Bonus! Was sorting out all my game boxes...

[Paul]

Originally posted by Chris
So it's difficult to load any software AND have enough space left to store a game in the RAM at the same time.

You could split the image into parts as this site shows

Source: http://www.blizzard.u-net.com/uae_faq.html
If you are low on memory (512K), then you will need to copy the disk in chunks of a few tracks (0-79) of the disk. e.g.
Transdisk -s 0 -e 30 >mydisk1.adf
Transdisk -s 31 -e 60 >mydisk2.adf
Transdisk -s 61 -e 79 >mydisk3.adf
then you can transfer them to the PC and then join the files together:
Copy /B mydisk1.adf+mydisk2.adf+mydisk3.adf mydisk.adf to create the full 900K file.

Or use DMS.

[Echo]

Sounds like a nightmare - can you not pick up a cheap A1200 with a 200mb hard drive or something?

If there's one thing that was crippled on Amiga, it was Workbench running from floppy disks.

[Chris]

@Echo

I've just picked up a cheap A500, I've got no room left in my flat for any more! My girlfriend would kill me!

@Paul

That sounds like transfering amiga games to adf. Does the process work okay in reverse?

[Paul]

Originally posted by Chris
@Paul

That sounds like transfering amiga games to adf. Does the process work okay in reverse?

Should do.

I think you do something like this.

transdisk -w -s 0 -e 30 mydisk1a.adf df0:
transdisk -w -s 31 -e 60 mydisk1b.adf df0:
transdisk -w -s 61 -e 79 mydisk1c.adf df0:

Ouch this is painfull. You need more RAM and a hard disk as this is getting silly :eek

...I forgot how to do this right

[Chris]

Yeah, it does seem a bit painful, doesn't it.

How do you guys on here feel about "swapping" backups of games? Or is it not done?

For example, if I sent some blank disks to someone, etc etc?

Or is that frowned upon?

[BippyM]

Okay what you need to do (The easiest option I believe) is setup a working WinUAE HD.

PART1

Right find DMS (v 1.11 or 1.53 are better for A500)

Next find a program from Aminet called handyDMS it is an excellent GUI for DMS

--

Right run WinUAE and let it boot to your WB

Next put the game adf in the virtual DF0:

Using HandyDms do the following:

goto the menu and select EDIT PREFS

from the next window press the GET DMS EXE button and select the DMS executable, close window

now from the main window, in the box next to the GET DMS button put ram:gamename_part1.dms

now where it says Track enter 0 into the left box and 30 in the right box

Where it says Compression makesure Heavy 2 is selected (takes longer, but better pack ratio)

now press the READ button the file named above in ram. this will read the first 30 tracks from the disk.

---

Repeat the above steps but change the name to ram:gamename_part2.dms and change Tracks to 31 and 60 respectivley.. again press READ and another file will be created in ram:

--

Repeat again but for tracks 61-79 and part 3

--

Now copy everything from ram to your windows folders, and then using windows copy what you can to 720k floppies

END OF PART 1

[BippyM]

Part 2:

Right the A500 with no HD and only 512k is a very limited machine for doing this, and I have not tested it so... if it doesn't work replay and I'll endeavor to fix it

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Okay once all the files are on your floppy, boot the a500 up and run PC0: (or CrossDos).

Put the disk in which has HandyDMS and DMS into the drive and copy the contents to ram:

from CLI use the following: Copy df0: #? to ram: note: I cannot remember if you need the to in the statement if not use : copy df0:#? ram:

rignt next put the disk in the drive which has part1 on it and from a cli type: Copy df0:gamename_part.dms to ram:

right now part 1 and dms/handydms are in ram, go there and run HandyDMS.. Again you need to select the DMS executable from the HandyDMS prefs.

Put a blank disk into df0:

Press the button Get DMS and navigate o the dms file in ram (gamename_partx.dms) and then in Tracks enter 0 and 30 respectivley. Next press Write this will write the first 31 tracks to df0:

right next goto a cli and type delete ram:game#? to delete the dms.

Put the PC disk with part 2 into your floppy and copy the gamename_part2.dms to ram:

now repeat the above steps in HandyDMS but remember to put the blank floppy in the drive and change the track setting to 31/60 respective!

Repeat the above for part 3 and voilla a working game Disk.


---

This is long winded and if you have an external floppy you don't need to use Ram:

If anyone wants me to write a proper tutorial on doing this gimme a shout and I will.

p.s HandyDMS and DMS are in the Zone (well gimme 10 mins and they will be!)

[Chris]

Thanks bippym, I'll try this method.

I've got the 1MB upgrade, so maybe there'll be just enough memory for it to work?

[BippyM]

You are welcome!

If you have the 1Mb upgrade then do it in two parts.. Tracks 0-39 and tracks 40-79.

That will make life a bit simpler and easier :P

Let me know if it works, if it doesn't I'll play myself with my real a500!

[Chris]

Right, wilco.

Cheers.