Dos 2.5 ED work-alike?

[+Larry]

Trying to work with Dos 2.5 (out of necessity) and double density MyDos is a major pain, since MyDos can't read 2.5 ED disks correctly. Is there any Dos or utility that can read/write *both* 2.5-type ED and DD? (I know that I can copy the DD disks to multiple SD disks, but I'd like to avoid that extra step since I have many images to process.) -Larry

[Rybags]

NFI.

 

Is SpartaDOS compatible with MyDOS disks?

[dinosaur]

Hello!

 

I just tested this :

 

drive 1:MachDos

 

drive 2:Dos2.5-128k

 

drive 3:MyDos-180k

 

I could read d2: and d3: with no trouble. I didn't try writng.

 

I hope this will help

 

Mach_DOS_3.7a.zip

 

If this doesn:t work try:Smartdos_6.1d.zip

 

Good luck!

Edited October 19, 2006 by dinosaur

[+CharlieChaplin]

Well,

MyDOS (all 4.x versions) can read DOS 2.5 ED density, but not write to ED (or better it cannot write beyond sector 719). If you want to read+write DOS 2.5 ED and true DD (180k) with a DOS 2.x type, then try:

 

- Super DOS 5.x: 90k, 130k (DOS 2.5 comp.), 180k, 360k; up to 256k XRAM, but very slow Ramdisk;

- Mach DOS 3.x: 90k, 130k (DOS 2.5 comp.), 180k; Ramdisk? I think there is no RD support

- BiboDOS: Version 5.x: 90k, 130k (DOS 2.5 comp.), 180k; Version 6.x: also 360k (MyDOs comp.)

- Turbo-DOS 2.1: Version NT and HS: 90k, 130k (DOS 2.5 comp.), 180k; Version XF and EX: also 360k (not MyDOS / not Bibo-Dos comp.; uses 4 bytes as sector/file links in 360k/DSDD mode)

- X-DOS: 90k, 130k (DOS 2.5 comp.), 180k, 360k (Bibo-DOs/MyDOs comp. ?)

- DOS-XF: fully comp. to Turbo-DOS (written by the same authors, but with DOS 2.5 like-menu), thus:

90k, 130k (DOS 2.5 comp.), 180k and 360k (not Bibo-DOs/MyDOS comp.; 4 Bytes for sector/file links)

 

Depending on the DOS and more precisely on the version number used, they will support up to DSDD/360k. Afaik, MyDOS is the only DOS 2.x type that supports higher densities for diskettes (but both Top DOS and MyDOS do support higher densities for harddisks and subdirs). To copy/convert many files from one disks to another I would prefer Turbo-DOs Version 2.1EX (it supports ultraspeed for Happy+Speedy as well as XF highspeed) and its Multifile-Copier program... greetings, Andreas Magenheimer.

 

P.S.: For me, I prefer the DOS 2.5 standard for ED/130k; allthough it wastes many sectors, it has become the de-facto standard here in Germany (if not in Europe). Many DOS 2.x versions do support the DOS 2.5 ED standard - maybe one day there will be a version of MyDOS that supports the DOS 2.5 standard *just for ED/130k*, while still keeping the higher densities (360k, 720k, 1440k and harddisk partitions up to 16 megabytes)...

[a8isa1]

Trying to work with Dos 2.5 (out of necessity) and double density MyDos is a major pain, since MyDos can't read 2.5 ED disks correctly. Is there any Dos or utility that can read/write *both* 2.5-type ED and DD? (I know that I can copy the DD disks to multiple SD disks, but I'd like to avoid that extra step since I have many images to process.) -Larry

Same problem? MyDOS directories to real disks?

 

Step 1

At this point I'd use an APE mirror drive and copy your directories to folders.

 

Step 2

- Boot from DOS 2.5 and copy those folders to real disks or ATRs (ED)

 

- Or alternatively (not sure about this one). MakeATR can create ED ATRs. The options are Atari DOS, SpartaDOS, MyDOS, or DOS II+/D. Not sure if any of these will give you DOS 2.5 readable results. I don't think I've ever used 2.5. Anyway, try using the insert option to inject the files into the ATR.

 

Well, 2.5 at leasts sees an ED disk created by MakeATR.

 

Hope this helped.

 

- Steve Sheppard

[Urchlay]

 

Step 1

At this point I'd use an APE mirror drive and copy your directories to folders.

 

Step 2

- Boot from DOS 2.5 and copy those folders to real disks or ATRs (ED)

 

 

I think he's doing this entirely on real disks... copying real 720K disks to real 130K disks.

 

Er, am I right, Larry?

[+Larry]

Thanks for the many suggestions.

 

SuperDos 5.1 ssems to be a good solution for my particular needs. On my setup, it "squawks" a lot with its high-speed SIO routines, but doesn't seem to produce any hard errors. I will also give MachDos a try. I was pleasantly surprised to see MachDos as a "compatible" given its age. I also didn't recall MyDos being able to even properly read Dos 2.5 files that lie beyond sector 720, since the directory/vtoc structure is quite different. -Larry

[+Larry]

 

Step 1

At this point I'd use an APE mirror drive and copy your directories to folders.

 

Step 2

- Boot from DOS 2.5 and copy those folders to real disks or ATRs (ED)

 

 

I think he's doing this entirely on real disks... copying real 720K disks to real 130K disks.

 

Er, am I right, Larry?

 

You are both correct. (How's that for being diplomatic?) Ultimately, my destination is ATR's, but I have also been using some real disks as "work disks" as I move things around. As always, these projects cause me to learn/re-learn some interesting things. Plus, reaffirms my feelings about Enhanced Density! -Larry

[+CharlieChaplin]

Hello Larry, folks,

attached is Turbo-DOS 2.1 EX. It supports up to 360k (DSDD) disk density and up to 256k XRAM with ultraspeed (Happy/Speedy) and Xf-highspeed. There is also a batchfile-enhancement included - and if you do not know the DOS options, just press the HELP key to list them all. Besides, this DOS requires an XL/XE computer (it will not work correct on a 400/800 computer)... -Andreas Magenheimer.