Win9x vs GTX 1070 - VDD initialization crash, protection error

[MERCURY127]

Have some news... Very bad news. 

I try trace and debug Windows loading process in softice. 

I found, that machine always crash on address c000:ffff, executing random instruction from ff's or other bytes.

It's see as if some int 10h interrupt function was called from vxd code, and wrong vbios code flow was executed, cause no return issue... 

But main problem that, even we find, what exactly code in vbios cause fault, and even if we can fix it, we can't do patch for vbios, because Pascal firmware is signed, and there is no known tools for modding... 

Edited September 11, 2019 by MERCURY127

[Goodmaneuver]

C000-CFFF is a typical SCSI BIOS address. Perhaps try in system.ini

[386Enh]
EMMExclude=C000-FFFF - There still can just be enough free memory below C000

Edited April 25, 2020 by Goodmaneuver

[crt0]

Hello Everyone!

Recently, for one of my projects, I needed to run Windows 95 on a platform with a GTX 1060 3G, and I encountered this issue. After solving it, I developed an end-user patcher. Considering that the GTX 1060-3G/1070 is quite a rare cards today, especially in configurations with Win9x/WFW3.11, I'm curious: do any of the respected users here have a need for my patcher?

I've prepared version 0.1, and here's the draft readme for it:
 

# GTX_FIX v0.1

GTX_FIX resolves the incompatibility issue between GTX 1060-3GB and some other Pascal-based NVIDIA GPUs with Windows 9x and Windows for Workgroups 3.11.

## Problem Description  
When installing Windows, the system fails to boot after the first restart.  

## Supported Configurations  
- Windows 98 SE (US release)
- Assumes Windows 98 SE is installed in `C:\WINDOWS`

## Usage  
- This patch is fully automatic.  
- Command-line arguments are not supported and not reqired for v0.1
- Compiled as DOS executable, allowing patching directly on the affected system.  
- Just run gtx_fix.exe on affected system to fix incompatibility.

## Limitations  
- This patch addresses only the GTX-specific issue described above.  
- Additional steps may be required to run Windows 98 SE on modern platforms.  

## Disclaimer  
This software is provided "as is." Do not use on critical systems. Always back up important data before use.  

Enjoy your retro computing!  

crt0 2025

 

[MERCURY127]

10 hours ago, crt0 said:

I'm curious: do any of the respected users here have a need for my patcher?

hi! yes, me still using 1070 and i'm interested in your patch. i solved that VDD bug back in 2021, I've been booting into GUI successfully since then, but i forgot to report it here. the problem was that VDD was trying to explicitly set the EGA video mode, even if this mode was not used in any way afterwards.

unfortunately, right after resolving this problem, there appears the second one: a console (DOS box) doesn't run, giving the same error address C000:FFFF on start rendering own window. I see FAR on your picture. does it (as well as other DOS boxes) work normally with your patch? if so — i am very interested!

Edited January 2 by MERCURY127

[crt0]

On 1/2/2025 at 4:50 PM, MERCURY127 said:

I see FAR on your picture. does it (as well as other DOS boxes) work normally with your patch? if so — i am very interested!

Hi!
Yes, FAR and DOS vm sessions work, but this requires additional steps (out of patch scope). Examples attached. In the second screenshot, the default VGA driver from Windows 98 SE is being used.

[MERCURY127]

uh, nice, nice! so where i can download ur patch?
and, if possible, me want know, which bytes need to patch manually, especially for DOS.
(i dont like in-memory patches, as least, for legacy systems w/o any protections and cryptos...)

[crt0]

Just built a lightweight 98SE version of the patcher with only the basic functionality. I'd really appreciate some feedback, as I've only tested it on my old 98 SE (US version).
A fully featured version of the patcher will be available at https://dsoemu.pages.dev/download/

gtx_fix98.zip

[MERCURY127]

hi! thanks!

it really WORK on hardware GTX1070! i have tested with VBEMP and VGA drivers, both in normal and safe mode (dirty non-US Windows, sorry), and it work even with console, and even in fullscreen mode! not ideally, and console is unstable, but it WORK. look to attached images.

unfortunatelly, this patch fully breaks standard 9x VGA driver in VMWare (pure 98SE US Retail w/o any other patches)... look to images on links.

https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/06/22/52/1534923391.png

https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/06/22/52/1534923313.png

https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/06/22/52/1534923196.png

Edited January 7 by MERCURY127
additional details

[MERCURY127]

On 1/6/2025 at 12:16 AM, crt0 said:

 

me also tested your patch with other 9x system in VMWare, now with installed native vm videodriver.
it work good, without these nightmares as with VGA. but console now work exactly on 1070... ie:

1) i run some console app (Norton Commander), as result get pic 1 (empty windowed or full screen with blinking cursor prompt line of NC);
2) if it was windowed, then need go to fs mode via Alt+Enter hotkey (pic 2);
3) after this me press Alt+F9 hotkey inside NC (change vidoe lines count 25/50), and now i get normal look (3);
4) now i can press Alt+Enter hotkey again (4), press Alt+F9 to change window lines number (5), but...
5) if now press Alt+Enter hotkey again (6), it look enough strange, possible it related with my localization utility (CLARUS), i will check it later;
6) remained in fs, press Alt+F9 hotkey again — now it look nice... (7)

thank for your work!

1 https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/08/16/39/1535482378.png

2 https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/08/16/39/1535482183.png

3 https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/08/16/39/1535482222.png

4 https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/08/16/39/1535482261.png

5 https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/08/16/39/1535482300.png

6 https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/08/16/39/1535482339.png

7 https://picabox.ru/pictures/2025/01/08/16/39/1535482144.png

Edited January 8 by MERCURY127
reorder links...