Finding run/init addr's on packed xex/exe or com files

Your suggestions, comments, corrections and info on the database structure or games that are presented.

Moderator: Atari Frog

Post Reply
carmel_andrews
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:04 pm
Location: London UK
Contact:

Finding run/init addr's on packed xex/exe or com files

Post by carmel_andrews » Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:52 am

I am try ing to find the run/init addresses (using atari800wins+ built in monitor) for various xex/exe and com files i've downloaded from the internet

i know that the locatipons used are 2/3,a-d and 2e0-3

the files i have problems with are mostly those european/polish games that are heavily packed, like robin (hawkeye clone) whoops 2 etc

What seems to happen is that the depacker routines seem to mask out the proper or real run/init addr, or over write it,

I do have a pc util called dissassembler 6502 by erich backer/bacher ( i think) however that program has a limitation of binary files under 256 segments

The other thing is is that it's almost impossible to view the dissassembler listing as the file/segment is packed so you can't see where the program is run/init from plus the fact that the dissassembler program doesn't have a search feature (which would be usefull)

although the dissassembler program does list the 2e0-3 locations, they mostly if not only refer to the run init addresses for the depack routines and not the program itself

Is there a program or utility out there that will unpack these files and put the data/segments back into their proper/actual mem locations

Or do these program's run/init addresses execute in 'high memory' (i.e above bfff) which means that you can't execute/initialise or hack the file out, as you would effectively be executing/initialising o/s routines
User avatar
Andre
Posts: 2233
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 10:11 am
Location: Deutschland

Re: Finding run/init addr's on packed xex/exe or com files

Post by Andre » Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:47 am

carmel_andrews wrote: Is there a program or utility out there that will unpack these files and put the data/segments back into their proper/actual mem locations
Yes, just load the atr-file with your emulator and use the built-in monitor; find the DOS routines and set breakpoints accordingly. Don't ask me for details - I forgot nearly everything meanwhile.
André
carmel_andrews
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:04 pm
Location: London UK
Contact:

re: finding run/init address for packed xex/exe files

Post by carmel_andrews » Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:40 pm

where's twaugs mapping the atari when you need it
User avatar
deathtrappomegranate
Posts: 2248
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 11:27 am

Post by deathtrappomegranate » Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:37 pm

If you mean "Mapping the Atari" by Ian Chadwick, it's here:

http://www.atariarchives.org/mapping/
Post Reply