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Preserving PCW disks via a PC

Started by P5ychoFox, 14:38, 28 July 19

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P5ychoFox

I was hoping to preserve some PCW 8256 disks using a Windows XP PC with built in 3.5" drive using CPCDISKXP but have run into a problem.

I have an 8512 with a 3.5" drive and have successfully copied PCW games to 3.5" disk using the 2in1 program.

I was hoping to drop these disks in my PC floppy drive and use CPCDISKXP to convert the contents of the 3.5" disk to .dsk so I could use the image on CP/M Box PCW emulator or on a Gotek.

I have set the CPCDISKXP options to 80 tracks, both sides of disk & given the file the same name used by the PCW to load the file (E.g. F for Fairlight) and while CPCDISKXP creates an image (and I rename it with a .dsk suffix) the resulting image just gives an error in CP/M box.

I might be doing something wrong - maybe the drive type is wrong (its a 1.44Mb drive) or perhaps this process can't be done.

ComSoft6128

#1
Hi P5ychoFox,

If you are unable to find a resolution to this problem, I may be able to help.

I can copy individual files from PCW 3.5" format to PC (720K) format using DES and DosCOPY, both are ROM based so the process is relatively quick.

DES
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Desktop_Environment_System

DosCopy
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php?title=DosCopy&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile

Video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxDeXdgaszM&t=5s

Cheers,

Peter

robcfg

It would be nice if you could upload the disk image so we can analyze it.


Most probably you are imaging a single sided disk as a double sided one or viceversa.

P5ychoFox

I have tried all different combinations when reading the 3.5" disk but every time the resulting .dsk image isn't read by CP/M Box.


I'm using a 1.44Mb disk that has been formatted to 720k and has had a PCW game copied to it using 2in1 on the PCW. The game runs fine in my PCWs external 3.5" drive.


I just can't seem to get CPCDISKXP to create a useable .dsk image from this working disk.


I wanted to use this set up and not have to rig up a 3" drive to a PC as I don't have a suitable PC with 5.25" connector.


robcfg

I think that your problem is that you are copying a single sided disk onto a double sided disk so, when you use CPCDiskXP to image it back, you get a double sided dsk file. When you try to run the program, it will fail because it will get the wrong sector data.


To confirm that it is indeed what is happening, please post one of the dsk files so we can analyse it.

P5ychoFox

Yes I suspect this is what's going on. I have got the .dsk image to be readable in CP/M box but only in the 720k B drive (it will list contents but not load).


So it looks like the best way is to connect a 3" drive. Using 80 track discs is just creating problems.


I'll have to seek out a suitable PC with 5.25" drive cable and build the required adapters.

P5ychoFox

Ok, so now I'm resigned to having to hook up an actual 3" drive to a PC, does anyone know a suitable PC to get that will work for this?

JohnElliott

What error does the disk image give in CP/M Box?
Which model of PCW are you emulating?

robcfg

The problem is that, if you copy the contents of a single sided disk onto a double sided disk, the program still thinks it's running on the single side one, so the sectors accessed don't match.


Is there any program that generates a dsk image directly on the pcw, that could be saved onto a 720kb disk?

JohnElliott

Quote from: robcfg on 21:33, 29 July 19
Is there any program that generates a dsk image directly on the pcw, that could be saved onto a 720kb disk?
DU54 can do this.

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