Help needed: CDT -> DSK

[CPCIak]

Hi, I'm going to transfer every AA Covertape from *cdt to *dsk.
Most of the covertapes have a built-in tape to disc routine.
Well, Blues Brothers (SIDE B) caues some trouble: I've tried several progys, e.g. Bonzo Meddler.
Thanx for your help!

[Devilmarkus]

http://cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=dsk&num=433

Most games already exist as DSK... So you don't need to transfer them...

[ivarf]

For completness, I can see a reason for transfering them

[CPCIak]

You are right ivarf.
I've checked the tape with CPCTapeXP:
Side A contains the game-data plus header. Bonzo Meddler copies the stuff correctly.
The level data is stored on Side B of the tape. There is a TurboLoader header at the beginning, but Bonzo Meddler doesn't recognise the stuff.

[Cholo]

Did you run it in one go (both sides in one) or one at a time?

Had to convert (to cdt) Shogun a while back and its a 2 sider as well. Recorded both sides to wav and then had to add the 2 together so it could convert in one go. Didnt work well if i just tried one side at a time.

[CPCIak]

I've merged the two wav files -> no chance. Side B can't be transfered to disc

[dlfrsilver]

It's normal that oyu can't process side B, there is no files...... as a result, the levels data must be ripped via the loader in RAM and then saved........

[Xyphoe]

I was looking for answer for this and found this topic.

I want to make a .dsk file from a .cdt (for a game on the CPC Power website) .... is the only tool available to do this CPCTapeXP? It's not clear if that will do the job properly.

[arnoldemu]

I was looking for answer for this and found this topic.

I want to make a .dsk file from a .cdt (for a game on the CPC Power website) .... is the only tool available to do this CPCTapeXP? It's not clear if that will do the job properly.

cpctapexp and samp2cdt make a cdt from an audio file.
to make a dsk you need to use a tool like "bonzo blitz", "speedtrans", "bonzo super meddler".
These read the tape and then save the data to disc.

[Cholo]

Indeed, as Arnoldemu mentioned: the only way to transfer data from a CDT to a DSK is the old manual way using a emulator (as far as i know). Simply because that the games are usually protected so you will most likely need to use a special program to "crack" and transfer the data to something readable.

If you need to transfer a unprotected CDT that only contains the normal BLOCK files then you can use the Glenco transfer program (see attached DSK). The great thing about this transfter program is it so simple .. load the program and then insert your empty formatted disc and your tape cdt and press any key. The great thing is it works "generic" .. aka it simply copies any named file automaticly and it supports really large files too (as you may notice it use a part of the screen as storage too). Also it dosnt stop so you can insert more tape cdt if you want (and more formatted dsk's as well).

It does require that your emulator runs in 464 mode, like with Winape:
1. load Winape and choose "464 with Parados" in the profile and then Reset (or reload).
2. Insert ecopy.dsk into drive A: and RUN"DISC.TFR". Once loaded .. "eject" the floppy.
3. Choose "new blank disc" and then "format disc image" (to something like "Data SS40")
4. Insert tape CDT using "insert tape image".
5. Press any key on your keykoard.
6. Press "play" on the tape control panel.

and it should copy all files. Once you are all done its probably a good idea to "eject" all DSK and CDT before exiting the emulator so that you are sure the DSK has been fully written back to hdd.

Hint: if you are confused about the formatting and disc swapping you can simply just keep the ecopy.dsk in the A: drive all the time as it pretty much empty .. later on you can then open the DSK in Managedsk or similar and delete the transfer programs from the DSK.

Hint 2: If you are trying to transfer protected games and keep getting read errors try using a different emulator.

Also included on the DSK is JL-copy as you might run into having manual copying. Like if the filename on tape is too long aka "Thisistolong" is to long and needs to be copied and renamed to the smaller disc compatible format like "discname.xxx"

[Xyphoe]

Wow! Thanks Cholo ... I'll give this a try later this week

[Devilmarkus]

I'm working on a DSK-Tool (Like WinApe's Filemanager).
This will also be able to transfer CDT to DSK via drag &drop!
(Only if the CDT has no protected/headerless files on it)

2 demos:
http://cpc-live.com/dsktool_alpha/
http://cpc-live.com/dsktool_beta/

Still working on the DSK formats. Actually it only supports 3 formats: DATA, SYSTEM, IBM (40 tracks, single sided)

If someone wants to test it, write me a PM...