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#41
Hardware / Re: SD card mass storage solut...
Last post by Petari - 16-12-2024, 21:13:56Yes, of course.
#42
News / Re: Of course deleted
Last post by Petari - 16-12-2024, 20:55:59Yes, I used around 2000-2010 Linux distros with support for TOS type FAT16 partitioned storage. Once even compiled myself. But that was not interesting for me since I developed TOS/DOS compatible partitioning. And it is good for MacOS too, and Windows, as DOS FAT16 became standard long time ago, and it uses standard master boot record, unlike TOS type partitioning. Can see details about it on some sites. Nothing complicated.
What is funny is that Atari went on compatibility, but did it only partially. And all what TOS does is reading MBR (very first sector on media), then hard disk driver does interpreting of MBR and mounting of partitions. They could go on standard MBR format in partitioning SW (AHDI) . My driver supports both. And if for instance SD card in first slot is with my driver, and in second is card with TOS partitioning all it will be mounted - up to total max 14 partitions (C-P - TOS limit). So, file transfers are easy.
What is funny is that Atari went on compatibility, but did it only partially. And all what TOS does is reading MBR (very first sector on media), then hard disk driver does interpreting of MBR and mounting of partitions. They could go on standard MBR format in partitioning SW (AHDI) . My driver supports both. And if for instance SD card in first slot is with my driver, and in second is card with TOS partitioning all it will be mounted - up to total max 14 partitions (C-P - TOS limit). So, file transfers are easy.
#43
Hardware / Re: SD card mass storage solut...
Last post by Ronald J. Hall - 16-12-2024, 18:08:11Peter, is it okay if I post this message on my BBS,
to further get the word out about it?
Thanks.
to further get the word out about it?
Thanks.
#44
News / Re: Of course deleted
Last post by Ronald J. Hall - 16-12-2024, 18:05:48I think I remember that thread over at AF. IIRC, it's got to do with
how the Atari ST format is not included anymore in a lot of Linux
distributions. I use Kubuntu Linux on my laptop and just a few years
ago it would recognize an Atari ST formatted SD card without issue
but hasn't in a while, since a couple of years worth of updates.
Now I use Mtools, which still works great.
I think you can still recompile the kernel and add Atari support back
but I've always been comfortable with Mtools so it wasn't a big deal
for me. Of course, going back and forth with a Windows machine is dead
easy, as long as you set the parameters of your Atari ST formatted SD
card right.
Regardless, there wasn't any call to delete your comment, especially
since you were just trying to be helpful...
how the Atari ST format is not included anymore in a lot of Linux
distributions. I use Kubuntu Linux on my laptop and just a few years
ago it would recognize an Atari ST formatted SD card without issue
but hasn't in a while, since a couple of years worth of updates.
Now I use Mtools, which still works great.
I think you can still recompile the kernel and add Atari support back
but I've always been comfortable with Mtools so it wasn't a big deal
for me. Of course, going back and forth with a Windows machine is dead
easy, as long as you set the parameters of your Atari ST formatted SD
card right.
Regardless, there wasn't any call to delete your comment, especially
since you were just trying to be helpful...
#45
Hardware / SD card mass storage solution ...
Last post by Petari - 16-12-2024, 12:02:21Wanna SD card mass storage solution for your Atari, what runs all hard disk SW ?
Special Xmas offer: ACSI2STM with 2 SD card slots, my TOS/DOS compatible hard disk dirver/partitioner SW . And as special bonus New 7 GB image with over 2530 game DIRs - on SD card. Mail me at petari@8bitchip.info and/or pputnik@freemail.hu .
Special Xmas offer: ACSI2STM with 2 SD card slots, my TOS/DOS compatible hard disk dirver/partitioner SW . And as special bonus New 7 GB image with over 2530 game DIRs - on SD card. Mail me at petari@8bitchip.info and/or pputnik@freemail.hu .
#46
News / Of course deleted
Last post by Petari - 16-12-2024, 11:45:30 I added comment to this YT video page: deleted
My comment was: "There is a way to access TOS type partitioned SD card (or any other storage actually, what can be attached to PC) - just make image of that - like from SD card by using USB reader (as usual, name is not really good, they can write too) with proper SW - like https://atari.8bitchip.info/drimus.php .
Then can use some newer emulator for Atari ST, what supports real hard disk emulation - Hatari, Steem SSE . Old Steem can access max 1 GB size (via pasti.dll) .
And to add, even without emulator you can access and do file transfers with my Win program (link above) . Not really for transferring large number of files .
Want to know more details ? Look, read this: https://atari.8bitchip.info/ASTfamMS.html "
I saved it, expecting that will be deleted, and it happened in some 10 minutes max .
Of course, why allow other's opinions, experience ? No ! 'I do it best ! ' .
There was thread at great AF, where someone described his some solution, and added that it is only way how it can be done . That's really something what is extremely rare case. What is extremely spread is egoism, big words in interest to attract people attention ... And very common by Atari ST SW, HW developers.
My little mocking there was deleted by AF staff - how I dared to write there my opinion about someone's way of thinking . Because they just have no clue about some general laws, rules. And to add, in opposite case, if I would write such big stupid claim to favorize myself, and someone would add some comment on it, that would be not deleted. Because rule 'be fair with everyone" matters not, especially not in 21-st C.
My comment was: "There is a way to access TOS type partitioned SD card (or any other storage actually, what can be attached to PC) - just make image of that - like from SD card by using USB reader (as usual, name is not really good, they can write too) with proper SW - like https://atari.8bitchip.info/drimus.php .
Then can use some newer emulator for Atari ST, what supports real hard disk emulation - Hatari, Steem SSE . Old Steem can access max 1 GB size (via pasti.dll) .
And to add, even without emulator you can access and do file transfers with my Win program (link above) . Not really for transferring large number of files .
Want to know more details ? Look, read this: https://atari.8bitchip.info/ASTfamMS.html "
I saved it, expecting that will be deleted, and it happened in some 10 minutes max .
Of course, why allow other's opinions, experience ? No ! 'I do it best ! ' .
There was thread at great AF, where someone described his some solution, and added that it is only way how it can be done . That's really something what is extremely rare case. What is extremely spread is egoism, big words in interest to attract people attention ... And very common by Atari ST SW, HW developers.
My little mocking there was deleted by AF staff - how I dared to write there my opinion about someone's way of thinking . Because they just have no clue about some general laws, rules. And to add, in opposite case, if I would write such big stupid claim to favorize myself, and someone would add some comment on it, that would be not deleted. Because rule 'be fair with everyone" matters not, especially not in 21-st C.
#47
Software / How stupid programmers can be ...
Last post by Petari - 14-12-2024, 16:00:43 I saw this kind of text supplied with some Atari ST SW many times, and I'm sure that others saw such too :
"I don't know of any bugs in this program, however if it screws up
your system please do not start moaning at me: I disclaim all
responsibility for anything that it may do."
Huh ! Let see this using some shallowless thinking: What is system (letter S in TOS, OS) by running Atari ST SW ?
How can something in ROM be screwed by some SW ? Hahaha ... Or maybe this programmer meant some HW failure ? Really, in my now 41 years long experience with home computers I did not see any HW damage caused by SW - talking about Sinclair Spectrum, what I bought in 1983 and Atari ST at 1987 . And in those years I repaired looot of C64 - non of failures were caused by SW, most of it was by bad HW design, something less by low quality components. My later experience in repairing PCs was exactly the same .
Worst thing what can happen is damaging SW on floppy from which SW is running.
Hard disk run (not typical in those years) ? - normal SW can not damage whole partitions and like. Can delete some files and like. What damages partitions is kind of virus. Were such made for Atari ST ? I don't know about it. Was lot of viruses damaging floppy content - way not so harmful as damaging hard disk content.
So, whole blah was really just kind of self defense for all maybe oncoming cases. Or in my knowledge - admitting of 'how little knowledge I have :-) ' - but I want to be programmer. Well, at most of them it did not last long.
And yes, there were many other things which did not know about Atari ST SW programming. Partially because they did not take effort to read Atari ST DOCs, in much less part because Atari self did not make/publish enough precise, detailed DOCs .
And why I write all this at end of 2024 ? Because I needed to fix really plenty of Atari ST programs, so they can work from hard disks (pardon, SD cards), all TOS versions . Most of it could be not necessary with more serious approach of involved ones .
"I don't know of any bugs in this program, however if it screws up
your system please do not start moaning at me: I disclaim all
responsibility for anything that it may do."
Huh ! Let see this using some shallowless thinking: What is system (letter S in TOS, OS) by running Atari ST SW ?
How can something in ROM be screwed by some SW ? Hahaha ... Or maybe this programmer meant some HW failure ? Really, in my now 41 years long experience with home computers I did not see any HW damage caused by SW - talking about Sinclair Spectrum, what I bought in 1983 and Atari ST at 1987 . And in those years I repaired looot of C64 - non of failures were caused by SW, most of it was by bad HW design, something less by low quality components. My later experience in repairing PCs was exactly the same .
Worst thing what can happen is damaging SW on floppy from which SW is running.
Hard disk run (not typical in those years) ? - normal SW can not damage whole partitions and like. Can delete some files and like. What damages partitions is kind of virus. Were such made for Atari ST ? I don't know about it. Was lot of viruses damaging floppy content - way not so harmful as damaging hard disk content.
So, whole blah was really just kind of self defense for all maybe oncoming cases. Or in my knowledge - admitting of 'how little knowledge I have :-) ' - but I want to be programmer. Well, at most of them it did not last long.
And yes, there were many other things which did not know about Atari ST SW programming. Partially because they did not take effort to read Atari ST DOCs, in much less part because Atari self did not make/publish enough precise, detailed DOCs .
And why I write all this at end of 2024 ? Because I needed to fix really plenty of Atari ST programs, so they can work from hard disks (pardon, SD cards), all TOS versions . Most of it could be not necessary with more serious approach of involved ones .
#48
FAQ / Why Atari ST was less popular ...
Last post by Petari - 12-12-2024, 14:23:38 Yes, this is frequently asked question.
My opinion is that there were really multiple factors involved.
History of Atari company - of course, known for game consoles - home and public ones, games, then 8-bit home computers, which were more oriented for game playing than some serious usage - very simple Basic for instance. Additionally, Jack Tramiel was founder and long time main man in Commodore, what was also mostly game computer manufacturer (C64 in first part, most sold). Some may not liking that was from Canada.
1985 - there were already GUI computers on Market - Apple Mac was pretty popular, despite high price. Windows first versions appeared too. And there was DRI . Then, there was big financial help for those students which bought Apple computer.
It was certainly good idea to go on 16-bit, GUI machine. And by me good idea was to make it universal, so good for all types of SW . With interfaces for then actual, oncoming peripherals. Mass storage too.
And here comes one of biggest flaws, by me : no universal expansion port . That was present on most of 8-biters. It came first with Mega ST , then with TT, Mega ST, Falcon - and all of it was different.
OS: done by DRI, actually kind of GEM for PC GUI port, then part dealing with disk/file operations - for floppies, hard disks, so FAT12, FAT16 . It was made DOS compatible, including Intel byte order (low, high) . But compatibility was not complete - in case of floppies it was format what was not compatible, later versions little better - well, by me not real flaw, as there were diverse format programs for floppies available for free too - myself wrote such too. But such details certainly distracted some potential buyers.
Hard disk support - complex story. It evolved in later TOS versions, but not as much as could. My opinion is that main culprit was DRI C compiler for 68000 CPU . Compatibility with then already wide used DOS partitions was just partial, and worse than in case of floppies. After 1991 that should be better.
Price factor: indeed Atari ST had very good power/price ratio, what was part of adverts too ... I think that that was more motivating for European buyers. And USD was then with pretty high exchange ratio too .
My opinion is that there were really multiple factors involved.
History of Atari company - of course, known for game consoles - home and public ones, games, then 8-bit home computers, which were more oriented for game playing than some serious usage - very simple Basic for instance. Additionally, Jack Tramiel was founder and long time main man in Commodore, what was also mostly game computer manufacturer (C64 in first part, most sold). Some may not liking that was from Canada.
1985 - there were already GUI computers on Market - Apple Mac was pretty popular, despite high price. Windows first versions appeared too. And there was DRI . Then, there was big financial help for those students which bought Apple computer.
It was certainly good idea to go on 16-bit, GUI machine. And by me good idea was to make it universal, so good for all types of SW . With interfaces for then actual, oncoming peripherals. Mass storage too.
And here comes one of biggest flaws, by me : no universal expansion port . That was present on most of 8-biters. It came first with Mega ST , then with TT, Mega ST, Falcon - and all of it was different.
OS: done by DRI, actually kind of GEM for PC GUI port, then part dealing with disk/file operations - for floppies, hard disks, so FAT12, FAT16 . It was made DOS compatible, including Intel byte order (low, high) . But compatibility was not complete - in case of floppies it was format what was not compatible, later versions little better - well, by me not real flaw, as there were diverse format programs for floppies available for free too - myself wrote such too. But such details certainly distracted some potential buyers.
Hard disk support - complex story. It evolved in later TOS versions, but not as much as could. My opinion is that main culprit was DRI C compiler for 68000 CPU . Compatibility with then already wide used DOS partitions was just partial, and worse than in case of floppies. After 1991 that should be better.
Price factor: indeed Atari ST had very good power/price ratio, what was part of adverts too ... I think that that was more motivating for European buyers. And USD was then with pretty high exchange ratio too .
#49
Software / Re: Atariausgabe releases 1-...
Last post by Ronald J. Hall - 12-12-2024, 02:29:44Okay, I switched the Pak 030 in the STacy down to 8mhz, TOS v1.04
compatibility mode and now they work.
You're right about it being a bit mixed. Some are mono and some are
color. I didn't try every single one but went through a handful and
those were okay.
Thanks much!
compatibility mode and now they work.
You're right about it being a bit mixed. Some are mono and some are
color. I didn't try every single one but went through a handful and
those were okay.
Thanks much!
#50
Software / Re: New game adaptations
Last post by Petari - 11-12-2024, 19:20:42 New 7 GB image with over 2530 game DIRs is almost completed. Mail me at petari@8bitchip.info - this week very good conditions to get it. It is for TOS 1.04 and higher, now usual/popular SD cards adapters. IDE adapters too. TOS/DOS compatible partitions, game menu, search function ..
What is added can see in replies above here.
And added this days: Shocker 2, Kids Talk, Dungeons & Amethists, Atariausgabe 1-9 (with fixes), Espace ...
What is added can see in replies above here.
And added this days: Shocker 2, Kids Talk, Dungeons & Amethists, Atariausgabe 1-9 (with fixes), Espace ...