Floppy Disk Stream Image Repository

[kodak80]

Howdy!

A few redumps:
Speedball II - Kixx
Speedball - Mirror Image
Strike Force Harrier - Mirror Image

New:
ST Format Disk 08
ST Format Disk 13
redumped disk 20, since I couldn't read my writing!

All updated in the repository. Thank you.

[Mikerochip]

Added one Atari ST User disk.

Also updated my scans:
ST Format: https://archive.org/details/ST_Format_M ... ns_AtariST
ST Review: https://archive.org/details/Atari_ST_Re ... disk_Scans
ST Action: https://archive.org/details/ST_Action_U ... disk_Scans
ST User: https://archive.org/details/Atari_ST_Us ... disk_Scans

[kodak80]

Added one Atari ST User disk.

Disk added. Thank you.

[Mug UK]

I've only just set up my Greaseweazle earlier on today and, whilst officially WFH, I did images of around 60 disks. A few of them are early German releases as many years ago Klaz sent me his original disks before he left the scene,

Before I work out where to upload them, what's the process you'd prefer me to do with the images I've done. I've checked one over already (Amazon by Telarium, 2 x disks) using the latest Aufit I could find. I've created the .STX image files too.

What's next?

It's been a while since I imaged up original disks as previously I was using an older, slower laptop and it was like pulling teeth. A much newer PC makes the disk image generation in Aufit appear almost immediately by comparison to the paint-drying simulator I used to have to go through

[Mikerochip]

And I use my own front end, and make 2-3 disk flux images, depending on how the surface of the disk looks.

I generally run these:

https://github.com/M1kerochip/LaunchGre ... _Atari.cmd

Using Aufit, and HxC, it creates pictures and emulation images, and I visually check the pictures of the images, and if they're 100% error free, zip up the flux dump, pngs and .st/.stx/.hfe.

I generally test the HxC .stx in Steem, and if it doesn't work (and it often doesn't), either mention it to Jean del Nero, and delete it, or just delete it.

Are the images created at 5x revolutions?
60 disks seems like a lot in 1 day!

If my disks have errors, I usually dump a second or third time, and see what's what.
I've found 1x dump of a disk is rarely enough.
2x dumps at least is required to give me a good zero bad sector image (zero bad, not including copy protection sectors!)

Then, I try and scan the disk at 1200dpi, and the box, manual, etc. And upload the whole lot to archive.org when I'm done.

(Aufit can show dirty areas as either white, which is lightly dirty, and some light cleaning or even a second dump fixed it, or as orange, which is very dirty, and then more extensive cleaning is required)

If I still can't get a 100% ok disk, I ask someone here to have a look, and make sure it's not just copy protection, before I try and clean it.

And once I'm sure it's ok, I'll upload to dropbox. There's instructions on how to add your own dumps to the Mega.nz folder either.

(The reason I use my own front end is, it just makes life easier. Easier to name the disk properly, easier to make multiple dumps, easier to keep logs of what I did, and easier to run the scripts automatically)

[kodak80]

I've only just set up my Greaseweazle earlier on today and, whilst officially WFH, I did images of around 60 disks. A few of them are early German releases as many years ago Klaz sent me his original disks before he left the scene,

Before I work out where to upload them, what's the process you'd prefer me to do with the images I've done. I've checked one over already (Amazon by Telarium, 2 x disks) using the latest Aufit I could find. I've created the .STX image files too.

What's next?

It's been a while since I imaged up original disks as previously I was using an older, slower laptop and it was like pulling teeth. A much newer PC makes the disk image generation in Aufit appear almost immediately by comparison to the paint-drying simulator I used to have to go through

Welcome to the Greaseweazle club and helping with preserving Atari disks

For uploading the disk dumps images, you can either set up a Mega account and then ask DrCoolZic (as owner of the Mega share) for write access to the repository as noted in the first and second post or you can drop them into my Dropbox link and I can move them over to the repository. My Dropbox link is here: https://www.dropbox.com/request/DTUu6HMB7ojWWK4xjhjS

SCP dumps should be ideally checked in AUFIT in the Disk View tab and the Disk View images saved and included in 7Zip .7Z compressed file as this helps check that the dumps are in good condition and also shows disk protections (when used). HxC Emulator can also be used to check this as well.

It also helps to include as much information with the dumps such as noted on the disks or box things like year/country released, number of disks, original or budget release, publisher/team etc in a text file with the dump. Any images/photos you can provide of the physical disks and box artwork are also useful for identifying the release details.

A .STX or .ST image created with AUFIT can be tested in an Emulator to confirm that these work as well. SCP dumps can also be tested in STeeM to see if they work in the emulator.

AUFIT has a batch tool called BatchAufit which can process multiple disk images and will automate the process of checking dumps and creating the Disk VIew image file and STX file. It will also create a text file with any disk protection information detected which can be included in the 7Zip. BatchAufit is probably the recommended process for reviewing your dumps.

Looking forward to seeing your 60 disks to the repository.

[Mug UK]

Hi both,

Not new to this kind of preservation, as I've used Kryoflux before.

I've run the Batch Aufit on all of the disk images but have only tested a few so far:

Arkanoid (1 disk, Ocean release)
Around The World (1 disk, Floppyshop) - I wrote the bootsector loader for this STOS game back in 1992!
Blasteroids (2 disks, Imageworks)
Captain Blood (1 disk, Smash 16 re-release) - it works but as I haven't got a clue how to play it, I get as far as "landing on a planet" and then I get stuck with what I'm supposed to do next as it's a good 30 years since I last played it.
Fireblaster (1 disk, Eidersoft)
Flip Flop (Kingsoft) (German release) - medium or high res version of Othello it seems. Not one I remember from my youth.

I'll do more testing tomorrow once my usual WFH duties have finished. They're all sat waiting with their SCP files stored as a .7Z (I created my own .BAT file to go through a folder, compress the SCPs into a 7Z and then delete the SCP file afterwards).

[Mikerochip]

I cleaned and redumped my Tandy Discovery Pack Extra Disk F1 (Microprose Soccer Disk 1)

(And uploaded to Dropbox, obviously!) https://www.dropbox.com/request/DTUu6HMB7ojWWK4xjhjS

[Mikerochip]

Hi both,
Not new to this kind of preservation, as I've used Kryoflux before.
...

Good stuff

The only thing I'd say is please use the GW to dump at 5 revolutions, rather than the default 3.

[kodak80]

I cleaned and redumped my Tandy Discovery Pack Extra Disk F1 (Microprose Soccer Disk 1)

Thanks Mikerochip. Dump has been moved into the repository.

[Mug UK]

Unfortunately due to my "up arrow, change filename, press Enter" method that I got into, almost all of the disk images I've done were using 3 revs.

However, when testing the majority of them, they work fine, so do I need to redo them at 5 revs?

Likewise - if I know a disk is single sided, and the Aufit image proves that it's single-sided, I am supposed to go back and redo it as a single-sided disk, or does Batch Aufit remove the unwanted side from the image?

[kodak80]

5 revs would be better but if the dumps are working with 3 revs then probably no need to re-dump them. There was a discussion somewhere on the forum regarding 5 revs dumping benefits.

If a disk is single-sided, no need to re-dump as single-sided. Aufit/BatchAufit will simply read the unused side as non-data flux and show it as not formatted. All my single-sided disk dumps have both sides in the dump to be a true reflection of the actual disk contents.

[Mikerochip]

Also, I've found when I dumped a few .scp files as single sided, then Aufit didn't interpret them properly.

Instead of showing 1 side, 80 tracks, it showed 2 sides, 40 tracks each. So, I guess, stick with double sided dumping for .scp files!
I'm not sure if that was a specific version of Greaseweazle, but, it happened a few times.
(Also, HxC had no problem with the same images, so, I assume it's an Aufit problem. I did post in the Aufit thread I think, but never got a reply)

[JimDrew]

ALL 3.5" disks are always imageed as two sides with the SCP software.

[kodak80]

Greaseweazle SCP dumping has an option to dump single-sided but have not tested what this produces as I always dump both sides.

[Mug UK]

Fair enough, I'll continue with my current path and rely on the 5 revs for those that fail. Not done any this week as trying to find some time to examine the last few batches. 3D Golf failed after the intro on 3 revs, so hopefully the 5 revs version will work. Also found a few non-STE compatible titles (never had an STE in the early days, so never noticed the problems).

[ijor]

Also, I've found when I dumped a few .scp files as single sided, then Aufit didn't interpret them properly.

It might be an issue with Aufit or with the Gw software. But I agree with Kodak80 that is better to dump both sides anyway. Conceivable, there might be something on the back side, even if it seems to be single sided.

[Mug UK]

Also, I've found when I dumped a few .scp files as single sided, then Aufit didn't interpret them properly.

It might be an issue with Aufit or with the Gw software. But I agree with Kodak80 that is better to dump both sides anyway. Conceivable, there might be something on the back side, even if it seems to be single sided.

That's true. The odd bit of source code would be an amazing find

[Mikerochip]

ALL 3.5" disks are always imageed as two sides with the SCP software.

So, what happens if you use an Atari ST Single sided drive to image a single sided disk?

All 3.5" disks are double sided, but not all 3.5" drives are double sided.

(A pain the Atari ST world suffered with for quite a long time)

[Mikerochip]

I added ST Basic - Metacomco, CA026248-002 Revision D.

I thought I dumped this disk before, but, I guess not. I can't find it on my HDD.

Box: https://archive.org/details/ST_Basic_Re ... co_AtariST
Disk (Cropped): https://archive.org/details/ST_Basic_Re ... ariST_Disk
Original disk scan: https://archive.org/download/AtariST_Am ... can159.jpg

[kodak80]

I added ST Basic - Metacomco, CA026248-002 Revision D.

Dump has been moved into the repository. Thank you.

[Mug UK]

I'm slowly wading through the disks. It wasn't until yesterday that I realised that the full set of disks (A->O) of the Atari ST Summer Pack were all Copylock protected disks.

The few I've had a quick look at are all early style of Copylock - with the standard encrypted .PRG is visible, but with the original code stored as the hidden .PRO file on the disk. I daresay Orion's Dec0de tool would make short work of if you wanted the deprotected versions of the games.

17 year old me would not have been interested, but 33 years later I find it interesting

I was also suprised that Enduro Racer worked first time on my MegaSTE. I've also discovered a non-working Treasure Island Dizzy (one of multiple copies) so that will be a test of restoring a working image onto a non-working disk.

Other oddities are the graphic layouts of some of my disks. Some very odd almost demo-style patterns emerging. The disk images work under STEem but just look very odd.

I'm still going through the loose disks, I haven't started on the boxed originals yet. As soon as I've tested them all of the loose disks though, I'll do a mass upload to the Mega account.

Current stats:

Tested as OK: 61 x disks (some are from multipart games).
Untested disk images: 200+ left to test and then put the working ones into a single 7z per disk.

Example known failure:
3D Tennis (3 revs) - boots up to the menu, but then STEem gives a HALT command as soon as you start a new game. Redone on 5 revs, but not tested as of yet.

Oddities found (so far):

Sundog - got a few copies of the original disk. Without a manual, I don't know what to do at the title screen to get the game going. So no idea if this is a failure of the image, or a failure on my part to get started

Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles / Asterix: Operation Getafix (Tenstar Pack version) - I don't remember playing the original games (in their cracked form) so wasn't expected password entry to get the game started.

Damocles: Boots up OK, but when I press fire to start, it's an immediate Game Over. Every time. Again, I might be testing this on a TOS / memory config in STEem that this game doesn't like.

Space Ace: All 4 disks imaged up, but because I'm crap at this game, I can't get past the first few screens to see if the other disks work.

[Mikerochip]

I have the password sheet for both Turtles and Asterix Mug, I just need to scan them.

[Mug UK]

I have the password sheet for both Turtles and Asterix Mug, I just need to scan them.

Sorted. You don't happen to have the manual for Obsession Pinballas that's another one I can't test.

[Mikerochip]

No, unfortunately not.

I wonder would the Amiga one work? http://hol.abime.net/2277/manual