08 August 2022, 11:57 | #1 |
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Issues with F29 retaliator?
Hey there,
I'm trying to build a replacement set of working disk for my original boxed F29 Retaliator. Unfortunately, it seems disk 2 of the SPS set isn't working with the WHDload installer, as it immediately gives a read error message. I had to use the original disk (the only one that apparently still works) to successfully complete the installation, but I can see it often hangs while reading so I'm not sure my game is fully working as it is when running from HD. Plus, checking the SPS-originated disk 2 with Xcopy gives an endless list of red numbers, whereas the original does not (but I've purchased it second hand so I can't say for sure whether it has been tampered with or not; first disk isn't working at all so I could only start the installation with the SPS-recreated one); tried a few known good, branded floppies by the way, no differences. So I'd like to know if anybody else has managed to install F29 using recreated floppies from the SPS distribution. |
08 August 2022, 12:02 | #2 |
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What did you use to write back the IPF to a real disk? Greaseweasel? Kryoflux?
You used SPS release "F-29 Retaliator (1990)(Ocean)[0022].zip"? Does WHDload install work using WinUAE with the same IPFs and the same version WHDload? It's a very old installer, maybe it doesn't work with the latest WHDload? Perhaps the floppy disk you wrote back the image was bad? Last edited by alexh; 08 August 2022 at 12:08. |
08 August 2022, 12:31 | #3 |
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Whooops sorry (and thanks for the quick reply!), forgot to add some other info that you're rightfully mentioning here.
Sooo... I'm using a self-made Greaseweazle F1 to write the images, never had any issues before (purchased a games lot where roughly 50% of the floppies had - I think - mould issues so I had to recreate quite a few disks unfortunately) The SPS release is the one you mentioned The installer seems to work though when mixing SPS disk1 + my original disk2, so I believe it would be reasonable to assume WHDload version - specifically, The Patcher - is fine for creating the installation. Haven't tried with WinUAE yet (never used IPFs under emulation, I'd need to investigate a bit) but I did try a few different physical disks to write the image. |
08 August 2022, 13:15 | #4 | |
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Quote:
Perhaps wherever you got your SPS ipf images from they were bad? Perhaps Greaseweasel cannot write back these disks image? I'll ask over on the GreaseWeazle FB page. There are threads saying F-29 had a slightly different flavour of copylock but I don't know if that is relevant. Last edited by alexh; 08 August 2022 at 14:26. |
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08 August 2022, 15:45 | #5 | |
CaptainM68K-SPS France
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Quote:
It's as simple as that. Writing an IPF over a dirty or faulty disk is useless. About the whdload installer, keep in mind there are 2 differents versions of F29 retaliator. The SPS 0022 and another one that only exist as unofficial IPF (got it from BarryB). |
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08 August 2022, 19:57 | #6 | ||
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Quote:
The creator of Greaseweazel said Quote:
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08 August 2022, 20:32 | #7 |
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08 August 2022, 20:56 | #8 | |
CaptainM68K-SPS France
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Quote:
There's nothing more than your usual Copylock serial track. |
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08 August 2022, 21:08 | #9 |
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Hey there, thanks for the replies again.
I got the archive right from the EAB server. Even redownloaded it to keep on the safe side but ended up getting the same results. Tried many branded floppies, they all format flawlessly (with verify activated) under Xcopy so I'm 99% sure it's a different issue. Unless dlfrsilver means my greaseweazle *drive* has issues, but then no other floppy created with it should work I suppose. EDIT oh just noticed the quote from Keir, I'll see what I can do |
08 August 2022, 22:08 | #10 | |
Going nowhere
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Quote:
99.99% of Copylocks will show up in X-copy as a red track, Retaliator shows as green, quite clearly the track is different enough for X-copy to not detect it. A wasted effort as the protection was so poorly implemented into the game however. |
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08 August 2022, 22:59 | #11 | ||
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Quote:
I just want to create a working 1:1 physical copy of an original game I own, being able to install it via WHDload is just a nice plus, but it's not a strict requirement per se. Quote:
I had just puy my Greaseweazle inside an old external drive chassis but it's just a few screws, I think I'll try another drive mechanic and see what happens. Last edited by Turrican_3; 08 August 2022 at 23:13. |
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08 August 2022, 23:14 | #12 | |
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Quote:
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08 August 2022, 23:44 | #13 |
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09 August 2022, 00:15 | #14 | |
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Yes, and it's not working (hangs at title screen with the fighter)
But that could be a compatibility issue of this specific game, as I'm currently using an A1200 and I've just purchased it a few weeks ago. Definitely need to investigate more. Quote:
I don't think it should be assumed that anyone has a WHDload-capable Amiga setup, so I believe what I'm trying to do actually makes sense. |
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09 August 2022, 00:19 | #15 |
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Keir Fraser, the developer and creator of Greaseweazel and Flash Floppy is going to have a look when he comes back from holiday next week
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09 August 2022, 00:36 | #16 |
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Awesome, thanks!
Meanwhile, I'm going to doublecheck everything I can. |
09 August 2022, 08:11 | #17 |
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Not sure yet, but I think I'm onto something.
Since 1. double-checking also means you shouldn't take anything for granted and 2. the installation of F29 was a bit of a time waster due to issues on disk two (i.e. I had to install disk 1 anyways even if I knew it seemed ok) I chose to go a different route and started with the greaseweazle itself. To do that I wrote a known working IPF image of a game that I was sure it could run on the A1200 and... you guessed it, it didn't work! To cut a long story short, I then checked the whole greaseweazle chain starting with the software side, and found out there was a newer release of the tools (1.2, I had 1.1) that I immediately installed. Wrote the known working IPF again and... you guessed it again, it worked. Then went to F29 disk 2 and (despite a few slowdowns while imaging, but that happened with the original floppy as well!) the WHDload installer went fine! Plus, the disk shows as green on Xcopy too as expected. So I believe the issue has been solved. The only unanswered question remains: is the non updated gw tools really a possible explanation for the behaviour I was experiencing? Please note that I wasn't getting any error while writing images to real floppies (quite the opposite, it always ended with "verification complete" or something like that) |
09 August 2022, 09:35 | #18 |
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I don't suppose you know what version you had previously?
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09 August 2022, 10:08 | #19 |
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I had 1.1 installed, you must have missed it because I had mentioned this tidbit. :-)
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09 August 2022, 11:32 | #20 | ||
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Quote:
FYI : Quote:
Last edited by alexh; 09 August 2022 at 12:11. |
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