A-Max disks? - Page 5

prowler · 24 February 2009, 01:57

Hi Supamax,

It looks like all this activity is finally going to pay off!

Not long to go now...

prowler

Supamax · 24 February 2009, 02:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

Hi Supamax,

It looks like all this activity is finally going to pay off!

Not long to go now...

prowler

Let's hope so

.

I installed Emplant v4.2, in order to decompress and install Converter on hard disk.
I then tried it on A1200 configuration in WinUAE, but I get an "OS Error! Can't open any screens!"

.

EDIT: WAIT! This is because my "hard disk" in WinUAE is a PC drawer. I copied the Converter to an empty floppy (.adf), then I reset the A1200 and now the Converter starts, asking for the "FONTS" disk. This is promising

prowler · 24 February 2009, 02:27

Supamax,

It's too late now to continue with this.

Tomorrow, if I have that utility, I'll find it.

prowler

[Edit] Now I see you've already found it.

Or maybe there are several versions.

Supamax · 24 February 2009, 02:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

Or maybe there are several versions.

Yes, I saw that on Emplant v4.2 there is (Disk) Converter, while on Emplant v5.0 there is (Disk) Converter II.
I'll try with the older version first, hoping it will run on my A600.
But you'll probably be able to use the newer version on your A1200. We'll see.

Perhaps tonight I'll be able to upload to the Zone a working (Disk) Converter on .adf, so tomorrow you can try it.

prowler · 24 February 2009, 02:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

Yes, I saw that on Emplant v4.2 there is (Disk) Converter, while on Emplant v5.0 there is (Disk) Converter II.
I'll try with the older version first, hoping it will run on my A600.
But you'll probably be able to use the newer version on your A1200. We'll see.

I'll compile a list of the Emplant archives I have and their contents.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

Perhaps tonight I'll be able to upload to the Zone a working (Disk) Converter on .adf, so tomorrow you can try it.

Thanks, mate!

I shall look forward to that.

Goodnight,

prowler

Supamax · 24 February 2009, 03:13

Sorry, prowler... I thought it was a question of minutes but it's not.
Or perhaps it's because I'm tired

.
We'll see tomorrow.

Perhaps a pre-4.2 version of Emplant could be handy.
Damn... this "4.2" is popping out too much! Disk Copy, Emplant...

'night

,
Supamax

Supamax · 24 February 2009, 03:50

UPDATE#1

I tried OS 2.1 and 3.0 on emulated A1200, but couldn't get (Disk) Converter to run.
It keeps popping out "OS Error! Can't open any screens!".

The good news is that I found where the issue is, but I don't know how to solve it. Perhaps Zetr0 can (I read some NTSC-related posts of him).
On the Emplant manual is written, in the Troubleshooting Session:

OS Error! - Can’t Open Any Screens! (Recoverable Alert)
Many of the programs associated with the emulation force NTSC 640x200 screens open, regardless of the display mode the machine is currently in. You will need the ‘NTSC monitor in your DEVS:MONITORS drawer or NONE of the EMPLANT software will function.

I don't know where to find the required NTSC monitor device... but hopefully someone will

(JUICY!) UPDATE#2

Great news!
Starting WinUAE in NTSC mode does the trick: the Disk Converter (v6.0) works!!!
It works on A1200 (NTSC).
It works on A600 (!) (NTSC).
Now if someone could provide this "NTSC monitor" device... I would be able to test it in PAL mode on my A600

I uploaded to the Zone a working (in NTSC mode) .adf of WB 2.1 + Disk Converter 6.0.

hit · 24 February 2009, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

Hey, that Emplant disk is a great upload, hit!

Whether we succeed in dumping A-Max-formatted floppies with it or not, that's one hell of a useful application.

Thanks again, mate!

prowler

i just found it, nothing special, but its good to help a bit

prowler · 24 February 2009, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

I uploaded to the Zone a working (in NTSC mode) .adf of WB 2.1 + Disk Converter 6.0.

Thanks, mate!

I've just downloaded it.

Don't know yet when I'll get a chance to test it, though.

prowler

cosmicfrog · 24 February 2009, 12:32

hey Supamax look in storage/MONITORS for ntsc and copy to devs monitors

prowler · 24 February 2009, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicfrog

hey Supamax look in storage/MONITORS for ntsc and copy to devs monitors

Nice one, cosmic!

cosmicfrog · 24 February 2009, 13:21

yes we poseted @ same time and lookin in zone thats what you said

won`t be trying any of this mac stuff till later now

Supamax · 24 February 2009, 17:14

Confirmed, it works!

(crying for joy)
I uploaded the PAL-fixed disk to the Zone.

I will upload my A-Max dumps, too.
I deleted my old uploads, since the new ones are perfect (perfectly reliable).

Now we can convert any Mac floppy images to A-Max/Emplant format with one click of the mouse!

EDIT
The Converter can be run from the uploaded floppy.
However, if you want to copy the Converter from the floppy to your hard disk, you have to:
- copy the Converter to your hard disk, in any drawer
- copy the following libraries in the Libs drawer of your HD: "jam.library", "sybil.library"
- copy the floppy Font's content in your HD's Font drawer
- copy the NTSC device in your HD's Devs/Monitors drawer

Enjoy!

cosmicfrog · 24 February 2009, 17:54

well an outbreak of the ebnola virus has stopped play here

its funny how you sort of get a 6th sense that somethings not quite right, that teach me go through a stack of old floppys without haveing a virus checker runnin

so looking foward to some mac/amiga floppy disk imgs then

Supamax · 24 February 2009, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicfrog

well an outbreak of the ebnola virus has stopped play here

its funny how you sort of get a 6th sense that somethings not quite right, that teach me go through a stack of old floppys without haveing a virus checker runnin

so looking foward to some mac/amiga floppy disk imgs then

Nooooo... do you mean you infected your bunch of A-Max floppies?

cosmicfrog · 24 February 2009, 19:00

i hope i havent infected the mac floppys, probably havent , wright protection tab doing its job hehehhe, don`t thinks virus can cross contaminate anyways

Supamax · 24 February 2009, 20:01

Hi my friends,
I'll be curious to read from your experience.
My experience (on real A600HD) with Disk Copier & Converter v6.0:

1) A-Max copy from DF0 to DF1 is very slow and requires a *very* good destination floppy, else it will give write errors and hang / go crazy. It works sometimes, but CrossMac is *much* better at this task

2) A-Max copy from DF0 to image file works, and it's good and quick

3) A-Max copy from image file to DF0 is very slow and requires a *very* good destination floppy, else it will give write errors and hang / go crazy.

NOTE: option 3) rarely succeeds

, at least on A600. I give you an important HINT: for option 3) I tried 3.5" HD disks and they rock!(*) So, you can use HD disks to create the "master" floppies and then copy them to SD disks (with CrossMac, if you have it installed).

I uploaded the dumps of my four A-Max floppies. Let me know if you can write them on real floppies.

EDIT:
(*) well, they rock more than SD disks, but honestly the Disk Converter is really crappy when writing on disks...

If you get errors while writing, retry with the same disk or another one.

Supamax · 25 February 2009, 00:03

NOTE: I recommend you to make 2 dumps of the same A-Max floppy (as I did, and as I do with every normal .adf I create), then compare the dumps with an editor like UltraEdit-32. If they are 100% identical you can be sure that your dump is correct.

prowler · 25 February 2009, 00:50

Hi Supamax,

Well, it looks like you've been busy while I've been away.

Well done, mate!

Congratulations!

Thanks to your effort and determination, we now have a convenient and reliable way of sharing A-Max-formatted disk images.

Meanwhile, I have been going through my Amiga archives and I've found several versions of the Emplant software and updates. I'll list them here for reference. Starting with the latest, I have v5.3 updater, v5.2, v5.1, v5.0, v5.0 updater, v4.9, v4.9 updater, v4.6, v4.2, v4.0, v4.0 updater, v3.19 updater, v3.18 updater, v3.17, v2.4, v2.3, v2.1, v1.4, v1.0 Lite.

The 1.0 Lite version appears to be the original version from which the software-only, i.e. cracked, version uploaded by hit was derived. If it is, with a bit of luck it might provide the key to cracking the later versions.

I did not have time to check the Macintosh disk utilities under emulation, because I figured it was less important.

Well, I've downloaded the new A-Max disk dumps to test with the new Disk Converter ADF image you uploaded. I'm looking forward to trying it all out.

BTW, I'm keeping your original extended ADF/Powercopy dumps of the A-Max disks to test with Boo Boo's A1200 AR save.

prowler

Supamax · 25 February 2009, 01:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

Hi Supamax,

Well, it looks like you've been busy while I've been away.

Well done, mate!

Congratulations!

Thanks to your effort and determination, we now have a convenient and reliable way of sharing A-Max-formatted disk images.

You can call me SupA-Max

However, it should be nice if Disk Converter was more reliable when writing to real floppy disks...
I tested Emplant v5.0. It includes Disk Converter II (AKA Disk Converter v7.0), but it won't run on A600 or on basic A1200 (it requires more RAM).
I'll prepare a floppy so you can try it on your real machine, but perhaps it will be possible to find an intermediate release on post-v4.2 and pre-v5.0 Emplant disks?

Quote:

I have v5.3 updater, v5.2, v5.1, v5.0, v5.0 updater, v4.9, v4.9 updater, v4.6, v4.2, v4.0, v4.0 updater, v3.19 updater, v3.18 updater, v3.17, v2.4, v2.3, v2.1, v1.4, v1.0 Lite.

WOW!

Quote:

I did not have time to check the Macintosh disk utilities under emulation, because I figured it was less important.

Please do it when you have time!

This could lead to a better way of writing back images on real floppies...

Quote:

BTW, I'm keeping your original extended ADF/Powercopy dumps of the A-Max disks to test with Boo Boo's A1200 AR save.

Well, they are not perfect though. There are some errors on the "empty" tracks of the disks. Take my recent dumps as "official", but feel free to practise Powercopy on the old dumps

24 February 2009, 02:27	#83
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	Supamax, It's too late now to continue with this. Tomorrow, if I have that utility, I'll find it. prowler [Edit] Now I see you've already found it. Or maybe there are several versions. Last edited by prowler; 24 February 2009 at 02:33.

24 February 2009, 03:50	#87
Supamax Da Digger :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Monza, Italy Posts: 2,822	UPDATE#1 I tried OS 2.1 and 3.0 on emulated A1200, but couldn't get (Disk) Converter to run. It keeps popping out "OS Error! Can't open any screens!". The good news is that I found where the issue is, but I don't know how to solve it. Perhaps Zetr0 can (I read some NTSC-related posts of him). On the Emplant manual is written, in the Troubleshooting Session: OS Error! - Can’t Open Any Screens! (Recoverable Alert) Many of the programs associated with the emulation force NTSC 640x200 screens open, regardless of the display mode the machine is currently in. You will need the ‘NTSC monitor in your DEVS:MONITORS drawer or NONE of the EMPLANT software will function. I don't know where to find the required NTSC monitor device... but hopefully someone will (JUICY!) UPDATE#2 Great news! Starting WinUAE in NTSC mode does the trick: the Disk Converter (v6.0) works!!! It works on A1200 (NTSC). It works on A600 (!) (NTSC). Now if someone could provide this "NTSC monitor" device... I would be able to test it in PAL mode on my A600 I uploaded to the Zone a working (in NTSC mode) .adf of WB 2.1 + Disk Converter 6.0. Last edited by Supamax; 24 February 2009 at 04:21.

24 February 2009, 17:14	#93
Supamax Da Digger :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Monza, Italy Posts: 2,822	Confirmed, it works! (crying for joy) I uploaded the PAL-fixed disk to the Zone. I will upload my A-Max dumps, too. I deleted my old uploads, since the new ones are perfect (perfectly reliable). Now we can convert any Mac floppy images to A-Max/Emplant format with one click of the mouse! EDIT The Converter can be run from the uploaded floppy. However, if you want to copy the Converter from the floppy to your hard disk, you have to: - copy the Converter to your hard disk, in any drawer - copy the following libraries in the Libs drawer of your HD: "jam.library", "sybil.library" - copy the floppy Font's content in your HD's Font drawer - copy the NTSC device in your HD's Devs/Monitors drawer Enjoy! Last edited by Supamax; 24 February 2009 at 18:31. Reason: typos

24 February 2009, 20:01	#97
Supamax Da Digger :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Monza, Italy Posts: 2,822	Hi my friends, I'll be curious to read from your experience. My experience (on real A600HD) with Disk Copier & Converter v6.0: 1) A-Max copy from DF0 to DF1 is very slow and requires a very good destination floppy, else it will give write errors and hang / go crazy. It works sometimes, but CrossMac is much better at this task 2) A-Max copy from DF0 to image file works, and it's good and quick 3) A-Max copy from image file to DF0 is very slow and requires a very good destination floppy, else it will give write errors and hang / go crazy. NOTE: option 3) rarely succeeds , at least on A600. I give you an *important HINT: for option 3) I tried 3.5" HD disks and they rock!() So, you can use HD disks to create the "master" floppies and then copy them to SD disks (with CrossMac, if you have it installed). I uploaded the dumps of my four A-Max floppies. Let me know if you can write them on real floppies. EDIT: ()* well, they rock more than SD disks, but honestly the Disk Converter is really crappy when writing on disks... If you get errors while writing, retry with the same disk or another one. Last edited by Supamax; 25 February 2009 at 18:47.

25 February 2009, 00:03	#98
Supamax Da Digger :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Monza, Italy Posts: 2,822	NOTE: I recommend you to make 2 dumps of the same A-Max floppy (as I did, and as I do with every normal .adf I create), then compare the dumps with an editor like UltraEdit-32. If they are 100% identical you can be sure that your dump is correct. Last edited by Supamax; 25 February 2009 at 00:18.

24 February 2009, 01:57	#81
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	Hi Supamax, It looks like all this activity is finally going to pay off! Not long to go now... prowler

24 February 2009, 03:13	#86
Supamax Da Digger :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Monza, Italy Posts: 2,822	Sorry, prowler... I thought it was a question of minutes but it's not. Or perhaps it's because I'm tired . We'll see tomorrow. Perhaps a pre-4.2 version of Emplant could be handy. Damn... this "4.2" is popping out too much! Disk Copy, Emplant... 'night , Supamax

24 February 2009, 12:32	#90
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	hey Supamax look in storage/MONITORS for ntsc and copy to devs monitors

24 February 2009, 13:21	#92
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	yes we poseted @ same time and lookin in zone thats what you said won`t be trying any of this mac stuff till later now

24 February 2009, 17:54	#94
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	well an outbreak of the ebnola virus has stopped play here its funny how you sort of get a 6th sense that somethings not quite right, that teach me go through a stack of old floppys without haveing a virus checker runnin so looking foward to some mac/amiga floppy disk imgs then

24 February 2009, 19:00	#96
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	i hope i havent infected the mac floppys, probably havent , wright protection tab doing its job hehehhe, don`t thinks virus can cross contaminate anyways

25 February 2009, 00:50	#99
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	Hi Supamax, Well, it looks like you've been busy while I've been away. Well done, mate! Congratulations! Thanks to your effort and determination, we now have a convenient and reliable way of sharing A-Max-formatted disk images. Meanwhile, I have been going through my Amiga archives and I've found several versions of the Emplant software and updates. I'll list them here for reference. Starting with the latest, I have v5.3 updater, v5.2, v5.1, v5.0, v5.0 updater, v4.9, v4.9 updater, v4.6, v4.2, v4.0, v4.0 updater, v3.19 updater, v3.18 updater, v3.17, v2.4, v2.3, v2.1, v1.4, v1.0 Lite. The 1.0 Lite version appears to be the original version from which the software-only, i.e. cracked, version uploaded by hit was derived. If it is, with a bit of luck it might provide the key to cracking the later versions. I did not have time to check the Macintosh disk utilities under emulation, because I figured it was less important. Well, I've downloaded the new A-Max disk dumps to test with the new Disk Converter ADF image you uploaded. I'm looking forward to trying it all out. BTW, I'm keeping your original extended ADF/Powercopy dumps of the A-Max disks to test with Boo Boo's A1200 AR save. prowler

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