Writing ST Floppies on a PC

[Tempest]

Is there a program that allows you to write ST floppies (from files) on a PC AND works with Windows 7 64-bit? I found a program, but it appears not to like Windows 7 (or maybe just the 64-bit). Failing that, is there one that works with Windows XP?

 

Tempest

[thgill]

I've been using FloImg:

 

http://ppera.07x.net/atari/floimgd.php

 

I am unsure if it works with Win 7 64bit, but I have a spare machine running 32bit XP that it runs great on. I have imaged over bunches of .MSA and .ST files to floppies

and they work great.

[+Guitarman]

If you have Win7 Pro or Ultimate, you can download the Virtual Windows XP Mode. It installed a virtual machine running XP on the Win7 computer. It should run in that.

 

Windows 7 XP Mode Download

[Tempest]

This may sound like a very strange question, but is there a program that can be used to create ST format disks on an Amiga?

 

Tempest

[oky2000]

This may sound like a very strange question, but is there a program that can be used to create ST format disks on an Amiga?

 

Tempest

 

Yes, I did it today as per my thread. It's called Dos-2-Dos and it allows you to specifically format to ST not PC formats (and PC too) but you need Kickstart 1.2 or 1.3 possibly as the compilation disk I have it on won't run on KS2/3.

 

Works a treat. You need two drives also as one gets exclusively tied to being used in PC/ST format mode whilst the program runs.

[tjlazer]

I doubt it could do extended formatted disks, they can be up to 830k...

[Tempest]

I use an Amiga 1200, so that won't work then (I think it kickstart 3 something).

 

The reason I ask is that my PC no longer has a disk drive. Either I have to get a USB disk drive (which is an option) or use another computer I have with a disk drive that I can get roms to (via CD or other means). That leaves:

 

Macintosh SE/30 (OS 6.x)

Macintosh G3 (OS 9.x)

Apple IIgs

 

 

None of those are very promising. I guess I'll go get the USB disk drive.

 

Tempest

[oky2000]

I use an Amiga 1200, so that won't work then (I think it kickstart 3 something).

 

The reason I ask is that my PC no longer has a disk drive. Either I have to get a USB disk drive (which is an option) or use another computer I have with a disk drive that I can get roms to (via CD or other means). That leaves:

 

Macintosh SE/30 (OS 6.x)

Macintosh G3 (OS 9.x)

Apple IIgs

 

 

None of those are very promising. I guess I'll go get the USB disk drive.

 

Tempest

 

I did it on my Amiga A600 out of convenience (desk space!) and just degraded it to Kickstart 1.3 with a disk loader, you can do the same with the A1200 too.

 

Of course it may just be simpler to purchase a little USB floppy drive, they must be quite cheap on ebay now.

[thgill]

USB floppy drives are fine if you want to just copy some files to a floppy drive to read on your ST.

 

 

BUT if you want to write a ST or MSA image back using something like FloImg that I mentioned before, it will NOT work with a USB floppy.

Has to be connected to a real floppy controller.

[Tempest]

USB floppy drives are fine if you want to just copy some files to a floppy drive to read on your ST.

 

 

BUT if you want to write a ST or MSA image back using something like FloImg that I mentioned before, it will NOT work with a USB floppy.

Has to be connected to a real floppy controller.

Gah. Well that's no good.

 

Is there a program for the ST that will make a floppy disk image into a floppy? I could always put the file on the HD first.

 

Tempest

[thgill]

Yep, sure is.

 

JayMSA can write back (or create) .ST and .MSA files back to disk on the Atari computers. I haven't personally used it yet, but it looks easy and straight forward.

[oky2000]

If I just want some files from an ST disk image then I copy them to the hard disk in STeem and then physically copy the files from the hard drive directory to a floppy. This is no good for most games and demos but works fine for applications.

[Tempest]

Is there a CF card adapter for the ST like there is for the Amiga? That's made my file transfers 100% easier.

 

Tempest

[Shredder11]

I have a CF card as a hard drive in one of my STE machines, but I have this connected internally via a IDE interface piggy backed on top of the main CPU. Fast as hell and silent (much quicker than SCSI) and I use HD Driver v8.23 with it.

[thgill]

Where can you buy one of the STe IDE interfaces at?

[Shredder11]

Dunno I got lucky with finding a 4160STE on Ebay with what appears could be an IDEal IDE interface installed. However Atari-Forum member ralcool may be able to make one if you ask nicely. He is currently making up various interfaces and projects for his own pleasure while he can (will be too busy in a few months from now), but he might possibly find time to make a few extra interfaces perhaps.

[mimo]

can the .stx images be written to a real disc, or converted to a format that can?

[djpubba]

I'm wondering the same thing. So far my searches have not been full of fruit. .STX appears to be a format designed to archive copy protected disks, but the author never got around to finishing the program to write the images back to disk. About 12% of my original game collection is corrupt so it's a shape I can't restore them.

[+remowilliams]

can the .stx images be written to a real disc, or converted to a format that can?

No. Hopefully ijor will release tools someday (soon! ) that will allow writeback to floppy from either a Catweasel or Discovery Cartridge.

[tjlazer]

You can do the "Amiga" sneaker net deal. Copy a zipped .ST or .MSA disk image to a 720k PC disk. Insert that disk into the ST and copy it to the HD. Then use a tool like ST2Zip to unarc it as a disk image, and then use a tool to write it to a real disk. There is a tool also for writing ST disk images back, and it is now freeware: ST2Disk

Edited May 8, 2010 by tjlazer

[djpubba]

AFAIK there's no way to write .STX images back to disk even on an ST. It's a format designed to dump copy protected disks.