How to solve the error "Load address not aligned to word boundary" in RISC-V?

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I'm working on translating MIPS assembly programs written for the MARS simulator into RISCV assembly for RARS simulator.

This program is to divide the source image from a BMP file into 3 by 4 pieces and put them in new order after inputting it from console.

But after converting, when I ran the code, an error occurred.

Checking it step by step, I found this error occurred in the following line.

lw t0, 0(t2)                # load word value from input file

in

copyLoop2:

    blt s1, s3, copyLoop2after 
    lw t0, 0(t2)                # load word value from input file
    sw t0, 0(t3)            # save word value to output file
    addi t2, t2, 4      # jump t2 into next word
    addi t3, t3, 4      # jump t3 into next word
    addi s3, s3, 1
    j copyLoop2

The error message is

Load address not aligned to word boundary 0x100100e2

But in MIPS, it worked correctly. Also, when I replaced lw with lb and sw with sb, an error didn't occur, but it didn't work properly. It didn't output any files.

Then, the following is the whole program of MIPS.


# Patch 1.1
# Changelog:
# - readBmp and writeBmp now slightly more universal
# - optimized multiplication by a power of 2 (now using sll)

.eqv    bmpFileSize 230454
.eqv    bytesPerRow 960
.eqv    bytesPerColumnSegment 240
.eqv    bytesPerRowSegment 76800
.eqv    bytesJumpNextRow 720

.data   
        
    array:      .space  96  # reserve space for array of numbers by which to order the segments in dest.bmp
    checkArray: .word   1,1,1,2,1,3,1,4,2,1,2,2,2,3,2,4,3,1,3,2,3,3,3,4 # reserve space for array used in checking the input string
    userInput:  .space  25  # reserve space for initial user input
    .align  4
    res1:   .space  2
    inputImage: .space  bmpFileSize # reserve space for input file data
    .align  4
    res2:   .space  2
    outputImage:    .space  bmpFileSize     # reserve space for output file data
    inputImageName: .asciiz "source.bmp"
    outputImageName:.asciiz "dest.bmp"
    inputMessage:   .asciiz "Please input the desired order in the format 'number1number2number3...'. NO SPACES!!!\nFor instance 111213142122232431323334.\nAll numbers need to be used\n"
    inputTab:   .asciiz "\n"
    inputFileErrorMessage:  .asciiz "Encountered a problem while trying to open the input file. Exiting the program"
    outputFileErrorMessage: .asciiz "Encountered a problem while trying to open the output file. Exiting the program"
    checkErrorMessage:  .asciiz "checkString error: Incorrect input string"
    
.text

######## Initial file handling ###############
    
    # handle source.bmp and dest.bmp reading into memory
    la $a0, inputImageName
    la $a1, outputImageName
    move $t8, $a1
    jal readBmp

######## User input section ##################

    # print 'give input' message
    li $v0, 4
    la $a0, inputMessage
    syscall
    
    # get user input
    li $v0, 8
    la $a0, userInput
    li $a1, 25
    syscall
    
    # print newline
    li $v0, 4
    la $a0, inputTab
    syscall
    
    # loop over string and put data into array
    li $s4, 24
    li $s5, 0
    addi $t0, $zero, 0      # array index
    addi $t1, $zero, 0      # string index
    
arrayLoop:
    
    lb $t2, userInput($t1)      # load character bit
    subi $t2, $t2, 48       # subtract 0
    sb $t2, array($t0)      # put into array
    addi $t0, $t0, 4        # move array index
    addi $t1, $t1, 1        # move string index
    addi $s5, $s5, 1        
    blt $s5, $s4, arrayLoop
    
    # check for errors in the array
    jal checkString
    
######## Copying the segment data from inputImage into outputImage with accordance to the user input ########
    
    # set up a nested loop (upper loop 3 (row), lower 4 (column))
    li $s4, 2
    li $s5, 4
    li $s6, 0           # set first loop changing variable to 0
    li $s7, 1           # set second loop changing variable to 1
    
segmentLoop1:

    blt $s4, $s6, segmentLoopFin
    addi $s6, $s6, 1
    li $s7, 1
    j segmentLoop2

segmentLoop2:

    blt $s5, $s7, segmentLoop1
    
    # load to $a0 and $a1 from array. row first, column second
    addi $t0, $zero, 0  
    subi $t1, $s6, 1
    sll $t1, $t1, 5         # calculate offset due to row number        
    add $t0, $t0, $t1       # offset $t0
    subi $t1, $s7, 1
    sll $t1, $t1, 3         # calculate offset due to column number
    add $t0, $t0, $t1       # offset $t0
    
    lw $t2, array($t0)      # get row number
    move $a0, $t2
    addi $t0, $t0, 4
    lw $t2, array($t0)      # now column number
    move $a1, $t2
    
    # load to $a2 and $a3 from loop
    move $a2, $s6
    move $a3, $s7

    jal copySegment
    addi $s7, $s7, 1
    j segmentLoop2

segmentLoopFin:

######## Output file handling ##############
        
    # handle dest.bmp
    move $a0, $t8
    jal writeBmp

exit:

    # exit
    li $v0, 10
    syscall
    
readBmp:

    # $a0 - name of source file
    # $a1 - name of destination file
    move $t1, $a1       # save destintation file name for second half of function

    sub $sp, $sp, 4
    sw $s1, 0($sp)
    
    # input file
    # open file
    li $v0, 13
    # file name already in $a0
    li $a1, 0       # flags: read file
    li $a2, 0       # mode: ignored
    syscall
    
    # save file descriptor
    move $s1, $v0   
    
    # check if the file was opened correctly
    bltz $v0, inputFileError
    
    # read file
    li $v0, 14
    move $a0, $s1
    la $a1, inputImage
    li $a2, bmpFileSize
    syscall
    
    # close file
    li $v0, 16
    move $a0, $s1
    syscall
    
    # output file
    # open file
    li $v0, 13
    move $a0, $t1       # file name
    li $a1, 0       # flags: read file
    li $a2, 0       # mode: ignored
    syscall
    
    # save file descriptor
    move $s1, $v0
    
    # check if the file was opened correctly
    bltz $v0, outputFileError
    
    # read file
    li $v0, 14
    move $a0, $s1
    la $a1, outputImage
    li $a2, bmpFileSize
    syscall
    
    # close file
    li $v0, 16
    move $a0, $s1
    syscall
    
    lw $s1, 0($sp)
    add $sp, $sp, 4
    
    jr $ra
    
writeBmp:

    # $a0 - name of destination file
    sub $sp, $sp, 4     # push $s1
    sw $s1, 0($sp)
    
    # open file
    li $v0, 13
    # file name already in $a0
    li $a1, 1       # flags: write file
    li $a2, 0       # mode: ignored
    syscall
    
    # save file descriptor
    move $s1, $v0
    
    # check if the file was opened correctly
    bltz $v0, outputFileError
    
    # save file
    li $v0, 15
    move $a0, $s1
    la $a1, outputImage
    li $a2, bmpFileSize
    syscall
    
    # close file
    li $v0, 16
    move $a0, $s1
    syscall
    
    lw $s1, 0($sp)
    add $sp, $sp, 4
    
    jr $ra

inputFileError:

    # print error message
    li $v0, 4
    la $a0, inputFileErrorMessage
    syscall
    j exit

outputFileError:

    # print error message
    li $v0, 4
    la $a0, outputFileErrorMessage
    syscall
    j exit

checkString:

    # This part (from here till if2True included) is a bit convoluted, but it works.
    # Firstly there is a check if any data in the array derived from user input is zero. This doesn't do much
    # by itself, but it compliments the next part.
    # Then we iterate over checkArray in search of a pair of numbers that are the same as those in the array from user input.
    # If we don't find it it means that the number pair was not a valid one (as checkArray contains all valid number pairs).
    # If we find it we change that pair in checkArray into 00 and go to the next pair from user input. That way we won't count duplicates
    # as once a number is used, it cannot be found again. That is also why at the beggining we check for the occurence of zeroes, because if we didn't
    # an input string of 110000000000000000000000 would be accepted, which is of course wrong.
            
    # set up nested loop
    li $s4, 12
    addi $s4, $s4, -1
    li $s5, 12
    addi $s5, $s5, -1
    li $s6, 0
    li $s7, 0
    
    addi $t0, $zero, 0  # input array row index
    addi $t1, $zero, 4  # input array column index
    
checkLoop1:
    
    blt $s4, $s6, checkLoopFin
    addi $s6, $s6, 1
    li $s7, 0
    
    # check if either row number or column number are equal to 0
    lw $t4, array($t0)
    beqz $t4, checkError
    lw $t4, array($t1)
    beqz $t4, checkError    
    
    addi $t2, $zero, 0  # check array row index
    addi $t3, $zero, 4  # check array column index

checkLoop2:

    blt $s5, $s7, checkError
    
    lw $t4, array($t0)  
    lw $t5, array($t1)  
    lw $t6, checkArray($t2) 
    lw $t7, checkArray($t3) 
    
    beq $t4, $t6, if1True

checkCont:
    
    addi $t2, $t2, 8
    addi $t3, $t3, 8
    addi $s7, $s7, 1
    j checkLoop2

checkLoopFin:
        
    jr $ra

if1True:

    beq $t5, $t7, if2True
    j checkCont
    
if2True:

    li $t6, 0
    li $t7, 0
    sw $t6, checkArray($t2)
    sw $t7, checkArray($t3)
    addi $t0, $t0, 8
    addi $t1, $t1, 8
    j checkLoop1
    
checkError:

    # print error message
    li $v0, 4
    la $a0, checkErrorMessage
    syscall
    j exit

copySegment:

    # $a0 - row number input
    # $a1 - column number input
    # $a2 - row number output
    # $a3 - column number output

# one register - get address of segment start point in input file
    la $t1, inputImage + 10 # address of file offset to pixel array
    lw $t2, ($t1)       # file offset to pixel array in $t2
    la $t1, inputImage  # address of bitmab
    add $t2, $t1, $t2   # address of pixel array in $t2
    # pixel address calculation
    # calculate 3 - $a0
    li $t0, 3
    sub $t1, $t0, $a0
    # move $t2 by $t0*bytesPerRowSegment
    mul $t0, $t1, bytesPerRowSegment
    add $t2, $t2, $t0
    # calculate $a1 - 1
    li $t0, 1
    sub $t1, $a1, $t0
    # move $t2 by $t0*bytesPerColumnSegment
    mul $t0, $t1, bytesPerColumnSegment
    add $t2, $t2, $t0   
    
# second register - get address of segment start point in output file
    la $t1, outputImage + 10 # address of file offset to pixel array
    lw $t3, ($t1)       # file offset to pixel array in $t2
    la $t1, outputImage # address of bitmab
    add $t3, $t1, $t3   # address of pixel array in $t2
    # pixel address calculation
    # calculate 3 - $a2
    li $t0, 3
    sub $t1, $t0, $a2
    # move $t3 by $t0*bytesPerRowSegment
    mul $t0, $t1, bytesPerRowSegment
    add $t3, $t3, $t0
    # calculate $a3 - 1
    li $t0, 1
    sub $t1, $a3, $t0
    # move $t3 by $t0*bytesPerColumnSegment
    mul $t0, $t1, bytesPerColumnSegment
    add $t3, $t3, $t0
    
    # set up nested foor loop (upper one loops 80 times (rows per segment), lower one 60 (words per row in segment))
    li $s0, 80
    addi $s0, $s0, -1
    li $s1, 60
    addi $s1, $s1, -1
    li $s2, 0           # set first loop changing variable to 0
    li $s3, 0           # set second loop changing variable to 0
    
copyLoop1:

    blt $s0, $s2, copyLoopFin
    addi $s2, $s2, 1
    li $s3, 0
    j copyLoop2

copyLoop2:

    blt $s1, $s3, copyLoop2after
    lw $t0, 0($t2)          # load word value from input file
    sw $t0, 0($t3)          # save word value to output file
    addiu $t2, $t2, 4       # jump $t2 into next word
    addiu $t3, $t3, 4       # jump $t3 into next word
    addi $s3, $s3, 1
    j copyLoop2

copyLoop2after:

    add $t2, $t2, bytesJumpNextRow  # jump $t2 into next row
    add $t3, $t3, bytesJumpNextRow  # jump $t3 into next row
    j copyLoop1

copyLoopFin:

    jr $ra


And the RISC-V program I converted the MIPS program to is .

.eqv    bmpFileSize 230454
.eqv    bytesPerRow 960
.eqv    bytesPerColumnSegment 240
.eqv    bytesPerRowSegment 76800
.eqv    bytesJumpNextRow 720

li s10 230454
li s11 960
li a4 240
li a5 76800
li a6 720

# t7->s8
# t8->s9
# move->mv
# syscall -> ecall
# asciiz-> asciz

.data   
        
    array:      .space  96  # reserve space for array of numbers by which to order the segments in dest.bmp
    checkArray: .word   1,1,1,2,1,3,1,4,2,1,2,2,2,3,2,4,3,1,3,2,3,3,3,4 # reserve space for array used in checking the input string
    userInput:  .space  25  # reserve space for initial user input
    .align  4
    res1:   .space  2
    inputImage: .space  bmpFileSize # reserve space for input file data
    .align  4
    res2:   .space  2
    outputImage:    .space  bmpFileSize     # reserve space for output file data
    inputImageName: .asciz "/private/var/folders/bf/t4py6npj0v38grsvrgvq1dx00000gn/T/hsperfdata_sotarosuzuki/source.bmp"
    outputImageName:.asciz "/private/var/folders/bf/t4py6npj0v38grsvrgvq1dx00000gn/T/hsperfdata_sotarosuzuki/dest.bmp"
    inputMessage:   .asciz "Please input the desired order in the format 'number1number2number3...'. NO SPACES!!!\nFor instance 111213142122232431323334.\nAll numbers need to be used\n"
    inputTab:   .asciz "\n"
    inputFileErrorMessage:  .asciz "Encountered a problem while trying to open the input file. Exiting the program"
    outputFileErrorMessage: .asciz "Encountered a problem while trying to open the output file. Exiting the program"
    checkErrorMessage:  .asciz "checkString error: Incorrect input string"
    
.text

######## Initial file handling ###############
    
    # handle source.bmp and dest.bmp reading into memory
    la a0, inputImageName
    la a1, outputImageName
    mv s9, a1
    jal readBmp

######## User input section ##################

    # print 'give input' message
    li a7, 4
    la a0, inputMessage
    ecall
    
    # get user input
    li a7, 8
    la a0, userInput
    li a1, 25
    ecall
    
    # print newline
    li a7, 4
    la a0, inputTab
    ecall
    
    # loop over string and put data into array
    li s4, 24
    li s5, 0
    addi t0, zero, 0        # array index
    addi t1, zero, 0        # string index
    
arrayLoop:
    
    lb t2, %lo(userInput)(t1)           # load character bit
    addi t2, t2, -48         # subtract 0
    sb t2, array, t0    # put into array
    addi t0, t0, 4      # mv array index
    addi t1, t1, 1      # mv string index
    addi s5, s5, 1      
    blt s5, s4, arrayLoop
    
    # check for errors in the array
    jal checkString
    
######## Copying the segment data from inputImage into outputImage with accordance to the user input ########
    
    # set up a nested loop (upper loop 3 (row), lower 4 (column))
    li s4, 2
    li s5, 4
    li s6, 0            # set first loop changing variable to 0
    li s7, 1            # set second loop changing variable to 1
    
segmentLoop1:

    blt s4, s6, segmentLoopFin
    addi s6, s6, 1
    li s7, 1
    j segmentLoop2

segmentLoop2:

    blt s5, s7, segmentLoop1
    
    # load to a0 and a1 from array. row first, column second
    addi t0, zero, 0    
    addi t1, s6, -1
    slli t1, t1, 5          # calculate offset due to row number        
    add t0, t0, t1      # offset t0
    addi t1, s7, -1
    slli t1, t1, 3          # calculate offset due to column number
    add t0, t0, t1      # offset t0
    
    lw t2, %lo(array)(t0)    # get row number
    mv a0, t2
    addi t0, t0, 4
    lw t2, %lo(array)(t0)       # now column number
    mv a1, t2
    
    # load to a2 and a3 from loop
    mv a2, s6
    mv a3, s7

    jal copySegment
    addi s7, s7, 1
    j segmentLoop2

segmentLoopFin:

######## Output file handling ##############
        
    # handle dest.bmp
    mv a0, s9
    jal writeBmp

exit:

    # exit
    li a7, 10
    ecall
    
readBmp:

    # a0 - name of source file
    # a1 - name of destination file
    mv t1, a1       # save destintation file name for second half of function

    addi sp, sp, -4
    sw s1, 0(sp)
    
    # input file
    # open file
    li a7, 1024
    # file name already in a0
    li a1, 0        # flags: read file
    li a2, 0        # mode: ignored
    ecall
    
    # save file descriptor
    mv s1, a7   
    
    # check if the file was opened correctly
    bltz a7, inputFileError
    
    # read file
    li a7, 63
    mv a0, s1
    la a1, inputImage
    li a2, bmpFileSize
    ecall
    
    # close file
    li a7, 57
    mv a0, s1
    ecall
    
    # output file
    # open file
    li a7, 1024
    mv a0, t1       # file name
    li a1, 0        # flags: read file
    li a2, 0        # mode: ignored
    ecall
    
    # save file descriptor
    mv s1, a7
    
    # check if the file was opened correctly
    bltz a7, outputFileError
    
    # read file
    li a7, 63
    mv a0, s1
    la a1, outputImage
    li a2, bmpFileSize
    ecall
    
    # close file
    li a7, 57
    mv a0, s1
    ecall
    
    lw s1, 0(sp)
    addi sp, sp, 4
    
    jr ra
    
writeBmp:

    # a0 - name of destination file
    addi sp, sp, -4     # push s1
    sw s1, 0(sp)
    
    # open file
    li a7, 1024
    # file name already in a0
    li a1, 1        # flags: write file
    li a2, 0        # mode: ignored
    ecall
    
    # save file descriptor
    mv s1, a7
    
    # check if the file was opened correctly
    bltz a7, outputFileError
    
    # save file
    li a7, 64
    mv a0, s1
    la a1, outputImage
    li a2, bmpFileSize
    ecall
    
    # close file
    li a7, 57
    mv a0, s1
    ecall
    
    lw s1, 0(sp)
    addi sp, sp, 4
    
    jr ra

inputFileError:

    # print error message
    li a7, 4
    la a0, inputFileErrorMessage
    ecall
    j exit

outputFileError:

    # print error message
    li a7, 4
    la a0, outputFileErrorMessage
    ecall
    j exit

checkString:

    # This part (from here till if2True included) is a bit convoluted, but it works.
    # Firstly there is a check if any data in the array derived from user input is zero. This doesn't do much
    # by itself, but it compliments the next part.
    # Then we iterate over checkArray in search of a pair of numbers that are the same as those in the array from user input.
    # If we don't find it it means that the number pair was not a valid one (as checkArray contains all valid number pairs).
    # If we find it we change that pair in checkArray into 00 and go to the next pair from user input. That way we won't count duplicates
    # as once a number is used, it cannot be found again. That is also why at the beggining we check for the occurence of zeroes, because if we didn't
    # an input string of 110000000000000000000000 would be accepted, which is of course wrong.
            
    # set up nested loop
    li s4, 12
    addi s4, s4, -1
    li s5, 12
    addi s5, s5, -1
    li s6, 0
    li s7, 0
    
    addi t0, zero, 0    # input array row index
    addi t1, zero, 4    # input array column index
    
checkLoop1:
    
    blt s4, s6, checkLoopFin
    addi s6, s6, 1
    li s7, 0
    
    # check if either row number or column number are equal to 0
    lw t4, %lo(array)(t0) 
    beqz t4, checkError
    lw t4, %lo(array)(t1) 
    beqz t4, checkError 
    
    addi t2, zero, 0    # check array row index
    addi t3, zero, 4    # check array column index

checkLoop2:

    blt s5, s7, checkError
    
    lw t4, %lo(array)(t0)    
    lw t5, %lo(array)(t1)   
    lw t6, %lo(checkArray)(t2)   
    lw s8, %lo(checkArray)(t3)   
    
    beq t4, t6, if1True

checkCont:
    
    addi t2, t2, 8
    addi t3, t3, 8
    addi s7, s7, 1
    j checkLoop2

checkLoopFin:
        
    jr ra

if1True:

    beq t5, s8, if2True
    j checkCont
    
if2True:

    li t6, 0
    li s8, 0
    sw t6, checkArray, t2
    sw s8, checkArray, t3
    addi t0, t0, 8
    addi t1, t1, 8
    j checkLoop1
    
checkError:

    # print error message
    li a7, 4
    la a0, checkErrorMessage
    ecall
    j exit

copySegment:

    # a0 - row number input
    # a1 - column number input
    # a2 - row number output
    # a3 - column number output

# one register - get address of segment start point in input file
    la t1, inputImage  # address of file offset to pixel array
    addi t1, t1, 10
    lw t2, (t1)     # file offset to pixel array in t2
    la t1, inputImage   # address of bitmab
    add t2, t1, t2  # address of pixel array in t2
    # pixel address calculation
    # calculate 3 - a0
    li t0, 3
    sub t1, t0, a0
    # mv t2 by t0*bytesPerRowSegment
    mul t0, t1, a5
    add t2, t2, t0
    # calculate a1 - 1
    li t0, 1
    sub t1, a1, t0
    # mv t2 by t0*bytesPerColumnSegment
    mul t0, t1, a4
    add t2, t2, t0  
    
# second register - get address of segment start point in output file
    
    la t1, outputImage # address of file offset to pixel array
    addi t1, t1, 10
    lw t3, (t1)     # file offset to pixel array in t2
    la t1, outputImage  # address of bitmab
    add t3, t1, t3  # address of pixel array in t2
    # pixel address calculation
    # calculate 3 - a2
    li t0, 3
    sub t1, t0, a2
    # mv t3 by t0*bytesPerRowSegment
    mul t0, t1, a5
    add t3, t3, t0
    # calculate a3 - 1
    li t0, 1
    sub t1, a3, t0
    # mv t3 by t0*bytesPerColumnSegment
    mul t0, t1, a4
    add t3, t3, t0
    
    # set up nested foor loop (upper one loops 80 times (rows per segment), lower one 60 (words per row in segment))
    li s0, 80
    addi s0, s0, -1
    li s1, 60
    addi s1, s1, -1
    li s2, 0            # set first loop changing variable to 0
    li s3, 0            # set second loop changing variable to 0
    
copyLoop1:

    blt s0, s2, copyLoopFin
    addi s2, s2, 1
    li s3, 0
    j copyLoop2

copyLoop2:

    blt s1, s3, copyLoop2after
    lw t0, 0(t2)            # load word value from input file
    sw t0, 0(t3)            # save word value to output file
    addi t2, t2, 4      # jump t2 into next word
    addi t3, t3, 4      # jump t3 into next word
    addi s3, s3, 1
    j copyLoop2

copyLoop2after:

    add t2, t2, a6  # jump t2 into next row
    add t3, t3, a6  # jump t3 into next row
    j copyLoop1

copyLoopFin:

    jr ra

I couldn't find the solution to convert it correclty. So could anyone help me?

And is there any way to convert it automatically?

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There are 1 answers

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Lovis XII On

In riscv you have 3 possible accesses :

  • word
  • half word
  • byte

When you perform an access you need your address to be aligned to the type of access. So for example in the case of a lw your address need to be word-aligned.

In your case the address is 0x100100e2 which is not word-aligned. Indeed in binary it gaves us :

0b10000000000010000000011100010

Or to be word aligned the 2 lsb need to be 0 so this is why you got an error.