floppy and DOS quesions..

[Atari-Collector]

If you seen my post yesterday, you know I just bought a Atari 600xl on the evil auction site, and patiently waiting for it to arrive, but still hoping to work out a deal with the seller for a floppy drive he has also.

 

Today I've been looking, but not finding, my box of old Atari floppies that had a few games, programs, and my writing on it.. So I've been thinking, is there any way to get a copy of Atari DOS? I heard about a program that lets you access Atari format discs on a PC, so is there a way to get a DOS image to write out that way? Or some other way?

 

And while I'm talking floppies, while I have a ton of PC 5.25" discs around that could be re-purposed, I was wondering if anybody makes new 5.25" floppies today?

 

 

 

thanks..

I hope this is rehashing something already cover.. I'm just want to get back up to 8bit speed with as few bumps as possible.

 

[BillC]

There is software for the PC that is capable of writing DD ATR images to 360K 5.25" drives, writeatr available here. Is the drive you are looking to purchase DD capable?

 

Other options are to use an SIO2PC device along with emulator software like AspeQT(the Atari can boot from emulated drive then write DOS to a floppy on the Atari drive), or a 1050-2-PC device which allows the PC to write the Atari drive using either the Prosystem software or the 1050-2-PC option of the SIO2PC software.

 

Atari8warez sells an auto-switching SIO2PC/1050-2-PC device which can be used for either function.

http://www.atari8warez.com/

 

You say you have old PC discs which could be reused, are they DD or HD? HD floppies will probably not work reliably in a SD/DD drive.

[Atari-Collector]

The drive is a XF551, I don't know much about it except it's a newer Atari drive.

 

I have read about the SIO2PC option too. And even found a simple converter schematic using a MAX232 chip, oddly enough I have one left over as a spare from a ham radio project. So I'm guessing all I need is build it and get the software. I seen one program on source-forge, so I'm guess it's freeware, which would be a help since I've spent too much money already this month..

 

My old Atari discs (if I ever find them) are SD, made on a an 850 drive.

The floppies I have are DS/DD, and some I know I used for the Atari because the have the write notice snipped in to the other side to use the other side of the disk.

[BillC]

The drive is a XF551, I don't know much about it except it's a newer Atari drive.

 

I have read about the SIO2PC option too. And even found a simple converter schematic using a MAX232 chip, oddly enough I have one left over as a spare from a ham radio project. So I'm guessing all I need is build it and get the software. I seen one program on source-forge, so I'm guess it's freeware, which would be a help since I've spent too much money already this month..

 

My old Atari discs (if I ever find them) are SD, made on a an 850 drive.

The floppies I have are DS/DD, and some I know I used for the Atari because the have the write notice snipped in to the other side to use the other side of the disk.

The XF551 is Atari's latest 8-bit drive, and the only DSDD drive they made.

 

FDD emulators, allow PC software to emulate drives when used with SIO2PC device.

AspeQT: http://sourceforge.net/projects/aspeqt/

APE: http://www.atarimax.com/

SIO2PC(older software): http://pages.suddenlink.net/wa5bdu/sio2pc.htm

 

PC software which can write to a physical Atari drive when used with 1050-2-PC device:

SIO2PC: linked above, use 1050-2-PC menu option.

Prosystem: same link as APE software above.

 

PC software which can write DD 180K ATR image(experimental support for 130K ED ATR) to 360K PC drive:

writeatr: http://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/

[+slx]

The drive is a XF551, I don't know much about it except it's a newer Atari drive.

 

I have read about the SIO2PC option too. And even found a simple converter schematic using a MAX232 chip, oddly enough I have one left over as a spare from a ham radio project. So I'm guessing all I need is build it and get the software. I seen one program on source-forge, so I'm guess it's freeware, which would be a help since I've spent too much money already this month..

 

My old Atari discs (if I ever find them) are SD, made on a an 850 drive.

The floppies I have are DS/DD, and some I know I used for the Atari because the have the write notice snipped in to the other side to use the other side of the disk.

I have a MAX232 setup built around 1986 soldered directly onto the SIO hookup on my 800's motherboard. This way you don't even need a somewhat hard to come by SIO plug but just a little piece of board to set up the MAX and a serial connector. There are several open source projects allowing your PC or Mac to mimic a disc drive and you could boot off your PC and then write the DOS to a real disk. Alternatively you could probably find someone to write and mail you a disc the old-fashioned way

[+Larry]

You don't really need a real floppy, although it is handy to have occasionally. And although the XF551 is a really nice drive, it is also fraught with pcb/connector problems. Think twice unless the seller seems to have a good grasp of Atari hardware. TESTED and WORKING ( not just "the red light comes on") is a must with a "floppy drive of unknown origin."

 

You're going to need a real serial port or at least a USB converter. Both APE and AspeQt are excellent products, especially if you are a Windows user. Lots of folks here like the SD card products (SIO to SD, SDrive), since you are not "tethered to a PC" as proponents mention. But if you have a laptop or PC handy, the convenience of a Windows GUI and the power of APE, etc. is tough to beat. I've run APE perfectly with a really old 75MHz Pentium laptop. (Clearly I'm in the GUI camp.)

 

Anyway, good luck, and let us know how you do!

 

-Larry

[russg]

If you seen my post yesterday, you know I just bought a Atari 600xl on the evil auction site, and patiently waiting for it to arrive, but still hoping to work out a deal with the seller for a floppy drive he has also.

 

Today I've been looking, but not finding, my box of old Atari floppies that had a few games, programs, and my writing on it.. So I've been thinking, is there any way to get a copy of Atari DOS? I heard about a program that lets you access Atari format discs on a PC, so is there a way to get a DOS image to write out that way? Or some other way?

 

And while I'm talking floppies, while I have a ton of PC 5.25" discs around that could be re-purposed, I was wondering if anybody makes new 5.25" floppies today?

 

 

 

thanks..

I hope this is rehashing something already cover.. I'm just want to get back up to 8bit speed with as few bumps as possible.

 

You may have a small bump with the 600XL. It doesn't have a monitor/composite port, just a RF/TV RCA connector, unless one was put in, which I doubt. Your 2600 probably uses a RF, so you may be OK there.

As others have said, a APE or SIO2PC interface would give you any DOS you want (except cart DOS). SIO2PC and APE come in USB varieties, but there are also RS232/serial ones. SIO2PC interface works with ASPEQT PC software,

which is free (I think). The APE interface works with APE software which is $50. There's a slightly disabled free, trial, APE software.

Edited May 9, 2014 by russg

[UKRetrogamer]

You may have a small bump with the 600XL. It doesn't have a monitor/composite port, just a RF/TV RCA connector, unless one was put in, which I doubt. Your 2600 probably uses a RF, so you may be OK there.

 

Not that I'm complaining but I often wonder why the PAL 600XL was given a video out just like the 800XL while the NTSC model was forced to use RF. I wouldn't use my 600XL nearly as much if it was RF-only.

 

With the 600XL having only 16K, (assuming it's original and un-modded), will this effect the OPs ability to run DOS and if it does run, will there be room to load programs once the DOS is resident in RAM?

 

Does SIO2PC hardware work on a 16K machine? I use mine with a 320XL RAM pack, so I'm blissfully unaware if these issues exist.

 

If not, and RAM isn't an issue, the OP might like to look here, as this is a current and inexpensive SIO-type product:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/223019-sio2pc10502pc-dual-usb-version-30/

Edited May 9, 2014 by UKRetrogamer

[Atari-Collector]

My 2600 jr has an AV mod on it. But my LCD TV does support analog NTSC signals, so that's not a problem and I have a CRT TV in the bedroom. or I could even connect to the TV tuner card in my one PC and use it's screen. I've read you can do the same AV mod to the 600xl as the 2600, so there's a good chance I'll do that in time.

 

You may have a small bump with the 600XL. It doesn't have a monitor/composite port, just a RF/TV RCA connector, unless one was put in, which I doubt. Your 2600 probably uses a RF, so you may be OK there.

 

As others have said, a APE or SIO2PC interface would give you any DOS you want (except cart DOS). SIO2PC and APE come in USB varieties, but there are also RS232/serial ones. SIO2PC interface works with ASPEQT PC software,

which is free (I think). The APE interface works with APE software which is $50. There's a slightly disabled free, trial, APE software.

[russg]

 

No that I'm complaining but I often wonder why the PAL 600XL was given a video out just like the 800XL while the NTSC models were forced to use RF. I wouldn't use my 600XL nearly as much if it was RF-only.

 

With the 600XL having only 16K, (assuming it's original and un-modded), will this effect the OPs ability to run DOS and if it does run, will there be room to load programs once the DOS is resident in RAM?

 

Does SIO2PC hardware work in 16K? I use mine with a 320XL RAM pack, so I'm blissfully unaware if these issues exist.

 

If not, and RAM isn't an issue, the OP might like to look here, as this is a current and inexpensive SIO-type product:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/223019-sio2pc10502pc-dual-usb-version-30/

That's great, PAL 600XL has monitor port. The NTSC motherboard has all the solder points for the 15 or so resistors, caps and transistors, it seems like it didn't save much to omit the monitor port.

And 64 k upgrade is really easy. I think the 600XL would be very popular if it had the port and RAM because it is a tidy little unit.

16K isn't enough to use DOS, probably can't even load it, much less have any room to run anything if you could load it. 600XL is basically a cart runner.

Edited May 9, 2014 by russg

[UKRetrogamer]

I think the 600XL would be very popular if it had the port and RAM because it is a tidy little unit.

16K isn't enough to use DOS, probably can't even load it, much less have any room to run anything if you could load it.

 

That's why I prefer using mine (with the 320XL RAM expansion) over the 800XL. It's a tidy unit, not much bigger than the keyboard with a monitor port. I have the RAM chips (somewhere) to perform the 64K upgrade on both of my 600XLs and once I find the antistatic bag which contains them, my soldering iron is going on.

[Atari-Collector]

You don't really need a real floppy, although it is handy to have occasionally. And although the XF551 is a really nice drive, it is also fraught with pcb/connector problems. Think twice unless the seller seems to have a good grasp of Atari hardware. TESTED and WORKING ( not just "the red light comes on") is a must with a "floppy drive of unknown origin."

 

You're going to need a real serial port or at least a USB converter. Both APE and AspeQt are excellent products, especially if you are a Windows user. Lots of folks here like the SD card products (SIO to SD, SDrive), since you are not "tethered to a PC" as proponents mention. But if you have a laptop or PC handy, the convenience of a Windows GUI and the power of APE, etc. is tough to beat. I've run APE perfectly with a really old 75MHz Pentium laptop. (Clearly I'm in the GUI camp.)

 

Anyway, good luck, and let us know how you do!

 

-Larry

The seller agreed to the offer I made on the XF551, but told me to hold off on sending the money until he can test it on his 800XL, the 600XK I bought is already shipped. So I think that's a good sign. From what I've seen of the XF551 online, the drive itself looks like a standard 5.25" drive that you would find in a pc. and I have a few of those drives around here. I also have a couple old PC that could be used as dedicated SIO2PC platforms. May be a goo job for my old 400MHz K6-2 that's collecting dust.

 

I must say , I really do appreciate all the comments and ideas of this. It's great to know there;s other people out there that love the old machines and what to keep them going. I wonder if Windows hadn't happened, maybe it'd be Atari ruling the world:)

[Atari-Collector]

 

That's why I prefer using mine (with the 320XL RAM expansion) over the 800XL. It's a tidy unit, not much bigger than the keyboard with a monitor port. I have the RAM chips (somewhere) to perform the 64K upgrade on both of my 600XLs and once I find the antistatic bag which contains them, my soldering iron is going on.

The 600xl I bought already has been upgraded to 64K of RAM

[UKRetrogamer]

The 600xl I bought already has been upgraded to 64K of RAM

Then you're good to go. (Probably should've mentioned it in your original post though). I was worried you'd be disappointed, having bought the floppy-drive, only to find DOS wouldn't work with the 600XL!

[russg]

My 2600 jr has an AV mod on it. But my LCD TV does support analog NTSC signals, so that's not a problem and I have a CRT TV in the bedroom. or I could even connect to the TV tuner card in my one PC and use it's screen. I've read you can do the same AV mod to the 600xl as the 2600, so there's a good chance I'll do that in time.

 

Best electronics sells a kit to upgrade the 600XL to monitor port. I think it is $12, but there's a $20 minimum order I think. The kit and a cart or two would meet the minimum.

The kit comes with all the resistors, caps, transistors and a coil and instructions, which are a little hard to read.

Edited May 9, 2014 by russg

[zylon]

Mainly, I use 600xl's for carts and MyIDE-II setup with stock RAM expansion. The mod is easy enough to do and far cheaper. I tried it on one of my extra consoles and had it done in less than an hour.

[MrMartian]

The seller agreed to the offer I made on the XF551, but told me to hold off on sending the money until he can test it on his 800XL, the 600XK I bought is already shipped. So I think that's a good sign. From what I've seen of the XF551 online, the drive itself looks like a standard 5.25" drive that you would find in a pc. and I have a few of those drives around here. I also have a couple old PC that could be used as dedicated SIO2PC platforms. May be a goo job for my old 400MHz K6-2 that's collecting dust.

 

I must say , I really do appreciate all the comments and ideas of this. It's great to know there;s other people out there that love the old machines and what to keep them going. I wonder if Windows hadn't happened, maybe it'd be Atari ruling the world:)

 

If it doesn't work, I would be willing to repair it... I hate to see an XF go to waste.. Woodstock might not too far to ship it...

[Atari-Collector]

 

If it doesn't work, I would be willing to repair it... I hate to see an XF go to waste.. Woodstock might not too far to ship it...

Hmmm Woodstock is about an hour tops I think, I'm in London. And I get an email back saying he tested ok, so I've paid for it and he's planing on mailing it tomorrow

[MrMartian]

Hmmm Woodstock is about an hour tops I think, I'm in London. And I get an email back saying he tested ok, so I've paid for it and he's planing on mailing it tomorrow

 

Yeah, depending on where it London, half hour to 45 minutes...

 

If you need / want repairs or mods, let me know!