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Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program

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> Sorry for the delay in replying (I thought I'd set it up so I'd get emails 
> from this group, but that didn't work).
>
> How did you manage to make a working LocoLink disk? I renamed the EMS file 
> to EMT and although the PCW started booting (I got around 5 or 6 black 
> lines at the top of the display), it then stopped mid-way through and 
> beeped to indicate the disk was invalid.
>
> I know that the PCW's A drive (the 3.5 inch one) is configured to boot 
> correctly (it boots with LocoScript / CP/M).
>
> Would you be able to send me a working LocoLink disk image (preferably raw 
> IMG format - I can easily write that onto a disk).
>
> Thanks,
> Andrew

Aha, I think I see the problem?

You've got your machine set up with the 3.5" as A:

In order for this to work, the system (either the CP/M startup. or the Loco 
startup) needs to load the little A35.FIB file.   Both the normal startup 
systems are able to do this.   BUT, the LocoLink file, which REPLACES the 
normal start-up file, is - I'm pretty sure - NOT capable of doing this. 
Therefore the startup fails, as the disk is NOT what the prog is expecting.

When I loaded the prog, I used a 180k format A: which had the LocoLink .EMS 
on it, and YES, it is a much smaller file that the normal startup file so 
YES it put much fewer bars on the screen while it was loading than normal.

I guess (again) that the 'error' is not a fault with the disk, just that the 
loaded file is faulty, incomplete.   The file is prob spread around both 
sides of the disk, but the loader process is reading one side only.

The only possible solution I can think to try is to create a SS 40T format 
on a 3.5" disk, incl the XDPB info in the first sector, and put the file 
onto that, and see what that will do.   Basically, you need to fool the 
loading process into seeing  a normal 180k floppy.

I could create such a disk with 22Disk, however I don't have anything to 
hand to create the .IMG file you suggest.   What software do you use, do you 
have a link for where I can get it?   I've looked into the .IMG file you 
posted a while back, and the Joyce emulator will recognise it and allow 
access to the disk.   I'd guess I'd have to put the normal boot sector (from 
an 8256 disk) in there, as that's part of the kid.   If I created such a 
disk, I could just post it to you, I have quite a pile of non-HD 3.5" disks.

Geoff Barnard, Guisborough 

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LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program Andrew Ferguson <andrewferguson500@gmail.com> - 2016-01-02 06:14 -0800
  Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program Enrique Garcia <enriquegg@gmail.com> - 2016-01-03 00:40 -0800
  Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program "Geoff Barnard" <geoff@jgb17.co.uk> - 2016-01-03 15:26 +0000
    Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program Andrew Ferguson <andrewferguson500@gmail.com> - 2016-01-04 10:32 -0800
      Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program "Geoff Barnard" <geoff@jgb17.co.uk> - 2016-01-04 23:17 +0000
      Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program "Geoff Barnard" <geoff@jgb17.co.uk> - 2016-01-04 23:50 +0000
      Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program "Geoff Barnard" <geoff@jgb17.co.uk> - 2016-01-05 00:37 +0000
      Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program "Geoff Barnard" <geoff@jgb17.co.uk> - 2016-01-05 17:05 +0000
        Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program Andrew Ferguson <andrewferguson500@gmail.com> - 2016-01-06 08:23 -0800
          Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program "Geoff Barnard" <geoff@jgb17.co.uk> - 2016-01-06 18:39 +0000
            Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program Andrew Ferguson <andrewferguson500@gmail.com> - 2016-01-06 12:59 -0800
              Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program "Geoff Barnard" <geoff@jgb17.co.uk> - 2016-01-06 23:00 +0000
                Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program Floppy Software <floppysoftware@gmail.com> - 2016-01-07 11:27 -0800
                Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program Andrew Ferguson <andrewferguson500@gmail.com> - 2016-01-07 13:11 -0800
                Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program Matthew Phillips <spam2011m@yahoo.co.uk> - 2016-01-07 22:45 +0000
                Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program seasip.webmaster@gmail.com - 2016-01-07 15:17 -0800
                Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program "Geoff Barnard" <geoff@jgb17.co.uk> - 2016-01-08 00:42 +0000
                Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program seasip.webmaster@gmail.com - 2016-01-08 06:23 -0800

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