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Installing FreeMint
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 15073
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
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Installing FreeMint
I've decided to have a go at installing FreeMint on my MSTE but run into a problem, so wondering if anybody here had any experience and advice to offer.
I've followed the guide here all the way through: https://sites.google.com/site/probehous ... lling-mint only for the latest version found here: https://bintray.com/freemint/freemint/s ... 9-d4a92b4b
Whilst mint.cnf and xaaes.cnf for the later version have some minor differences, they're really not that far apart that I can't apply the instructions shown above.
What the problem I seem to have is this. It tries to boot from a: each and every time like so:
As you can see, it says Booting from 'a'.
Of course that then leads to this:
Where it can't read the config files from a:, and then goes into a system halted state.
I've edited the mint.cnf and xaaes.cnf only under TOS using the suggested editor, QED, so that the UNIX newline characters are preserved, but whether I run on Hatari or real hardware, I run into the same problem, trying to boot from a:
I've also searched both config files for u:/a/ references (I believe it should be u:/c/) but there is no reference at all to it, so I'm wondering is there is something hardcoded I need to work around in one of the cnf files, or if there is a cnf file I don't know about that I need to also modify.
Any help gratefully received.
I've followed the guide here all the way through: https://sites.google.com/site/probehous ... lling-mint only for the latest version found here: https://bintray.com/freemint/freemint/s ... 9-d4a92b4b
Whilst mint.cnf and xaaes.cnf for the later version have some minor differences, they're really not that far apart that I can't apply the instructions shown above.
What the problem I seem to have is this. It tries to boot from a: each and every time like so:
As you can see, it says Booting from 'a'.
Of course that then leads to this:
Where it can't read the config files from a:, and then goes into a system halted state.
I've edited the mint.cnf and xaaes.cnf only under TOS using the suggested editor, QED, so that the UNIX newline characters are preserved, but whether I run on Hatari or real hardware, I run into the same problem, trying to boot from a:
I've also searched both config files for u:/a/ references (I believe it should be u:/c/) but there is no reference at all to it, so I'm wondering is there is something hardcoded I need to work around in one of the cnf files, or if there is a cnf file I don't know about that I need to also modify.
Any help gratefully received.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- frank.lukas
- Posts: 813
- Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:52 am
Re: Installing FreeMint
Try to use the CPU typ -> https://bintray.com/freemint/freemint/snapshots-cpu
Edit: I try it and the problem was there is no mint.cnf ...
-> https://forum.atari-home.de/index.php?topic=15871.0
Edit: I try it and the problem was there is no mint.cnf ...
-> https://forum.atari-home.de/index.php?topic=15871.0
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

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- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
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Re: Installing FreeMint
That's the one I used Frank, very strange I don't know where it's getting the reference to a: from, but it does the same emulated or not. I'm using mint000.prg in AUTO from the downloaded archive.frank.lukas wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2020 3:01 pm Try to use the CPU typ -> https://bintray.com/freemint/freemint/snapshots-cpu
I try it and the problem was there is no mint.cnf ...
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- frank.lukas
- Posts: 813
- Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:52 am
Re: Installing FreeMint
Several things to note here:
- Under Hatari, the emulated GEMDOS drive C: is not supported. You have to create a harddisk (ACSI or IDE) image to run FreeMiNT.
- You're generally not supposed to copy mint000.prg to the AUTO folder. Just let the provided mint-???.prg (in your case: mint-d4a.prg) do its job.
- In fact, the snapshot (in your case: freemint-1-19-d4a-000-st_ste.zip) is meant to simply be extracted to C:\. You do not have to follow any guides or edit any config files.
- I just tested that this is the case on my MegaSTE.
- What HD & driver are you using on the (real) MegaSTE?
- If it does not run if simply extracted (i.e. without(!) editing any config files) please post photos from the real MegaSTE.
- Under Hatari, the emulated GEMDOS drive C: is not supported. You have to create a harddisk (ACSI or IDE) image to run FreeMiNT.
- You're generally not supposed to copy mint000.prg to the AUTO folder. Just let the provided mint-???.prg (in your case: mint-d4a.prg) do its job.
- In fact, the snapshot (in your case: freemint-1-19-d4a-000-st_ste.zip) is meant to simply be extracted to C:\. You do not have to follow any guides or edit any config files.
- I just tested that this is the case on my MegaSTE.
- What HD & driver are you using on the (real) MegaSTE?
- If it does not run if simply extracted (i.e. without(!) editing any config files) please post photos from the real MegaSTE.
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 15073
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
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Re: Installing FreeMint
@czietz thanks for all that info, I will test with the latest version simply unzipped on the real MSTE, I hadn't seen about the GEMDOS thing, I'll bear it in mind if I try it again on Hatari.
I hope I can retest within the hour!
I'm using HDDRIVER 11 by the way.
I hope I can retest within the hour!
I'm using HDDRIVER 11 by the way.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 15073
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Installing FreeMint
Ok, I just extracted it right to the SD card and it boots right into Freemint now. I get errors at the moment loading XAAES.inf and teradesk.inf, but since that second one doesn't exist I get that.czietz wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2020 3:32 pm Several things to note here:
- Under Hatari, the emulated GEMDOS drive C: is not supported. You have to create a harddisk (ACSI or IDE) image to run FreeMiNT.
- You're generally not supposed to copy mint000.prg to the AUTO folder. Just let the provided mint-???.prg (in your case: mint-d4a.prg) do its job.
- In fact, the snapshot (in your case: freemint-1-19-d4a-000-st_ste.zip) is meant to simply be extracted to C:\. You do not have to follow any guides or edit any config files.
- I just tested that this is the case on my MegaSTE.
- What HD & driver are you using on the (real) MegaSTE?
- If it does not run if simply extracted (i.e. without(!) editing any config files) please post photos from the real MegaSTE.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- thorsten.otto
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2019 2:20 am
Re: Installing FreeMint
Yes, that are known quirks, which Vincent also mentions in his video. Just saving the configuration once should fix that.rubber_jonnie wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2020 5:34 pm I get errors at the moment loading XAAES.inf and teradesk.inf, but since that second one doesn't exist I get that.
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 15073
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Installing FreeMint
Thanks, I will look into that.thorsten.otto wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2020 6:15 pmYes, that are known quirks, which Vincent also mentions in his video. Just saving the configuration once should fix that.rubber_jonnie wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2020 5:34 pm I get errors at the moment loading XAAES.inf and teradesk.inf, but since that second one doesn't exist I get that.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 15073
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Installing FreeMint
Ok, so all booting now on real hardware, thanks for the help everybody!
Here at Lo-Res:
And Med-Res:
I no longer have the teradesk.inf problem since I saved the settings, though the xaaes.inf problem still remains, so I'll look at the video and have a dig elsewhere too.
I did have one problem though, the MSTE was starting up in 8Mhz, no cache and Blitter off, but have that cracked with a basic control panel that allows for control of these, and everything is much nippier now.
It still feels slower than TOS on this machine (Not really surprised!), but not by very much, so it won't be a daily driver so to speak, but I do like whats on offer here, and if I ever happen to get a TT or Falcon I would certainly be thinking about using it.
Here at Lo-Res:
And Med-Res:
I no longer have the teradesk.inf problem since I saved the settings, though the xaaes.inf problem still remains, so I'll look at the video and have a dig elsewhere too.
I did have one problem though, the MSTE was starting up in 8Mhz, no cache and Blitter off, but have that cracked with a basic control panel that allows for control of these, and everything is much nippier now.
It still feels slower than TOS on this machine (Not really surprised!), but not by very much, so it won't be a daily driver so to speak, but I do like whats on offer here, and if I ever happen to get a TT or Falcon I would certainly be thinking about using it.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...