Problem with diskspare disk image

mark_k · 22 May 2015, 23:47

I've been trying to get WinUAE to work with diskspare-type disk image files. Using diskspare.device with an extended ADF (2104892 bytes long, UAE-1ADF signature) seems to work fine. Or at least, the Format command seems to work OK.

However something seems to go wrong when using a plain disk image file. I created a file 1007616 bytes long (= 82*2*12*512), which WinUAE should detect as an 82-track DiskSpare format image from its size.

Inserting that in drive 0 then doing Format DRIVE DS0: NAME blah NOICONS FFS seems to work initially: the Formatting/Verifying text appears up to track 81. But at the end when it says Initializing disk... there is a delay before an error message Format Failure: not a valid DOS disk. And looking at the disk image file in a hex editor, its contents are unchanged (all zero bytes).

Arnie · 23 May 2015, 00:04

Diskspare images made on a real Amiga can't be formatted in WinUAE. You have to create a custom blank (2mb) to format them.

Toni Wilen · 23 May 2015, 09:28

Diskspare support is read-only.

dlfrsilver · 23 May 2015, 09:29

indeed ! you need to create a custom disk under winuae, making yourself your own extended adf container file is a bad idea

EDIT : @Toni : why is it read-only Toni ? Is there any problem with diskspare ?

Toni Wilen · 23 May 2015, 09:44

I think you misunderstood.

"Direct" support as in mounting adf of exact size of diskspare disk after decoding it is read-only. Nothing to do with extended adf. (which of course works read/write).

Some diskspare disks were archived this way -> can easily mount in emulation.

dlfrsilver · 23 May 2015, 17:07

Thanks for this explanation

22 May 2015, 23:47	#1
mark_k Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Posts: 3,333	Problem with diskspare disk image I've been trying to get WinUAE to work with diskspare-type disk image files. Using diskspare.device with an extended ADF (2104892 bytes long, UAE-1ADF signature) seems to work fine. Or at least, the Format command seems to work OK. However something seems to go wrong when using a plain disk image file. I created a file 1007616 bytes long (= 82212*512), which WinUAE should detect as an 82-track DiskSpare format image from its size. Inserting that in drive 0 then doing Format DRIVE DS0: NAME blah NOICONS FFS seems to work initially: the Formatting/Verifying text appears up to track 81. But at the end when it says Initializing disk... there is a delay before an error message Format Failure: not a valid DOS disk. And looking at the disk image file in a hex editor, its contents are unchanged (all zero bytes).

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23 May 2015, 00:04	#2
Arnie R.I.P Smudge 18-08-16 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leicester/UK Age: 66 Posts: 3,968	Diskspare images made on a real Amiga can't be formatted in WinUAE. You have to create a custom blank (2mb) to format them.

23 May 2015, 09:28	#3
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,502	Diskspare support is read-only.

23 May 2015, 09:29	#4
dlfrsilver CaptainM68K-SPS France Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Melun nearby Paris/France Age: 46 Posts: 10,412	indeed ! you need to create a custom disk under winuae, making yourself your own extended adf container file is a bad idea EDIT : @Toni : why is it read-only Toni ? Is there any problem with diskspare ?

23 May 2015, 09:44	#5
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,502	I think you misunderstood. "Direct" support as in mounting adf of exact size of diskspare disk after decoding it is read-only. Nothing to do with extended adf. (which of course works read/write). Some diskspare disks were archived this way -> can easily mount in emulation.

23 May 2015, 17:07	#6
dlfrsilver CaptainM68K-SPS France Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Melun nearby Paris/France Age: 46 Posts: 10,412	Thanks for this explanation

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