Can anyone let me know the status of the BDOS or HD-DOS applications / roms?
I've read some old threads (and searched my friend google), but they reveal no current status or where I can obtain a copy of the Roms from.
I want to access the CFCard attached to my SymbiFaceII card - I can access it via SymbOS (FutureOS doesn't seem to recognize it, even though the Roms do load and display correctly - odd). So, does anyone know if there is a ROM out there somewhere that can allow me to access the DSK files located on my CFCard.
I suppose I can always wait for the delivery of the SDCard reader from Lotharek (from eBay) and kind of achieve what I'm after - it just seems a shame to have such a wonderful device as the SymbiFaceII and not be able to access the CFCard from AMSDOS...
any guidance appreciated!
I have compiled all pointers I could find regarding AMSDOS support for the Symbiface II at http://cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php/topic,559.msg5397.html#msg5397 - but couldn't get further information from the mighty Prodatron (nor apparently any remedy to "rotting links" in the software section of http://www.symbos.de/sf2.htm), let alone get my hands on this hardware so far.
hi there,
not to speak on behalf of the HDDOS developer (not me, i can assure you!), but it's still being worked on...
essentially, i sent an private email directly to Ray Palmer a few months back through comp.sys.amstrad.8bit newsgroup inquiring, just as you've done, about any progress he has made on his HDOS rom for accessing Symbiface IDE device from AMSDOS...
he should provide the WIP software (DSK,ROM,source code) if you ask him
hope this helps!
BDOS was covered on pages 10-12 of http://www.octoate.de/wp/download/fanzines/CPC-Forever-No1.pdf (in German) by Timo Brüggmann himself (revealing to have named it BonnyDOS after his teckel) and said to be mostly AMSDOS compatible (adding |C for the HDD on a SYMBiFACE) for existing software (of which it could handle up to 2 GB); tested on some 200 games etc.
Not sure if this means Octoate may still have contact details for "Brüggie of Noobs" and Jürgen Strobel (of drive-modding fame) (http://cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php/topic,655.0.html)...
Quote from: OCT on 16:37, 01 April 10
Not sure if this means Octoate may still have contact details for "Brüggie of Noobs" and Jürgen Strobel (of drive-modding fame) (http://cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php/topic,655.0.html)...
Nope, I am currently not in contact with Brueggi. He also decided to leave the CPC scene and currently programs AFAIK DOS applications (e.g. BDOS for DOS). He wrote some lines in a thread in the german CPC forum.
Btw, I just uploaded the latest files which I found on my harddisk to the Wiki. You can find them in the BonnyDOS article (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/BonnyDOS).
Thanks a ton; I guess very few people knew to this day:
- how much work and thought had gone into BDOS (and documentation) already
- that it uses its own BFS16 on the hard disk but does come with support for double-density MS-DOS disks (FAT) including directories as well, and can even load emulator SNApshots. :)
Truth be told it's feature-rich far beyond expectations. Curious about your experiences regarding reliability/stability in long-term use (and, of course, compatibility of the hard disk format with SymbOS and FutureOS!), as I've yet to hear from PDT when and if I'll ever get my hands on a SYMBiFACE II.
a quick google search turned up this forum thread about BonnyDOS..
http://amstradcpc.mforos.com/305097/7434240-bonnydos-disco-duro-desde-basic-amsdos/
could someone lend me a hand with figuring out how to write the CF HDD file that's available from the megaupload link? the HDD file has a 4GB partition containing the NVG games folder on it, but the utility that created the HDD file refuses to write it back to my 4GB CF card! maybe someone with an 8GB CF card on hand could try it out?
thanks
Okay, I tried this on a 4Gb and 16Gb CF Card (FAT32 formatted) - both failed.
When I run the 'Physical Drive Image Creator' app (on XP), I can select the 'PHYSICALDRIVE1', select the bdos.hdd file BUT when I press the 'Restore image' button, I get the following display:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Error!
Sizes of selected file and selected disk aren't equal!
Note this program requires:
Windows XP
Administrator rights
Windows Explorer
Running WMI
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm pretty sure I have all of the above...
Also, I noticed that it shows the 'Drive details' as:
SIZE: 4 110 188 544 Bytes
MEDIA: Removable media other than floppy
BUT the bdos.hdd file itself is reported as being: 3,964,464 KB
I also found this on the 2nd page of that forum (Google translation):
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This did not get a poster, I think. In http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q4UL2JMT (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q4UL2JMT) you can download an image from my CompactFlash 4GB in the dumps already NVG games. Operate games of the growing list attached to the first post, plus some that have been repaired (a few have been repaired, the truth).
To make the dump I used Drive Image Creator Physical http://noname.c64.org/csdb/release/viewpic.php?id=74521 (http://noname.c64.org/csdb/release/viewpic.php?id=74521), and the only one who has tried to burn the image in another CF has succeeded in a CF generic, but not a brand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah, I purchased and used 4GB SanDisk and a 16GB Lexar CF Cards.... so I guess for some reason (?) the pre-formatted SanDisk 4GB is not the same size as a generic CF card?
You have to use a 4GB CF Card an the PD Creator to write it back. I know, cause I gave this PD Creator to Miguel to create this File you find at Megaupload.
Try
xesrjb ;)
I used that application (running on windows XP) and a 4GB SanDisk card and it shows the error message.
Do you remember what brand of CF Card you initially used?
http://cgi.ebay.de/CF-Card-v-EXTREMEMORY-4-GB-120x-s_W0QQitemZ390174846241QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDE_Computer_Elektronik_Foto_Camcorder_Speicherkarten_PM?hash=item5ad83bad21 (http://cgi.ebay.de/CF-Card-v-EXTREMEMORY-4-GB-120x-s_W0QQitemZ390174846241QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDE_Computer_Elektronik_Foto_Camcorder_Speicherkarten_PM?hash=item5ad83bad21)
xesrjb
thanks for the link! - I do not have an account with eBay Germany; so cannot buy that exact CFCard.
I scanned UK eBay but they do not have the exact same one. (If I send you the money + a 'handling fee' could you purchase it for me? :D )
I just purchased a Lexar 4Gb CFCard from a local store and when I examine the properties, I see that it is a slightly smaller Byte size than the SanDisk..... this is interesting! It shows that different brand cards partition and format the cards to slightly different sizes.
I had a play around with Paragon Partition Manager in an attempt to re-partition the CFCard to the required 3,964,464 KB but when I run the PD Creator application it seems to pick up the total size of the CFCard rather than the partition I just made. :( So, fiddling with partition sizing doesn't seem to make a difference. The total size of the CFCard is what the software is working from.
Is it possible for you to extract the .hdd file and use another piece of software to make a .img or .zip or .gzip version? Perhaps using Roadkil RawCopy or some other piece of freeware software?
Alternatively, does anyone have the BDOS.exe application for MSDOS?
Here you are!!
xesrjb :)
I will be on vacations for some days. After the easter holidays; I will have a look how to support you!
xesrjb ;)
Quote from: xesrjb on 12:57, 03 April 10
http://cgi.ebay.de/CF-Card-v-EXTREMEMORY-4-GB-120x-s_W0QQitemZ390174846241QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDE_Computer_Elektronik_Foto_Camcorder_Speicherkarten_PM?hash=item5ad83bad21 (http://cgi.ebay.de/CF-Card-v-EXTREMEMORY-4-GB-120x-s_W0QQitemZ390174846241QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDE_Computer_Elektronik_Foto_Camcorder_Speicherkarten_PM?hash=item5ad83bad21)
xesrjb
thanks for the link too! did a text search for that one thru ebay.com.au and found several listings with worldwide postal options :) put an order in for one 4GB CF card today
just need to wait a few more weeks to resume my BonnyDos testing :)
Ah !! Interesting thread :) I could get another backup from the CF card in the format you want. Only say which.
If you could do it in another format that would be great, what formats could you make? .img, .zip or .gzip?
I didn't have any luck with the other custom format made for PDCreator (I've now got 5 new 4Gb CF Cards waiting to be used :D ). I'm also running Windows 7 now, so cannot use the PDCreator software anymore (and it doesn't work in the virtual XPMode)
so, if you could make the 4Gb image into another format that would be really helpful!
@Miguel: Mhh... Do the CF-Card emulate a special Drive-Geometry? If not, it could be very Dangerous, using the Drive-Image, due to the specifications of BFS16. If everyone need some BDOS-Stuff, you can download it at: http://brueggi.amiga-resistance.info (http://brueggi.amiga-resistance.info/) (Amstrad/Schneider CPC).
Hi Bruggi :)
I don't know if card emulates any kind of Geometry... What is the better way to backup the filesystem then?
Hi. The best way to Backup / Restore your HD is to
use BFS16.EXE and copy all files to your PC. Then you can
burn it to a CD or DVD. To restore files, you also can use
BFS16.EXE. I think this is the best solution. (and the safest). 8)
Yes, but BFS16 needs MS-DOS to work :( Perhaps could anybody create a windows app with this?
Mhh... It could be difficult making a Windows-Driver, because Windows isn't really flexible enough (at least i think). BFS16.EXE runs at least with Win98 - on newer Windows-Versions, you have to change a special Registry-Key to allow direct-Acess to drives. But I don't know which key it is :-(
I have a specific ms-dos v6 PC for connection and usage for CPC transfer, so I'm okay to use these old programs, no windows needed :D
Quote from: Brüggi/e on 19:13, 10 June 10It could be difficult making a Windows-Driver, because Windows isn't really flexible enough (at least i think). BFS16.EXE runs at least with Win98 - on newer Windows-Versions, you have to change a special Registry-Key to allow direct-Acess to drives.
BTW would be a great idea to sign up to the Wiki&forum (and contribute your sources if you haven't already) - as you can see from this thread and http://cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php/topic,559.0.html you have been missed. :)
:) No, I don't want to sign up. Thx.
That won't mean your accomplishments (http://brueggi.amiga-resistance.info/) escape international attention: http://cpc-forum.de/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=916#p8466 ;)