Drive Image User Guide

[pieman]

I'm looking for help transferring Petari's ready to use 4GB image to a compact flash card using Drive Image 1.32.

I've recently pulled my Atari STE out of the loft.  The internal 2.5" IDE hard drive was installed years back and still works but is as loud as a jet engine.  Having enjoyed playing some of the adapted games, I thought the flash card image would provide a quiet option with the benefit of having games ready to play.  To this end, a CF-IDE adapter and a 4GB Sandisk Ultra CF card have been acquired to replace the noisy old unit.

I've made a few attempts to transfer the 4GB image using my PC (Windows Vista).  Although Drive Image appears to write to the card, my STE won't recognize it.  My assumption is that there is a problem with the image on the card because my PC also doesn't see any content.  I'm at the end of my understanding and not sure if I should be doing something with RAW, HDF, L/H, CHS or something else to make the transfer successful. 

Can anyone offer advice or walk me through the process?

[Petari]

No need to any special setting. RAW is same as IMG - they are just different file extensions. CHS, HDF are for some other platofrms (Sinclair). L/H is not needed here - as it is DOS format.

What you need is to write IDEboot image on CF card, after writing long 4GB image. IDEboot image is very short, and writes instantly. Then it must be bootable on Atari with TOS 2.06.

What TOS version you have in your STE ?

With Windows, you will see only first partitions (unless patched). But content is on second. So, normal that you see nothing.  However, there are some tools, with which you may check it. For instance Winimage. It will recognise all partitions on CF card. Free for limited trial period.
Drive Imager should also recognise partitions.  If nothing is visible, then may be problem with CF card or USB reader.

If you have TOS 1.06 or 1.62 with your STE, then need boot floppy, from which load hard disk driver.
I will post image of such floppy here, if you need. It must be with AUTO run, for games...

[Anemos]

As petari say no need something special setting on "Drive-imaging",just select your disk,press write to sel >select the image and write.
im using same image 4GB (by petari) with Ultrasatandisk 4 gb HC microSD ,STE 1.62 TOS, windows XP, with out problem, and Disk is bootable and all ok.
You have MEGA-STE? what is that "internal 2.5" IDE hard drive" ? i thing that is added only for MegaST,s and not for desktop STE.

[pieman]

Thanks Guys

Petari  - Could you just confirm if I should use Drive Imager twice? First to write the main image then lay the boot image over that.  I'd assume that the second operation would wipe out the first and haven't tried this. I have tried using HxD to merge the images into one but to no avail.

To give you some information about my system, the IDE interface was installed by a UK company called The Upgrade Shop.  It plugs into the processor socket and there is a cable that connects to a 2.5" drive that sits in the heat shied recess under the top cover.  The Ugrade Shop also installed a switchable TOS upgrade so I can operate in 1.62 or 2.06 mode – there is a toggle switch on the side of the case.  I'm using 2.06 to try and get this working.

Thanks again, I'll try your suggestions and let you know what happens.

[Petari]

Yes, you need first to write large file - it holds all partitions and files. At beginning of it is ACSI boot code.
To achieve that it boot with IDE adapter we need to overwrite ACSI boot part with IDE boot code. It is only 8 KB, so you can write it in few seconds. Then it will autoboot with TOS 2.06 .
Drive Imager will care about not writing more in second pass, than it is necessary.

Other way is to do overwrite in image self - before writing it onto CF card. It is possible with some Hex file editor, but requires some experience. You must overwrite long image file begin with content of IDE boot image. And keep long file length same - so must select same len while doing copy-paste.

I think that first way is simpler.

[pieman]

I've tried the suggestion and my STE now sees the CF card   The boot loader comes up as in the video demo but it only identifies 1 partition, that's partition C at 232 MB.    The alternative partitions are not visible or selectable

Any ideas about what is going wrong and what to try next?

[Anemos]

You seen the others partitions ,D,E,F,ect.. on boot screen?
if yes.. is easy.. on your desktop select the C drive,>Options,> Install Disk Drive> Drive identifier:D,>install.
now you see (and) the the disk D: on your desktop, make same for other disk,s ... E,F,G ect..
at finish.. save your desktop (at Options) to keep that settings.
good luck.

[pieman]

The problem is that I don't see the D,E and F partitions on the boot screen.  I see all partitions when I boot from my old hard so assume the problem is with my new hardware.  I'll try to write the image on a friends PC this weekend – that should rule out any potential problems with my PC or USB reader.  Maybe I need to try a new CF card if that fails.   

I'll keep you posted. 

[pieman]

Hi Guys

Just to let you know that I've got everything up and running.  I can't believe it after some hours trying to make it work and using my Vista PC to copy the image.  I copied the image over using a friend laptop ruining Windows 7 today and everything works like a dream.   I'm can't be sure if there is an issue with Vista or my hardware.  Anyway, we then had a great afternoon playing some old favourites. 

Great work Petari and thanks to you both.

[Anemos]

Good news.. hehe
I told you before.. i use WinXP (more compatible with old good programs..)
Yep Vista has some (a lot) problems..