What's the deal with original archival quality disk images?

zero · 13 August 2022, 15:16

I seem to be a bit out of the loop on this one so forgive me for asking...

I have a Greaseweazle and have been making archival images of original Amiga disks. I'm just waiting for my new scanner to arrive, and then I'll upload them to archive.org along with photos of the disks and scans of the box/manual if I have them.

Looking around, I don't see many people doing this. There aren't any big, well organized collections like TOSEC but for Greaseweazle/SPS quality copies of original commercial releases. Is there some reason for this? I'm surprised that there isn't a nearly complete set of Amiga games in that format up on archive.org. SPS themselves don't seem to release what they archive.

alexh · 13 August 2022, 15:30

There are a huge number of non SPS IPF images. Probably similar in number to the number of SPS releases.

I don't know why SPS stopped verifying and issuing releases. Possibly the remaining disks were not manufactured using trace machines and so difficult if not impossible to verify as 100% preserved. This is just pure speculation.

I would implore you to keep making your images. Submit them to SPS for verification (even if releases are not forthcoming). Ask the community for feedback on the quality of the images (sometimes faulty disk images can be diagnosed and correct images made following cleaning)

Have a look on Grandis what was the EAB file server and you'll find hundreds of unofficial IPF images

TOSEC - Amiga contains an SPS IPF section with every SPS release and a non SPS IPF section. (As well as raw and scp images)

zero · 13 August 2022, 15:35

Thanks alexh. I will submit to SPS when I'm ready. I have access to the EAB file server, which directory should I check?

TCD · 13 August 2022, 15:58

If it's not too much to ask for HOL would also be interested in the scans of the disks and boxes.

zero · 13 August 2022, 16:11

I will upload data anywhere that will take it. I'll add HOL to the list.

I ordered a book scanner that is non-destructive, great for archiving stuff. My plan is to borrow all the old computer books from the local library and work by way through them too. They have some going back to the late 70s in their archive, some I borrowed as a kid.

If anyone else wants stuff archived I'm happy to do it for them.

TCD · 13 August 2022, 16:22

Thank you

zero · 04 September 2022, 14:57

Here are the first batch of games I have archived. I keep looking out for more coming up locally.

Nick Faldo's Golf: https://archive.org/details/13_20220826_20220826
Links - The Challenge of Golf: https://archive.org/details/links-manual
Zool: https://archive.org/details/zool-manual
Photon Paint 2.0: https://archive.org/details/photon-p...-manual_202208

Epic Direct Catalogue: https://archive.org/details/epic-direct-catalogue
The Definitive Team 17 booklet: https://archive.org/details/the-defi...et-arcade-pool

Space Hunter for C64: https://archive.org/details/c-64-128...ic-1985-side-b

I have a few more to do.

TCD · 04 September 2022, 15:15

Nice one

Looking forward to the next batch.

zero · 07 September 2022, 11:51

Arcade Pool: https://archive.org/details/arcade-pool

13 August 2022, 15:16	#1
zero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: UK Posts: 428	What's the deal with original archival quality disk images? I seem to be a bit out of the loop on this one so forgive me for asking... I have a Greaseweazle and have been making archival images of original Amiga disks. I'm just waiting for my new scanner to arrive, and then I'll upload them to archive.org along with photos of the disks and scans of the box/manual if I have them. Looking around, I don't see many people doing this. There aren't any big, well organized collections like TOSEC but for Greaseweazle/SPS quality copies of original commercial releases. Is there some reason for this? I'm surprised that there isn't a nearly complete set of Amiga games in that format up on archive.org. SPS themselves don't seem to release what they archive.

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13 August 2022, 15:30	#2
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,354	There are a huge number of non SPS IPF images. Probably similar in number to the number of SPS releases. I don't know why SPS stopped verifying and issuing releases. Possibly the remaining disks were not manufactured using trace machines and so difficult if not impossible to verify as 100% preserved. This is just pure speculation. I would implore you to keep making your images. Submit them to SPS for verification (even if releases are not forthcoming). Ask the community for feedback on the quality of the images (sometimes faulty disk images can be diagnosed and correct images made following cleaning) Have a look on Grandis what was the EAB file server and you'll find hundreds of unofficial IPF images TOSEC - Amiga contains an SPS IPF section with every SPS release and a non SPS IPF section. (As well as raw and scp images)

13 August 2022, 15:35	#3
zero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: UK Posts: 428	Thanks alexh. I will submit to SPS when I'm ready. I have access to the EAB file server, which directory should I check?

13 August 2022, 15:58	#4
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,608	If it's not too much to ask for HOL would also be interested in the scans of the disks and boxes.

13 August 2022, 16:11	#5
zero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: UK Posts: 428	I will upload data anywhere that will take it. I'll add HOL to the list. I ordered a book scanner that is non-destructive, great for archiving stuff. My plan is to borrow all the old computer books from the local library and work by way through them too. They have some going back to the late 70s in their archive, some I borrowed as a kid. If anyone else wants stuff archived I'm happy to do it for them.

13 August 2022, 16:22	#6
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,608	Thank you

04 September 2022, 14:57	#7
zero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: UK Posts: 428	Here are the first batch of games I have archived. I keep looking out for more coming up locally. Nick Faldo's Golf: https://archive.org/details/13_20220826_20220826 Links - The Challenge of Golf: https://archive.org/details/links-manual Zool: https://archive.org/details/zool-manual Photon Paint 2.0: https://archive.org/details/photon-p...-manual_202208 Epic Direct Catalogue: https://archive.org/details/epic-direct-catalogue The Definitive Team 17 booklet: https://archive.org/details/the-defi...et-arcade-pool Space Hunter for C64: https://archive.org/details/c-64-128...ic-1985-side-b I have a few more to do.

04 September 2022, 15:15	#8
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,608	Nice one Looking forward to the next batch.

07 September 2022, 11:51	#9
zero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: UK Posts: 428	Arcade Pool: https://archive.org/details/arcade-pool

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