other
reasons at aph@oldskool.org

Catch the latest FAST release at http://fast.emuunlim.com


                                                         ApH 
