Question about HxC, Gotek capability

[ParanoidLittleMan]

I had here only USB HxC, some years ago, and it was not mine, just got it for some testing, SW development.
Of course, version(s) with SD cards are more spread. USB was better for Pasti (STX) image files, but it's not what I want to talk here about.

The question is: is there some possibility to use larger images, for instance 1.44 MB, so basically HD floppy images on Ataris without HD floppy capability ?
So, some ST, STE without HD upgrade.
I asking it, because it should be possible technically, since there are no physical restriction like by real disks. Loading of 1 track will take more time, but that matters not. FDC chip is ready for even more than 20 sectors/track, and in this case transfer speed is same.
If you are not sure, please do test by putting there some larger image (1.44 or 1.6 MB ST img.) with ST(E) SW on it. I can post such, if that's problem.

[amiman99]

Give me an image and I will test, I have Gotek with HxC firmware on my STE.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Here is one image, of floppy I used some 25 years ago : HD36.ZIP

If you will be able to open it, and see files, then it means that it works. To run games will need min 1MB RAM, for some maybe more, I really don't remember.

 

Note: this image is related with RAM disk SW presented in this thread: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/279252-ram-disk-sw-for-ste/

 

 

[amiman99]

At first try it did not work, it gave me error:

" Drive A: is not responding. Please check the disk drive, or insert disk."

Let me investigate...

[amiman99]

It looks like I may need a HD floppy mod, maybe new TOS chip to get the HD floppy to work (HD floppy image for that matter)

[ParanoidLittleMan]

You missing the point. It should work without HD floppy mod. Maybe I need to write to Jeff now ...

[amiman99]

Well, it did not work, maybe we can try 1.44MB DOS image? Maybe there is an option to switch/enable HD image mode, which I did not see.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Here is image of 1.44 MB floppy: BOMBUZAL.ZIP

 

I think that problem is (partially) that firmware simply switches to HD mode (so higher freq. , what works not on ST(E) ) when there is more than 11 sector/track .

To work on ST(E) it should not go high. freq. And that means that should be some setting to prevent it.

This is indeed above emulation, because want something what is not possible with real floppies. But why not, if it is good for users ?

Edited June 1, 2018 by ParanoidLittleMan

[ParanoidLittleMan]

I mailed Jeff, and he responded quickly:

"you can create 2.5MB DD images for ST without problem since many many
years . See the disk browser function into the hxc software (see p.j) "

Question: I guess that FW simply switches to HD mod (so double clock) when
image is with more than 11 sector/track.
Answer:
"No it don't. HFE is a flexible format so you can set the parameters and
the disk geometry you want, even format that can't exist on the real
floppies."

1,6 MB image worked not.
Answer:
"No problem. Just need to select the 2.5MB format specially customized
for this. 1.6MB is probably in HD mode, but you can force the bitrate in
the hxc software or on the emulator itself too. Then this is will work.
Simple question of setting ."

So, I guess that this is clarified. People, read manuals !

[amiman99]

The 1.44Mb image did not work.

Here is a link to someone who made the 1.44MB image, but it did not work for me, I'm probably missing something.

It's under section 4, it's in German so I translated using google.

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chzsoft.de%2Fsite%2Fhardware%2Fusb-stick-floppy-emulator-am-atari-st%2F&edit-text=&act=url

 

Maybe someone else can try? It would be nice to have 2.5MB floppy.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Maybe to read manual ?

[amiman99]

OK, I got it. You need the HxCfloppy emulator software to create the disk, then it works.

So, 2.5MB floppy disks on ST using Gotek success!

 

Previously I was using the MSA Converter s/w to create the blank disks. You can use this s/w to create the HD disks, but they don't work with Gotek drive.