Using DISCKIT with JOYCE 2.5.3

[stevecwilliams]

Hi all,

I am trying to use the DISCKIT utility (that comes on the CP/M boot disk for both the 8256 and 9512) with (.dsk) disk images in the JOYCE emulator but it seems to fail on the write operation of both the format and copy processes with the error in my attached image. Verify works and the read part of the copy process also seems to work fine.

I have checked all the configs for the correct machine/drive/read-write setting and they all check out. I can also write/save a file to the disk image from CP/M.

Should it be working? or does JOYCE just not support it? or am I doing something wrong..

Also, is it possible to create empty disk images from within JOYCE?

Any help would be appreciated..

Many Thanks

[GeoffB17]

Hm, that's interesting.  I've never had any problems with the versions of DiscKit that I've used.

Could be a problem with the specific version of Joyce?

Is the error you get always at Tr 0 Sector 5?  This would be perverse as I'm sure that that sector would never normally be used.

Hopefully, JE might respond here?

Your other question - I don't think there is any method to 'create an empty image within Joyce', although using DiscKit to copy an existing empty image to a new image (disk) would count?

Geoff

[GeoffB17]

Racking my ancient/feeble brain ... I don't think I've ever tried to do this.  Never needed to.

I've always had a least a couple of 'empty' images sitting there, called (highly original) blank1, blank2, etc.   When about used up, before going into Joyce, I'd use normal system file copy process to copy to the new name required.  Then go into Joyce.

Within Joyce, you'd need to mount the disk with DiscKit on, and get the prog to M:.  Then unmount that disk, mount the image you want to reformat, and run DiscKit.   Maybe quicker to exit Joyce, copy file, re-enter Joyce?  I'd suggest always worth keeping blank image file(s) ready?

Geoff

[JohnElliott]

I normally make copies of an existing blank disk image, or create one on the command line using dskform (eg: dskform -format pcw720 x.dsk).

[stevecwilliams]

Thanks for the tips   very helpful..

I was trying to use DiscKit to format existing disk images to create blanks but now I'll have a play around with your suggestions tomorrow.

So it's correct that DiscKit fails in this way in Joyce? It's not something I'm doing (or not doing)? and needs to be run from M: drive?

Steve

[GeoffB17]

I don't know if it's correct!

I've got Joyce 2.2.6.  You're using the latest version 2.5.3.  I could try the process with my version, but that will not help (much) regarding your version.   Could well be that there IS a problem with all versions, for some time, and no-one has noticed.

Copying files in the ...\disks\*.dsk dir level prob an easier option.

Geoff