GLaBIOS

(General Libraries and Basic Input Output System)

A modern, scratch-built, open-source alternative BIOS for vintage PC, XT, 8088 Clone or Turbo PCs.

Copyright © 2022-2023, 640KB and contributors.

Stable Version 0.2:

Download ROMs

Source Code

Features

• A complete 100% PC Compatible BIOS for retro/vintage PC, XT, 8088 Clone, Turbo and Homebrew PCs.
• Colorful POST screen with useful information such as CPU, FPU, port addresses, floppy drives and hard disk geometry.
• FAST! Performance-optmized CGA/MDA text and graphics routines.
• 5150 Cassette tape support.
• NEC V20 enhanced instruction set support.
• Multiple levels of “CGA snow” removal (configurable at build-time).
• Accurate PIT-based I/O timing for floppy disk for faster seek and read times.
• Customizable POST test screen colors themes.
• Fits in an 8K ROM to drop in to any original PC or clone.

Platforms Supported

• PC/XT 5160 and clones
• PC 5150 with cassette
• Turbo XTs (DTK, most clones)
• Faraday FE2010A-based PCs (Headstart Plus/VTI Vendex 33-XT/PC-10 and others)
• TD3300A-based PCs (Juko ST, UNIQUE, Auva, etc)
• micro_8088 / NuXT
• EMM Homebrew 8088 with 8088, V20 or V40
• Emulator-optmized (86Box and others) for improved performance

Companion ROMs

Companion ROMs are PC Option ROMs that add additional features and support to any standard BIOS (not just GLaBIOS).

• GLaTICK - ROM based support for ISA Real Time Clocks providing INT 1Ah services elimiating the need for DOS programs/drivers.

FAQ

Why another 8088 PC BIOS in 2022 2023?

There are other excellent BIOS projects out there each with it’s own design goals and use cases. The goals for GLaBIOS are:

1. A collborative learning effort among the Retro Community
2. A fully open-source PC BIOS, built and improved by the community, free of outside proprietary or copyrighted code
3. Feature-complete with full support for original vintage hardware as well as new projects

Where did the name originate?

If you aren’t familiar with the reference, ask a gamer.

How can I try it?

Click here to learn more!

More questions?

Check out the Wiki!

Screenshots

VGA with 8087 FPU:

EGA with V20:

CGA with 736K memory:

Bad RAM detected! Use standard address and bit indicator to locate failed IC:

5150 with cassette:

Compatibility

1-2-3 ver 1A

Flight Simulator 1.0

BUILD NOTES:

Assembler Version

Build using MASM 5 or later.

Build Process:

1. MASM GLABIOS;
2. LINK GLABIOS; Will create GLABIOS.EXE.
3. Run GLA2ROM GLABIOS to convert to an 8 KiB ROM file.

OR

1. Convert EXE manually by removing the EXE header (the first 512 bytes of the EXE file) and extracting the last 8 KiB
2. Calculate 8-bit checksum byte and insert into relative file offset 1FFF in GLABIOS.ROM.

Contact

Please send bug reports, feedback, questions or thoughts to 640kb@glabios.org or submit an Issue.

References and Credits:

• https://stanislavs.org/helppc/
• https://sites.google.com/site/pcdosretro/
• http://www.minuszerodegrees.net/
• https://www.felixcloutier.com/x86/
• Font bitmaps by “VileR”, (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Further Credits to:

• The Code Golf (CGCC) community on Stack Exchange for helping me become a better ASM programmer.
• Hampa Hug for the excellent PCE software that helped make development and debugging much easier.
• @Raffzahn, Contributor, Advisor and Meckerhut.
• @MadMaxx12345, @Makefile, @punishedbunny, @PickledDog and many others for testing, bug finding and feature suggestions.
• Dave Nault, my partner in crime for 2 semesters of college assembly language programming classes back in the day. Wherever you are buddy, hope you’re doing well!

License

• GNU General Public License v3.0. See LICENSE.

Disclaimer

This project is built upon the collective knowledge of the community by and for the benefit of the community. Unless stated otherwise, cited public sources are considered as “public domain” or “fair use” of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If your copyrighted material appears in this project or on this web site and you disagree with our assessment that it constitutes “fair use,” contact us.