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Re: LocoLink: Unable to Load PCW Program

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On Wednesday, 6 January 2016 18:39:35 UTC, Geoff Barnard  wrote:
> 
> 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

Oh, I think I understand now.

I use IMG because that's the default format that 'dd' (Linux command-line utility) uses when I backup an PCW 3.5" disk. However, I looked online, and dd can work with other files as well (although I'm not sure if it'll work with the type of file you are suggesting).

My PCW 9512 has a 3-inch A: floppy drive, so soon (probably at the weekend) I'll get it down from the loft and I'll try with that, but in the meantime if you could upload / email a disk image in the easiest format for you, I'll try and get it running on my PCW 8512.

Thanks for all your help,
Andrew

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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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