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Any simple instructions for Gotek in a PCW

Started by Starglider, 07:21, 08 December 18

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Starglider

Hi guys, I've found a few threads about this but mostly dead ends or otherwise.

Does anyone have a link to simple instructions to get the Gotek installed and working on the PCW 8256? [emoji120]

Separately, with the IDE CompactFlash device I saw, am I right in thinking you can't read the PCW formatted CF card on a Mac/PC in order to drop amstrad pcw files onto it?

Thanks!, Starglider aka ԹҽɾíƒɾɑϲԵíϲ's RҽԵɾ๏ RҽϲíԹҽs
[emoji973]️ http://youtube.com/perifractic
[emoji973]️ http://patreon.com/perifractic

Starglider aka Perifractic
http://youtube.com/perifractic 

Amstrad PCW8256 with Gotek & HD Drive B

GeoffB17

Hello,

I've got a Gotek, but I've not got around to connecting it to my PCW.   I guess there's not a BIG point to, as I've got the uIDE device attached so I've got more disk on line than I could want.

However, the way I understand it...

The Gotek in effect replaces a 3.5" disk drive, and appears to the computer as a 3.5" drive, so you pretty much follow the instructions for attaching a 3.5" drive as B:, which will involve a modified cable (or extension to the cable) to primarily provide the 'Ready' signal as well as provide the connections between the 28 (?) pin PCW cable and the 36 (?)  pin PC cable.   You may also be able to use the PCW power supply to connect to the Gotek, but if you can you may be better to use an external supply (5v).

The other important thing is that you would need to have relevant disk images loaded onto the USB stick when you get going, else there's nothing there to connect to.   For starters, you should have a normal B: image, but once you've got that working then maybe A: images should work as well?   Main point, the PCW will need to find what it expects to find, i.e. what looks like a normal PCW disk.

Regarding your other question, I think you're referring to the DOM card, which is NOT a CF, but may be very similar.   Yes, as you suggest, this has a CP/M format (there are really 13 @ 8 Mb CP/M drives there) so it cannot be accessed directly by other machines.   You could access the drive via software that allows the card format to be 'interpreted', but any system that tries to access the disk immediately (Windows certainly does, I'd guess Mac stuff does) will report disk problems, drive not formatted, drive corrupt, etc?

Geoff

JonB

#2
Hi

Geoff's correct - but the package to read from / write to the uIDE format, cpmtools, is included as a download on the uIDE Wiki page (which I am constantly linking to: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/UIDE_Universal_IDE_adapter_cards_for_Z-80_computers).

You can use a CF card with uIDE as long as you have an adapter, but DOMs are more compatible in my limited experience. It is all explained (in some detail) on the Wiki page.

I would say the main purpose of using a GoTech on a PCW equipped with uIDE is to perform the initial boot. Once booted you just tend to use the IDE drives. They are fast and transform the PCW experience.

Regards
JonB

Starglider

#3
Thank you both. I'd actually read that wiki before coming here but I couldn't work out how to get the files onto the uIDE. In simple terms, from a Mac, how would I transfer PCW disk images from the interwebs?

Thanks!, Starglider aka ԹҽɾíƒɾɑϲԵíϲ's RҽԵɾ๏ RҽϲíԹҽs
[emoji973]️ http://youtube.com/perifractic
[emoji973]️ http://patreon.com/perifractic
Starglider aka Perifractic
http://youtube.com/perifractic 

Amstrad PCW8256 with Gotek & HD Drive B

Starglider

Quote from: JonB on 08:24, 10 December 18
Hi

Geoff's correct - but the package to read from / write to the uIDE format, cpmtools, is included as a download on the uIDE Wiki page (which I am constantly linking to: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/UIDE_Universal_IDE_adapter_cards_for_Z-80_computers).

You can use a CF card with uIDE as long as you have an adapter, but DOMs are more compatible in my limited experience. It is all explained (in some detail) on the Wiki page.

I would say the main purpose of using a GoTech on a PCW equipped with uIDE is to perform the initial boot. Once booted you just tend to use the IDE drives. They are fast and transform the PCW experience.

Regards
JonB
Just realized you're the designer of the board. Kudos! Thank you for your contribution to the retro world.

Do you sell a kit for the entire PCW expansion port with video product? I'm good with a soldering iron so just need the bits and instructions. Shipping to California. Perhaps you could PM me pricing. [emoji120][emoji973]️

Thanks!, Starglider aka ԹҽɾíƒɾɑϲԵíϲ's RҽԵɾ๏ RҽϲíԹҽs
[emoji973]️ http://youtube.com/perifractic
[emoji973]️ http://patreon.com/perifractic

Starglider aka Perifractic
http://youtube.com/perifractic 

Amstrad PCW8256 with Gotek & HD Drive B

GeoffB17

Jon,

I suspect that the main reason for using a Gotek device, even on the PCW equipped with your wonderful uIDE device, will be to store/boot any games (etc) that need a bootable floppy to start.   For things like this, the virtual HDs are not relevant?   As I understand things!   Anything that will run from standard CP/M is of course quite OK.

Best wishes,

Geoff

Starglider

Quote from: GeoffB17 on 22:26, 10 December 18
Jon,

I suspect that the main reason for using a Gotek device, even on the PCW equipped with your wonderful uIDE device, will be to store/boot any games (etc) that need a bootable floppy to start.   For things like this, the virtual HDs are not relevant?   As I understand things!   Anything that will run from standard CP/M is of course quite OK.

Best wishes,

Geoff
Would you happen to know what percentage of pcw games cannot be run from the command line and require booting the floppy? downloading old games that I used to own such as Starglider would be my main impetus for adding some sort of digital drive to my pcw.

Thanks!, Starglider aka ԹҽɾíƒɾɑϲԵíϲ's RҽԵɾ๏ RҽϲíԹҽs
[emoji973]️ http://youtube.com/perifractic
[emoji973]️ http://patreon.com/perifractic

Starglider aka Perifractic
http://youtube.com/perifractic 

Amstrad PCW8256 with Gotek & HD Drive B

JonB

Quote from: GeoffB17 on 22:26, 10 December 18
Jon,

I suspect that the main reason for using a Gotek device, even on the PCW equipped with your wonderful uIDE device, will be to store/boot any games (etc) that need a bootable floppy to start.   For things like this, the virtual HDs are not relevant?   As I understand things!   Anything that will run from standard CP/M is of course quite OK.

Best wishes,

Geoff

Very good point! As I do not play games on my PCW I hadn't thought of that...

Quote from: StargliderDo you sell a kit for the entire PCW expansion port with video product? I'm good with a soldering iron so just need the bits and instructions. Shipping to California. Perhaps you could PM me pricing.

All purchase options and pricing including shipping are on the Wiki page. I don't like to offer kits as there is risk of packing the wrong bits and I cannot test the finished article. You can have boards, though, and order the parts yourself. The problem is that I do not have a full complement of parts to build these any more, I could only offer a partial kit. I will have to look in the parts box. Be aware that I only have the red boards and some hackery is needed to get them to work (all documented on the Wiki page). That's another reason why I prefer to build them myself.


Token

Quote from: Starglider on 07:21, 08 December 18
Hi guys, I've found a few threads about this but mostly dead ends or otherwise.

Does anyone have a link to simple instructions to get the Gotek installed and working on the PCW 8256?


Hi
I can help for few things.
Mainly put the jumper on S1 on the Gotek PCB.Inverse the PSU floppy cable from the mainboard to the Gotek.I used Dupont cables to connect the Gotek to the floppy controler. (messy)
I will soon update it again with an encoder to replace the third button (select/eject/insert). I did it on Atari ST, it rotate 360 and also works like the third select button by pressing it.

On the PCW I did the LCD and OLED mod, the old and new buzzer mod.
It's now a lot easier, some hot glue and no soldering on my last work on the ST (also updated many time).
https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy/wiki/Hardware-Mods
PS: I love your videos.

Starglider

Many thanks!! [emoji106][emoji973]️

Thanks!, Starglider aka ԹҽɾíƒɾɑϲԵíϲ's RҽԵɾ๏ RҽϲíԹҽs
[emoji973]️ http://youtube.com/perifractic
[emoji973]️ http://patreon.com/perifractic

Starglider aka Perifractic
http://youtube.com/perifractic 

Amstrad PCW8256 with Gotek & HD Drive B

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