CosmosEx Guide for dummies

[DrCoolZic]

I am currently testing the CosmosEx device using two configurations: one configuration where the device is installed internally in place of the internal floppy drive and another configuration where it is used outside an Atari.

The device’s features are changing quickly in response to bug fix and improvement thanks to Jookie for the fabulous work he is doing. Therefore a lot of information has been published on CosmosEx and it is becoming difficult (at least for me) to remember all the important one. Therefore I have decided to create a document where I can put the information collected as well as the results of the tests I have done.

I think that this information can potentially be useful to others (let me know what you think) and therefore I have decide to publish this document.

Latest revision of the document http://info-coach.fr/atari/documents/_m ... _Guide.pdf
can be found in page http://info-coach.fr/atari/hardware/dev ... smosEx.php

[Gryzor]

Yes. That. Thank you!

While the CosmosEx is an amazing device what it really lacks is a proper manual, especially considering its capabilities. For any n00b it's quite hard to get the most out of it...

[itaboy]

Well, really useful and a great job! Thanks a lot!!!

[Jookie]

While the CosmosEx is an amazing device what it really lacks is a proper manual, especially considering its capabilities.

Yes, I agree - I'm very bad when it comes to documentation, and the issue with this device is also that there's so much things to fix for different configurations, situations, and so on, that I don't have the time now to create the documentation...

So thanks and big thumbs up to DrCoolZic - you're the man!

[DrCoolZic]

Thanks Jookie just let me know if you find anything wrong

[DrCoolZic]

New version available. Most information should now be correct
Added full hard disk driver setup description
lots of new topics

[Gryzor]

First

Thanks man... Thanks so much for your trouble.

[ely]

Great guide DrCoolZic, very handy indeed.

I used know my Atari ST stuff but a) That was 20 years ago and b) I never had a HD for it back then thus no knowledge of drivers etc. So with the CosmosEx and trying to figure out the best way to use it for my needs this will really help me.

[Gryzor]

I'm on the exact same boat; if you're not already familiar then it's quite hard...

[DrCoolZic]

New version of the documentation.

Now includes a complete description of how to mount CosmosEx inside an Atari

P1070480-800.jpg

P1070479-800.jpg

Adding a Drive selection switcher
How to find if your DMA is faulty or not

etc.

CosmosEx_Users_Guide v04.rar

[Jookie]

DrCoolZic,

do you have a place on your web, where the newest version will always appear, so I can make a link to that page, or directly to that changing file?

[DrCoolZic]

OK I will do that and let you know

[DrCoolZic]

OK Done

Latest version of the document can be found at http://info-coach.fr/atari/documents/_m ... _Guide.pdf
from the following page http://info-coach.fr/atari/hardware/dev ... smosEx.php (nothing interesting yet )

Note the version on the Web site is the same V0.4 but has better quality because AF limit size of files to 3MB

[Jookie]

Latest version of the document can be found at http://info-coach.fr/atari/hardware/dev ... _Guide.pdf
from the following page http://info-coach.fr/atari/hardware/dev ... smosEx.php (nothing interesting yet )

Nice, thanks

[Gryzor]

Quick question:

In the manual (thanks so much for the updates!) it says that, right out of the box the driver should be loaded and the device mounted as O: . However, if I recall correctly from the first time I installed it this did not happen and I had to manually configure it.

I'm not sure I remember that correctly, but I just wiped and reinstalled the software on my CosmosEx and indeed this doesn't happen...

[EDIT] Ah heck, I re-wrote the disk image and it worked that way for the first time ever! Cool...

[DrCoolZic]

If I remember correctly the first time I connected both of my CosmosEx devices they worked immediately with drive O mounted so I could modify the configuration.
I do not remember that I had to create a floppy to configure.

[Gryzor]

If I remember correctly the first time I connected both of my CosmosEx devices they worked immediately with drive O mounted so I could modify the configuration.
I do not remember that I had to create a floppy to configure.

Yeah, for some reason it's the first time it worked for me as it should - up to now I had to configure it and there was no O drive... it's very cool and easy now

[DrCoolZic]

New version 0.5 released

modified explanation about ACSI configuration and how the hard disk driver are loaded.
Let me know if this makes things more clear?

Latest revision of the document can be found here http://info-coach.fr/atari/hardware/dev ... smosEx.php

[Gryzor]

Teh awesomez!

[Strider]

Great job DrCoolZic, thanks a lot!

[DrCoolZic]

New version V0.6 release to reflect modification of MainApp 2014-10-18

TRAN is now CE_DD
text modified should be more clear?

http://info-coach.fr/atari/documents/_m ... _Guide.pdf

[thu]

Thanks so much for the guide DrCoolZic. I spent a good amount of time trying to get Cosmos working with no luck. I had given up and was going to try to buy another machine to try it on.

I finally saw the guide and figured I might as well try it one more time while reading through it. And it finally worked!

The key was reading that the IKBD injector was optional and the ACSI cable was necessary. I was under the assumption that the IKBD injector was mandatory and it was the ACSI cable that was optional. I thought the ACSI cable was just for the hard drive mode of the Cosmos which I wasn't planning to use.

I unplugged the injector, plugged in the ACSI cable and it all works now.

Now I just have to figure out to actually use floppy images with it.

Any plans to add a small section to cover that? I'm still not sure whether or not the SD card in the Cosmos is used for floppy image storage or if it is just for the Cosmos software. Can one just copy a bunch of floppy images from Windows to a USB stick and then just plug it into the Cosmos to access them? Stuff like that.

I'll try to set up a shared folder on Windows for now since there are clear instructions for that.

[Gryzor]

...and a big thanks from me for keeping the guide up to date!!!

[DrCoolZic]

I am glad it helps

Yes I will write something on floppies but priority is on using USB disk right now. Jookie has still some problem to fix and I am trying to help in the test.

Floppy emulation works for reading and yes you can place images on the SD card or USB card or network ...
However be aware that for now the writing does not work

[DrCoolZic]

Hello new version of CosmosEx guide V0.7
- disk configuration should be more clear
- added pictures for all the configuration pages
- information about screen cast usage
- login to RPi
- remote configuration
- FAQ Advice
....

latest revision of the document can be found here http://info-coach.fr/atari/documents/_m ... _Guide.pdf
To big to post here (about 10MB)