x128 Instructions
02/10/2024
Menus:
F1 Help F2 NMI F3 Hardware options F4 Control options F5 Load snapshot F6 Save options F7 Load tape F8 Tape options F9 Save screenshot F10 Quit F11 Sound options F12 Disk select
Alt-F1 POKEs/Trainers Alt-F2 Alternate NMI Alt-F7 Tape browser Alt-F8 Pause/Unpause tape
File Formats INI/command line DOS Windows
Files provided
| Filename | Description |
| x128.exe | a 32-bit DOS executable (using PMODEW) |
| x128w.exe | a 32-bit Windows executable |
| x128wx64.exe | a 64-bit Windows executable |
| x128.ini | a set of configurable options that are used when one of the executables is started |
| x128.txt | a (currently) out-of-date text file |
| ROMS | a directory containing a number of binary images |
Basic operation
X128 does not have an installer, you merely extract the files from the zip and place them in a folder.
If the operating system or virus scanner refuses to let you run the executable, you may need to tweak some options somewhere.
When running, it will create a "temp" folder to place items in. For example, disk images that are built from files. This is normally in the same directory as the executable, so it must be in a place that is write-enabled or has the required permissions.
If not, it is possible to change the location of the temp folder by changing the TEMPDIR variable in the INI file.
Menus may be selected with the function keys, sometimes with Shift + function key, and sometimes with Alt + function key. (Also, some rudimentary Windows menus are available on that version).
The "reverse apostrophe" key (that key to the left of the "1" key) is an acceleration key. Hold this down to go as fast as your system will allow (listen to those CPU fans spin up). It's ideal for skipping past slow bits of BASIC, or loading.
If you see a bright white dot in the top-left of the screen, that means that the system is too slow for the current emulation settings. The emulation will run slowly, or you the sound quality may be poor. This dot can be deactivated (with the DotIcon option) in the INI file.
The tape pause/play icon (see the Alt-F8 menu) will also be in the top-left of the screen, if you have a tape file open in a suitable mode. This can be deactivated (with the PlayIcon option) in the INI file.
Finally, a drive light will appear in the top-left of the screen, when accessing a drive. This can be deactivated (with the LEDIcon option) in the INI file.
For the keyboard controls, the alphanumerical keys are as you'd expect. It's the other keys that require an explanation. Life is easier in 128 BASIC, if you are unfamiliar with the ZX Spectrum.
| Spectrum key | Spectrum key combination | PC key combination |
| Symbol-Shift | Ctrl | |
| Caps-Shift | Shift | |
| Extended Mode | Caps-Shift + Symbol-Shift | Shift + Ctrl |
| Break | Caps-Shift + Space | Shift + Space |
| Edit | Caps-Shift + 1 | Escape |
| Caps Lock | Caps-Shift + 2 | Caps Lock |
| True Video | Caps-Shift + 3 | Shift + 3 |
| Inverse Video | Caps-Shift + 4 | Shift + 4 |
| Cursor Left | Caps-Shift + 5 | Cursor Left |
| Cursor Down | Caps-Shift + 6 | Cursor Down |
| Cursor Up | Caps-Shift + 7 | Cursor Up |
| Cursor Right | Caps-Shift + 8 | Cursor Right |
| Graphics Mode | Caps-Shift + 9 | Shift + 9 |
| Delete | Caps-Shift + 0 | Backspace |
System Requirements
The DOS version requires 8 MBs of RAM or more, a VGA card or better, and (at least) a SB 2.0 (or clone) which can handle Autoinit DMA commands. Gameports are supported for one or two twin-axis joysticks or joypads. A mouse can be used, as long as a working driver is loaded.
For the CPU, it requires at least a 386, but I categorically don't recommend that (except for curiosity's sake). A (very) high-end 486 or a low-end Pentium will make it much more usable.
For the DOS version, your first goal is to get it to start... there are a number of ways that it can fail to run (this is DOS, after all) and a number of options that can be tweaked to help it.
The DOS version will use 8.3 filenames by default. There are some circumstances where long filenames may be used (under Windows 9X) and you can change the LongFilenames variable in the INI file to enable this. Note that the emulator cannot load in crucial files if it is wrongly enabled, and will return back to the command prompt. If it does not work, revert back to 8.3 filenames.
It will also detect VESA modes and add them to the Video Modes list that you can use. However, some detection options may cause a problem and (again) there are options in the INI file to limit it to only use banked VESA modes, or to only use VGA modes.
Also make sure that the BLASTER environment variable is present and accurate, otherwise it will fail to run.
There are a number of DOS-specific options that you should look at, in order to get the emulator started or working better, and these are listed on the DOS page.
The Windows versions will run on pretty much any Pentium or above, probably requiring 16 MBs of RAM (or more). The video mode must be at least 256 colours, but 16-bit (or higher) is much easier to use. It is capable of running in a window or in full-screen mode. It does not use more than one thread, so multi-core CPUs offer no performance boost.
A minimum of DirectX 5 must be installed as well as a working soundcard, capable of sampled output.
Any joystick or joypad (that Windows can detect) should work ok, as well as any device that can be read as a mouse. Joysticks are not selected automatically, you will to select them in the Misc/Redefine Controls menu (I have not documented this yet).
It has been tested under Windows 7 & 8. Older versions worked on systems as far back as Windows 95/98. However, not much testing has been done on real hardware recently, mainly because the real hardware has broken down.
Windows-specific options are listed on the Windows page.
(C) Jane McKay, 2024.