SoftSide Disk Version -- "COVER"

[+Larry]

I have some original Atari version SoftSide disks, and they all have a "funny" file called COVER. I presumed it is file to display the contents much like Page 6 used to have. Does anyone remember what these files are? WHATIS.COM says it is a Scrunched file, but that makes little sense. The COVER files all seem to be 33 sectors long. If I try to copy the file, I get a link error or it refuses to copy correctly, saying the copied file is something like 6 sectors long, and not 33. All of the rest of the disk files seem to be fine.

 

Anybody remember anything about COVER?

 

While I'm asking, does anyone remember the numbering scheme of SoftSide mags? They start off logically with Vol 1 No 1, Vol 1 No 2, ... But then they get strange -- #33 which is actually issue 48, etc.

 

-Larry

[+Roydea6]

Larry have you tried to open the file named COVER with Atari basic.. I think I remember it being basic.

[+Larry]

Hi Roy-

 

It looks a bit like Basic, but they can't be LOADed (Error 21) nor ENTERed (Error 137). Even if this were some form of copy protection, these are original disks.

 

Edit:

Success! -- and the mystery is at least partially solved. The COVER file is Basic and it must be loaded with Dos 2. Evidently, more recent versions of MyDos 4.xx are too big for it to load/run. The SoftSide disks mostly didn't come with any Dos on them. A very few early ones had Dos 1.

 

Here is a cover from Issue 46.

 

 

[+Allan]

An mention of Softside DV in Atari Connection Fall 1982.

 

Allan

 

Atari_Connection_Fall_1982 (dragged).pdf

[+Larry]

Thanks! A good explanation of what I was seeing on the disks, except the issue with memlo and the bigger versions of Mydos.

Larry