X-MASS, a mass-storage expansion for all CPC.

[Ast]

Here we gooooo !

Edit :
@Prodatron : we need to know about the DirFileSize!!!

[merlinkv]

Hi,

Thanks to all.
Yes, the real filesize is 2488 bytes (anyway, all times SymbOS said is 3072 bytes). As @robcfg said, the problem was on the AMSDOS header . I've corrected it and now is working like a charm.

But, I have some questions about the SymbOS & HDD ....

- I have the four ROMs installed
- Added drive C: (Master, not partitioned)
- I've put all SymbOS files to the root of C: drive.
- In Control Panel, I set the Boot drive & System Path to C:/
- I've saved settings & copied SYMBIOS.INI to C:/
- Power OFF and started by |SYM

Works, but all times is looking for something on drive A: ....

And last questions? .... By default I'm using the RAM drive C: ... SymbOS uses it? Maybe this can interfere with my setup? I can set the Boot & System path to D:/ ?

@Ast thanks for the .dsk

Thanks again to all 

[robcfg]

Glad I could help! 

[Ast]

I'm just coding my own Fat16 format based on HAL6128&Prodatron's one.
What is the byte used to delete all sectors, #e5 as on AmsDos, #ff, 00 or anything else ?

My Tool will allow you (yes TotO!) to format your DoM directly from Basic... Coming soon...

[Prodatron]

Sometimes 70 bytes, sometimes 120, ... sometimes same size... Who knows why ? I've no idea about it....

Maybe it comes from the type (00,01,02... Basic, Bin, AscII, Protected or not...)

The reason for the differences is, that the Amsdos filesystem (which is based on CP/M) is not able to store the exact size of a file in bytes. It only knows the amount of 128byte records. That's the reason why a file on a FAT partition usually has a slightly difference size. Amsdos is solving this problem for binary files by adding a header to the file itself.

[Prodatron]

Glad that it works, @merlinkv !

Works, but all times is looking for something on drive A: ....

This is normal, SymbOS is just doing a little check on all drives after the booting process. Or does it try to load a file and then displays a "not found" message? (this could be the case, if the screen saver is still configured on drive A)

And last questions? .... By default I'm using the RAM drive C: ... SymbOS uses it? Maybe this can interfere with my setup? I can set the Boot & System path to D:/ ?

There is no ram disc in SymbOS, the whole RAM memory (up to 1MB) is used for executing applications.

[Ast]

Do you tell me which byte can i use when formatting to tell this sector is empty ? (0, #e5, #ff or whatever I want...?)

Edit:
The maximum secteur I found is #03DC4F (253775) for a total of 129932800 bytes. Am i all right with that ?

[merlinkv]

Hi @Prodatron , thanks to you mate.

I will try again at home.

So, if I understand well the RAM drive (C:/) created by X-MEM is disabled when starting SymbOS and I can run all from C:/ ...

I can play games from a directory in C:/ ?  (C:/GAMES/Game files from any disc) ... I think I can play dsk files and snapshots ... but I'm not sure if I can play starting directly from one directory

[Ast]

iMPformat is coming... Stay tuned...

[merlinkv]

Waiting for iMPformat ..... 

Anyway I think the best solution for X-MASS will be the future ACMEDOS.rom ... to access directly from DOS to the HDD ....... 

[Ast]

Here we go...

Here is "iMPformat v1.0". This tool allows you to format your X-Mass in Microsoft's FAT 16.

Lets's see the 3 options...


f1. Format your X-Mass [all sectors]

This allows you a full x-mass format, but it's very very long... Imagine 253775 sectors to erase... Forget this option if you haven't time!
@Prodatron : I understand why you don't do it !!!


f2. Format your X-Mass [Only Boot]

This allows you to install Microsoft's Fat16 in your x-mass (Quick format as says Prodatron!)



f3. Quit iMPformat

Just quit iMPformat ! Call 0 !




Thanks to Prodatron&HAL6128 ! iMPformat is x-mass.exe inspiration.

EDIT : Please only download the "correction bug"... Sorry & Thanks!

[TFM]

Excellent! First working X-MASS formatter! Very well done! 

[merlinkv]

Great!

Thanks 

And a noob question .... roms that can work with this tool?

[Ast]

Wait... it's only the first step!

Other things will come... I'll try to do my best to propose you the best solution...

[merlinkv]

Sorry, I know is a hard job and I appreciate it too much  ... it's just a question.... 

[Grim]

Here is "iMPformat v1.0".

Your "iMP" naming-thing always puts a large smile on my face.

[Ast]

Your "iMP" naming-thing always puts a large smile on my face.

iMP "act"... But i suppose you guessed it :-)

Edit : Only download correction bug version !!!

[Kris]

Great job ! and fast release ...thank you for this 1st tool

[Audronic]

@Ast


Thanks for the Program " impfor ".
I just tested it on my faulty x-mass unfortunately it did not help.


Thanks again keep up the good work.


Ray

[Prodatron]

First working X-MASS formatter

As usual he seemed to miss something 

[Prodatron]

Wait... it's only the first step!

Other things will come... I'll try to do my best to propose you the best solution...

Looking forward to see more IDE support in Amsdos from your side! Its really cool that finally something is happening here!

[Ast]

That's coming...

[Ast]

@Ast


Thanks for the Program " impfor ".
I just tested it on my faulty x-mass unfortunately it did not help.


Thanks again keep up the good work.


Ray

I'm so sorry for you.... Hope you could re-use your x-mass and repair it.

[TFM]

Looking forward to see more IDE support in Amsdos from your side! Its really cool that finally something is happening here!

Somebody really missed ACME-DOS? 

[merlinkv]

I'm waiting for it .....