Mephisto Chess Genius

Discussion of anything and everything relating to chess playing software and machines.

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Engin
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Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Engin »

Hello,
i know that is existing Mephisto Chess Genius 7.xxx engine from Richard Lang on Windows, but only for 32 bit, pitty that is not running in 64 bit mode for Windows 10/11

It would be nice to have a 64 bit engine, even more better if it run has a UCI or Winboard engine to play and compared against other engines like Mephisto Gideon Prof. 1993 from Ed Schröder :)
Werewolf
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Re: Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Werewolf »

If the source code was released it would be possible to convert it to a 64 bit UCI. You could write to Mr. Lang and ask?
Engin
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Re: Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Engin »

Werewolf wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:46 am If the source code was released it would be possible to convert it to a 64 bit UCI. You could write to Mr. Lang and ask?
i ask him in Santiago why is it only 32bit and if its possible to port it to 64 bit, but he answered that takes to much work to rewrite it for 64 bit.

so i need a tool for old 32 bits EXE files to run that on 64 bit windows, i had got it run with Virtualbox on 32 bit windows, but i want run it on 64 bit.
Werewolf
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Re: Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Werewolf »

Engin wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:49 am
Werewolf wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:46 am If the source code was released it would be possible to convert it to a 64 bit UCI. You could write to Mr. Lang and ask?
i ask him in Santiago why is it only 32bit and if its possible to port it to 64 bit, but he answered that takes to much work to rewrite it for 64 bit.

so i need a tool for old 32 bits EXE files to run that on 64 bit windows, i had got it run with Virtualbox on 32 bit windows, but i want run it on 64 bit.
He said this to me 10 years ago also, but I think an AI could do the conversion job now. And if not probably by the summer. It's probably an hour's work if we had the source code.
Engin
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Re: Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Engin »

Werewolf wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 12:40 pm
Engin wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:49 am
Werewolf wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:46 am If the source code was released it would be possible to convert it to a 64 bit UCI. You could write to Mr. Lang and ask?
i ask him in Santiago why is it only 32bit and if its possible to port it to 64 bit, but he answered that takes to much work to rewrite it for 64 bit.

so i need a tool for old 32 bits EXE files to run that on 64 bit windows, i had got it run with Virtualbox on 32 bit windows, but i want run it on 64 bit.
He said this to me 10 years ago also, but I think an AI could do the conversion job now. And if not probably by the summer. It's probably an hour's work if we had the source code.
well, i am afraid that the source code is work only hard coded assembler and not easy code like C or C++, may thats why its difficult to port it to 64bit because you must rewrite whole commands new again.

A simple tool should be enough that runs 32bit EXE file in 64bit OS systems.
Paloma
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Re: Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Paloma »

Engin wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:49 am
Werewolf wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:46 am If the source code was released it would be possible to convert it to a 64 bit UCI. You could write to Mr. Lang and ask?
i ask him in Santiago why is it only 32bit and if its possible to port it to 64 bit, but he answered that takes to much work to rewrite it for 64 bit.

so i need a tool for old 32 bits EXE files to run that on 64 bit windows, i had got it run with Virtualbox on 32 bit windows, but i want run it on 64 bit.
Stefan Meyer-Kahlen was also in Santiago, right?
Has anyone there heard if there is still a Shredder 14?
Or is the Shredder Project dead?
Werewolf
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Re: Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Werewolf »

Paloma wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 1:46 pm
Engin wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:49 am
Werewolf wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:46 am If the source code was released it would be possible to convert it to a 64 bit UCI. You could write to Mr. Lang and ask?
i ask him in Santiago why is it only 32bit and if its possible to port it to 64 bit, but he answered that takes to much work to rewrite it for 64 bit.

so i need a tool for old 32 bits EXE files to run that on 64 bit windows, i had got it run with Virtualbox on 32 bit windows, but i want run it on 64 bit.
Stefan Meyer-Kahlen was also in Santiago, right?
Has anyone there heard if there is still a Shredder 14?
Or is the Shredder Project dead?
I've heard it is not dead
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Ras
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Re: Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Ras »

Engin wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 12:59 pmA simple tool should be enough that runs 32bit EXE file in 64bit OS systems.
64 bit Windows can run 32 bit applications just fine. What 64 bit Windows cannot do, is running 16 bit code - but 32 bit Windows can do that.

Specifically for ChessGenius, the earlier versions were for MS-DOS, so 16 bit code. What has happened is that Lang slapped a Windows GUI on the existing DOS-engine, and this GUI is in fact 32 bit as per the executable's header, but the engine underneath (GENG7.EXE) is still 16 bit code. What's more, it's hand-coded assembly. Porting that would indeed be a lot of work, so it's not going to happen for an old engine version.

However, ChessGenius 7.2 does run under 64 bit Linux with Wine, at least I was able to install it, start it, and play some moves in the demo version.
Rasmus Althoff
https://www.ct800.net
Werewolf
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Re: Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Werewolf »

Ras wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:00 pm
Engin wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 12:59 pmA simple tool should be enough that runs 32bit EXE file in 64bit OS systems.
64 bit Windows can run 32 bit applications just fine. What 64 bit Windows cannot do, is running 16 bit code - but 32 bit Windows can do that.

Specifically for ChessGenius, the earlier versions were for MS-DOS, so 16 bit code. What has happened is that Lang slapped a Windows GUI on the existing DOS-engine, and this GUI is in fact 32 bit as per the executable's header, but the engine underneath (GENG7.EXE) is still 16 bit code. What's more, it's hand-coded assembly. Porting that would indeed be a lot of work, so it's not going to happen for an old engine version.

However, ChessGenius 7.2 does run under 64 bit Linux with Wine, at least I was able to install it, start it, and play some moves in the demo version.
That's really interesting. I assumed it would be 32 bit, given the Motorola 68020 and 68030 were 32 bit.
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Ras
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Re: Mephisto Chess Genius

Post by Ras »

Werewolf wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:40 pmThat's really interesting. I assumed it would be 32 bit, given the Motorola 68020 and 68030 were 32 bit.
The problem is the timeline of the PC port. ChessGenius for PC was in 1992, for MS-DOS. Hence, 16 bit, also targeting ATs (286) under DOS which were still widespread then. However, even the Windows back then (with 386 or rare 486) would have been 3.1, and that was also 16 bit only. Mainstream 32 bit would only arrive in 1995 with Win95 which supported both 16 and 32 bit applications (the latter run still today if cleanly written), but it would take a bit longer until it actually gained market share.
Rasmus Althoff
https://www.ct800.net