Madi

The attached picture shows the position of the switch on the rear of the disk drive as D2. The other possible issue for the Atari not to see the Disk Drive is when the 232 chip based board doesn’t have a forward diode (simulates an open collector circuit). This is very common with most FT232RL based breakout boards (clones). Based on the pictures you posted in the above post, your device is an SIO2PC where a counterfeit FT232RL chip was used to build the board. Now if this is the one you are having the problem with where Atari is not able to recognize the Disk Drive, then just install a small signal diode somewhere in the white wire between TXD of the board and Data In line of Atari’s SIO connector (pin 3) . See SIO2PC pictures in the previous post on this link. madi

If I understand your words correctly, you want to add individual files from another ATR image to the 5.25 disk inside a physical drive. The answer is generally yes. Suppose, You have a floppy disk in 1050 drive that contains 5 files (e.g. two of the 5 files are DOS.SYS and DUP.SYS) the free sectors are 134 sectors. If you you configure your SIO2SD as DISK #2. You could boat the disk on 1050 as drive #1 go to dos. look at the files inside disk image in drive 2. and copy files form DOS menu from D2: to D1 (phisical). In this example, you can move 2 8k games or 1 16K game to the physical disk before it becomes full. As brenski had explained, you can not copy more than one ATR image to one side of the 5.25 physical disk, but you can copy many/few of containing files from the ATR image to the physical disk as much as the free space allows. Of course you can boot from SIO2SD as disk #1 as FifthPlayer had mentioned and configure the physical disk as drive #2 and perform the copy task. Edit: If the ATR image is a self booting sequential program (one segment) like most of the commercial games are, then you "generally" can not. (needs further work). madi

Thank you phaeron for every bit of code you put into this project. Thank you for every second of the past seven years or so that you made us happy and hope for the better. I wanted to express my gratitude and appreciation for your marvelous work but I failed to find the right words. So, Thank you madi

Open Aspeqt/RespQt software (assuming that it is the software you are using) on the older PC go to options and examine the baud rate sitting. (see the attached picture) Be sure that the Options on the AspeQt/RespeQt for the New PC is identical to that on old one. madi.

If your device is SIO2PC/10502PC-Dual USB (the owner also makes SIO2PC-USB only devices) then use the ProSystem part of the trial version of APE (or for much better, buy the full version). The owner of the device have made extensive user guides/tutorials regarding the capabilities/limitations of his devices. The following is quotation from his website that illustrates step-by-step how to make disk images with ProSystem software (10502PC): 1. Download ProSystem Trial Version zip archive and extract it to a folder. 2. Make sure your 1050 is configured as D1:, and there is no SIO cable plugged to it. 3. Connect the SIO2PC/10502PC Dual-USB’s USB end to one of your USB connectors on your PC 4. If the drivers for the SIO2PC are not installed, you’ll need to install them now (you can find the drivers and installation guides here ) 5. After the drivers are installed, start the device manager and expand the PORTS section to find out which COM port is assigned to the SIO2PC/10502PC Dual-VCP, you need to use this port (COM1 – COM9) with ProSystem. 6. Plug the SIO2PC/10502PC Dual-USB device to one of the SIO ports on your 1050 and turn the drive ON. 7. Run ProSystem and go to menu item File/ProSystem Serial Port and select the correct COM port. 8. Wait until ProSystem scans the port(s) and finds the 1050. If the scan fails, and no drive is found, make sure the drive is turned ON, and disconnect the USB cable from the PC’s USB port, wait a few seconds, re-insert it, wait a few seconds, and rescan the bus using menu item Drive Control/Rescan Bus. If you ever have connection problems the above is the procedure you have to follow to reset the device. 9. When the drive is detected, the first drive icon on the ProSystem window will be highlighted while others will be dim. 10. You can then experiment with other Drive Control menu options, or you can directly start copying a floppy disk into a disk image. 11. For unprotected disks select menu item ATR Functions, for protected ones select PRO Functions 12. You can create an ATR from a real disk, and you can write an ATR back to a real disk, you can create a PRO disk image from a protected disk, but you cannot write a PRO_tected disk image back to a real disk. madi

Exceptional. I like the color ritchness and the depth/wormth of the view. Thank you madi

Hi Larry I am waiting for the SIO plugs order from B & C Computers. PRA051 CONN 13 PIN I/O CABLE FM $4.00 Apparently, it will fit in the SIO plug. The breakout board need to be trimmed from front (angular) and the plastic support underneath must be filed to let the board set-in and the p.lug cover to close firmly. And with slight filing of the rear side of the board (adjacent to the screw), the Plug screw can be fitted easily. The attached picture will illustrate it better than my broken English words . Note: I could not do any cutting to the plug because it is part of the SIO cable. The only one I currently have. I am sure that AtariGeezer will come up with better layout. madi

Yes, it is an 8K ROM only that loads in $A000-B000 area. It is named "ULTIMON OSB". It looks as if it is an early development for a cartridge version. Still bugged. The working 16K ROM(original as of 1986) is attached. madi ULTIMON XE.rom

I am a little confused. You mentioned that the device is based on FTDI232. So, do you mean that your device is built using FTDI232 chip? (not the breakout board) In his case, it would be possible to connect the chip to RS-232 DB9 port (home built). Regardless, a small diode is needed. Examine the Atari SIO 3 (data in ). If it does't have the mall diode coming from SIO 3 pin to TXD of the FTDI 232 chip, then install one. This will solve the mixed D1/D2 device connections problem. Other than that, I have no clue. madi

The pictures in the previous link you had provided gave little details of your device build. Theoretically, the FT232RL breakout boards are USB to Serial converters. They do not have RS232 DB9 output unless a "USB 2.0 to Serial RS232 DB9 9Pin Adapter Converter" is used to provide the DB9 output. There are many older SIO2PC and 10502PC devices that do RS232 to TTL conversion (and vice versa). The most wildly spread designs are the ones based on MAX-232. Some devices were even older. Te were based on 14C89 chips and they do work great. So, unless I know specifications of your device build, my suggestions will be a kind of hit and miss. For the SIO2PC devices to work correctly in mixed virtual/real environment, a small signal diode must be installed on pin 3 (Data-in) of Atari SIO connector. (this doesn't apply to genuine FT232RL based boards) The the presence of the diode, the SIO2PC device can be configured as D1 (via AspeQt/RespeQt) and the 1050 Disk drive is switched (from the rear of the drive through the sliding switch) to D2. madi

Thank you playermissile for the really excellent and flexible software (Omnivore v 0.13.0) Omnivore quickly became my favorite disk viewer/editor. The feature of loading a disk image by a specific emulator is great. I am wondering if it is possible to extend it to the segment/file level. In other words, the user will be able to run “PLAYRMSL.XEX” from the Image disk (directory) similar to the loading of the Disk image itself. Also, with the same principle, one can run a segments codes for testing purposes. So, instead of making OMNIVORE creates an XEX file from a specific segment and then saved, it would be easier, if the program is able to create the segment to be tested ( say,in a temp folder) and execute it using the preferred emulator. madi

Thank you a lot for sharing. Regarding the malicious threats flags, VirusTotal website showed that 3 out of 53 Antivirus/Adware engines flagged the file as malicious/malware threat. Here are the results. The program has the potential to be improved further. This website has several references of frequently used Atari sources you might incorporate. Atari 8-Bit Reference Cards And here the Defacto reference card for Atari 8-Bits Analog Pocket Reference Card provided by Allan Now, what you can add or modify depends on personal interest/needs. What matter "to me" is the ease and simplicity of information provided which I believe you have accomplished to a great degree. Maybe, If you a decimal value along with the Hex values (mostly in Atascii/Internal conversions) would be nicer. madi

I liked the alternative SIO plug presented in this Website. The Atari male connectors are kept tight-in-place. This design can be further enhanced by soldering female crimp pins (the right size and dimensions) on top of the PCB copper traces. However, the SIO plug board thickness must be carefully calculated in order for the male connector pins to fit-in comfortably (on both sides of the board). This later modification will prevent any possible damage to Atari/peripheral or the device as the array connector pins of top and bottom never overlap (6 pins(up) vs 6 (down). The grooved SIO plug PCB The soldered female crimp pins (not accurate, just to show approximate positions) madi

The diode is only needed when virtual environment (e.g. use of PC as a disk drive) and real peripherals are attached to Atari computer at the same time. This only applies to clone FT2323RL breakout based chips. The diode is not needed if the breakout board is based genuine chip. madi Edit: I use Prosystem to copy from/to disk drive (10502PC). No Atari Computer involved When using the device as SIO2PC I always use COPY2000 under AspeQt/RespeQt environment. Edit2: Here is a good link tutorial about file/image copy using COPY2000 (using AspeQt/RespeQt and SIO2PC). Regarding Bounty Bob Strikes Back CAS is not loading, I have no I dea. I will see if I can help.

It should work with actual Atari 400-800/XL/XE computers with 16 plus K memory. I successfully, loaded and run the game using an emulator (Altirra). madi

The Connection is very simple and straightforward . I was in the process to make illustration on the FT232RL board that you put the link for. I will put it here for others to look at. It may one day come handy. What I like about this board is that it has all the connections that are expected from 232RL chip and more. i.e lights for data transferring/receiving and all handshaking lines (DSR,CTS,RI) madi

This is a new SIO2PC/10502PC design by Atari8Wares "Ray". It is the same compo device he used to make and sells except that he is using a modified "improved" TavvvaSIO - ATARI SIO Connector Replacement . Actually, he did a very nice job, since getting SIO caples/Plugs becomes scarce (highly prices) and eventually, a monopoly-like business. It looks as he discontinued selling of the new product through eBay. He sells them through his website. (~ $ 34.00). Just to mention it, there is another source for Alternative SIO plugs (as PCB only). Find it here at http://dirtypcbs.com/, I wonder if the new plug for the dual SIO2PC/10502PC is safe?. I mean, is it possible that one might insert this plug into the Atari computer/peripheral connector in flipped manar (upside down)? madi

Thank you phaeron I think I have figured it out. Actually, the ripout image of the original game works just fine. As I suspected, DOS.SYS file is the one that made the copy protection issue. The game works whether SIO patch /accurate sector time are ON or OFF. It only works (at least for me) with BASIC A rom. It crashes with BASIC B or C. madi Formula 1 Racing (1982)(Acorn Software)(US)BASICOS-B.atr

I transferred the disk files to .ATR image with listable directory files. I rebuilt the Variable Name Table of the main basic file "RACE.BA" with the aid of Altirra. I did not examine the protection method (may be a bad sector =sector #4). The protection checking routine could be conducted through a modified DOS.SYS. Not sure. A copy of the non working Formula 1 Racing image is attached if you want have a closer look. Good luck madi Formula 1 Racing (1982)(Acorn Software)(US)BASICOS-B.atr

There is one program (based on AspeQt) was developed by:greblus AspeQt for Android (beta) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.qtproject.example.AspeQt https://github.com/greblus/aspeqt madi

Fair enough. Let me thank you for your positive wording. I had no intention to drag you into the project. May be my humble English language did not help me to express what i wanted to say. I was looking mainly for your usual "Positive Criticism" and fruitful input. The same is politely requested from all respected Atari members in this beloved site. regards madi

Hi j70141 There were several commercial software in the back days that allow one to Unprotect Basic programs that were protected. Gardner Computing used to advertize for 2 products: 1- The Book with Software. The book was only few pages explaining how protection is made and how to make bad sectors, etc. The software disk was consisted of several Basic and Assembly programs (utilities). One of them was UNPROTEC.BAS to list protected basic files. I used to have it but it was lost as of all my Atari stuff. 2- The Hacker’s Treasure chest disks. It similar to the first one, only with more utility files. Attached is an Ad made by Gardner Computing in Analog Magazine issue #28 MAR 1984. Also, attached a zip file contains 2 diskettes of the Pirate Treasures Chest. Instruction is available in Disk A. Actually, I used to unprotect Basic files via OMNIMON XL which is a modified 800 Os with a built in Monitor. But before acquiring the OMNIMON, I used to modify the files directly on sector level using Diskey disk. It was not difficult to do it once you know the structure of tokenized Basic files. madi piratestreasurechest.zip

Thank you purmike I have downloaded the software and had a quick testing of the features and capabilities. My initial impression is great "WOW". At last, Atari world will have a decent file archival and manager that everyone can enjoy. We know that it is in the beta vase and much more is expected. Still, I expect "with hope" that our Atari expert programmers/developers to look at it and come up with comments/suggestions. I am aware that Mclaneinc was actively involved in the Atari Best Game Pack database. Paul, your input and feedback is greatly appreciated . @Mike, I just sent you my initial feedback. madi

I am sorry, Here is the correct link for latest ATR Tools : http://atariage.com/forums/topic/192052-atr-tools/page-5?do=findComment&comment=3535498 Also, attached, a copy of the program (Windows based) .. madi ATRTOOLS-025A.ZIP

There are many ways to deprotect Basic files: Attached, are some commercial and PD software that will do the job for you. Also, THere are other great software can list protected Basic files. They do much more than that. I remember few: MemoPad R10 by Eric http://joyfulcoder.com/memopad/ ATR Tools by AtariGeezer http://atariage.com/forums/topic/192052-atr-tools/ If you would like to learn how deprotecting is being done, then Altirra emulator is to the HELP. Just follow the following to reach to really nice tutorial of how to unprotect protected BASIC files (thank you phaeron ) - Start Altirra. - Press on Help at the menu bar and choose "Contents", That will open "Altirra Help" window. - Expand the "Debugger" folder (press on the small box with "+" symbol. - Click on "Debugging BASIC programs". You will find very nicely written tutorial example on how to "Recovering a damaged or protected BASIC program." Just follow instructions. madi BASIC File Listers.zip