Disks need their own map.

Before you start

PC-9801, FM-7 and X1 editions are separate targets. A release must identify each PC-8801 disk, disk order, expected size/hash, and whether it patches an image container or an extracted payload.

A .d88 extension alone does not identify supported contents or revision. Don’t rename, merge, split or convert images without explicit verified instructions. Hash the exact files the release names.

The tested setup matters

The release must name emulator/version, PC-8801 model, BASIC/boot mode, drive assignments, disk swaps, sound settings and write-protection rules. Use separate save/user disks where required. Firmware requirements must be documented; no firmware is supplied here.

Check, patch, then play

1. Keep an untouched backup. Work on a separate copy.
2. Compare the exact source and extracted patch SHA-256 values with the release page. Check files locally →
3. Open the patcher/version named by the release. Select the verified source and patch; choose a different output filename. Use only the documented settings and patch order.
4. If supplied, compare the output SHA-256 before launching it. Matching bytes do not prove a complete playthrough.
5. Use the tested emulator configuration from the same release guide. Real hardware, flash cartridges, old saves and save states require their own evidence.

No patcher or patch format is approved for these drafts yet. BPS support in a tool is not universal game or platform compatibility.

Something doesn’t match?

Wrong source checksum

Recheck platform, region, revision, size and required header/container form. A filename is not proof. Don’t edit bytes to make a checksum match.

Wrong patch checksum

Check that you hashed the extracted patch, not its archive. Download that version again from the release link. If it still differs, stop.

Patcher rejects the input

Confirm tool version, source form and patch version. Start from the untouched original; don’t patch an already patched file or force a source mismatch.

Output checksum differs

Keep it separate and don’t treat it as verified. Recheck inputs, options and patch order.

Correct files, but the game fails

Match the published emulator/core version, machine and region settings. Disable undocumented cheats or automatic patches. Use the documented boot sequence instead of an old save state.

Public reporting is closed for now. Keep error messages and non-sensitive setup details locally. Do not send ROMs, disk images, firmware or private logs.

Format reference · Reference documentation is not Patch Quest compatibility certification.