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Write games (.adf files) to Floppy on your Amiga via your PC
13 years ago
So, I had a bunch of floppies with useless / corrupt data on, & loads of games on my PC that I had been playing on an emulator.
Now, everybody knows you can't beat the real experience of playing the games on your genuine Amiga, so I spent a few days searching the internet for way to write my .adf files to floppies.
If you know a little yourself, you'll be aware that writing them with your Windows PC straight to floppy won't work. I tried it anyway, it really doesn't work... So don't waste your time.
Instead!
You will need these things;
1) Amiga Explorer (Install as free trial, it's shareware)
2) Windows PC with a serial port (Some modern mobo's don't have them)
3) Amiga with at least 1 floppy drive (DF0)
4) Serial Null Modem Cable (DB-9F on the PC to DB-25F on the Amiga) *
5) Copy of Workbench 2.0 or later
6) Floppy that has been formatted on your Amiga
7) An .adf file that you want to copy!
* About buying a Serial Null Modem Cable;
You MUST make sure you are buying a genuine Serial Null Modem Cable. These are ALWAYS female to female. Quite commonly you can find DB-9F to DB-25M cables, these usually have redundant areas in the wiring and will not work, even with a gender changer adapter. What ever you do, DON'T buy one of these and plug the DB-25M into your Amiga's Parallel Port. This is a BIG NO-NO. Stop it, just don't even think about it... >:U
On to the Tutorial!
First. download & install Amiga Explorer on your PC. Whilst it's installing, hook up your PC and Amiga with your Serial Null Modem Cable. Simples!
Now, boot your Amiga with Workbench in the drive. (I'm using version 2.04)
You'll need to check that Amiga Explorer and your Amiga are both set to identical connection settings and packet sizes.
On your PC;
Right click on Amiga Explorer's icon, then go to properties. Under the Connection tab, you should have the following settings, if not, change them;
Type : Serial
Port : COM1
Speed : 19200
Next, go to the 'Options' tab, and make sure you have the following settings;
Packet Size : 512
Max Retries : 50
Click 'Apply' and then 'OK'.
Now, on your Amiga;
Workbench should have finished loading by now! Double click on 'Workbench', then double click on 'Prefs' and finally 'Serial'.
From here make sure the settings are as follows;
BAUD Rate : 19200.
Input Buffer Size : 4096
Handshaking : RTS/CTS
Parity : None
Bits / Char : 8
Stop Bits : 1
When you're done, click 'save'. (Don't forget to turn off the write protect on the Floppy first!)
After you have done this, go back to the PC, right Click Amiga Explorer again, and this time click on 'Setup'. Then click 'OK' (to confirm that you have connected your Amiga to the PC with the correct cable), 'Yes' (you are running Workbench 2.0 or higher) and 'OK' again. (that you have set up your Amiga with the correct connection settings).
As prompted, go to your Amiga, open 'Shell' from within Workbench and type these words exactly & then hit the return key on the Amiga then OK on your PC;
Type SER: to RAM:Setup
Now leave it alone whilst your PC copies some files into the Amiga's RAM! There will be a progress bar if you go to your PC.
Again, when prompted type these words exactly & then hit the return key on the Amiga and then Enter on your PC;
RX RAM:Setup
Be aware, this might take a little while. Don't forget the Amiga is ancient in Technology Years. xD
When it has finished, exit Shell and enter the 'RAM Disk'. Here you will now find "AExplorer" and "ReadMe.txt".
So that I don't have to go through this process every time I want to copy a game, I deleted some things off of my copy of WB and then drag and dropped AExplorer into Workbench. Now I only have to use the one disk to load up Amiga Explorer.
After doing this, double click on 'AExplorer' to start the program on the Amiga.
After a few seconds, a window will pop up showing you that it is connected. You can now close any Drawers you have open.
Finally, we've reached the part where you get to write your disk!
Eject Workbench, and put your blank, formatted floppy into the Amiga's Floppy Drive.
Going back to the PC, double click on Amiga Explorer to open the program, if it's not open already.
You will be presented with a screen showing you the following;
Ram Disk (Type; Volume)
diskname (Type; Floppy)
Kick.rom (Type; ROM file)
diskname.adf (Type; ADF file)
Find your .adf file you want to copy to the floppy in the Amiga, then drag and drop it onto the floppy drive. In this example, you would drag and drop the file onto 'diskname'.
You will then be asked if you're sure you want to copy the file to disk, click 'OK' and you will be presented with a progress bar and you should hear your Amiga's floppy disk drive start up!
In my experience, it takes about 15 mins per floppy. So you might want to wander off and occupy yourself with something while it transfers! :P
...and that's it!
Woah, that's more long winded than I thought it would be.
All fairly simple though.
~XW
Now, everybody knows you can't beat the real experience of playing the games on your genuine Amiga, so I spent a few days searching the internet for way to write my .adf files to floppies.
If you know a little yourself, you'll be aware that writing them with your Windows PC straight to floppy won't work. I tried it anyway, it really doesn't work... So don't waste your time.
Instead!
You will need these things;
1) Amiga Explorer (Install as free trial, it's shareware)
2) Windows PC with a serial port (Some modern mobo's don't have them)
3) Amiga with at least 1 floppy drive (DF0)
4) Serial Null Modem Cable (DB-9F on the PC to DB-25F on the Amiga) *
5) Copy of Workbench 2.0 or later
6) Floppy that has been formatted on your Amiga
7) An .adf file that you want to copy!
* About buying a Serial Null Modem Cable;
You MUST make sure you are buying a genuine Serial Null Modem Cable. These are ALWAYS female to female. Quite commonly you can find DB-9F to DB-25M cables, these usually have redundant areas in the wiring and will not work, even with a gender changer adapter. What ever you do, DON'T buy one of these and plug the DB-25M into your Amiga's Parallel Port. This is a BIG NO-NO. Stop it, just don't even think about it... >:U
On to the Tutorial!
First. download & install Amiga Explorer on your PC. Whilst it's installing, hook up your PC and Amiga with your Serial Null Modem Cable. Simples!
Now, boot your Amiga with Workbench in the drive. (I'm using version 2.04)
You'll need to check that Amiga Explorer and your Amiga are both set to identical connection settings and packet sizes.
On your PC;
Right click on Amiga Explorer's icon, then go to properties. Under the Connection tab, you should have the following settings, if not, change them;
Type : Serial
Port : COM1
Speed : 19200
Next, go to the 'Options' tab, and make sure you have the following settings;
Packet Size : 512
Max Retries : 50
Click 'Apply' and then 'OK'.
Now, on your Amiga;
Workbench should have finished loading by now! Double click on 'Workbench', then double click on 'Prefs' and finally 'Serial'.
From here make sure the settings are as follows;
BAUD Rate : 19200.
Input Buffer Size : 4096
Handshaking : RTS/CTS
Parity : None
Bits / Char : 8
Stop Bits : 1
When you're done, click 'save'. (Don't forget to turn off the write protect on the Floppy first!)
After you have done this, go back to the PC, right Click Amiga Explorer again, and this time click on 'Setup'. Then click 'OK' (to confirm that you have connected your Amiga to the PC with the correct cable), 'Yes' (you are running Workbench 2.0 or higher) and 'OK' again. (that you have set up your Amiga with the correct connection settings).
As prompted, go to your Amiga, open 'Shell' from within Workbench and type these words exactly & then hit the return key on the Amiga then OK on your PC;
Type SER: to RAM:Setup
Now leave it alone whilst your PC copies some files into the Amiga's RAM! There will be a progress bar if you go to your PC.
Again, when prompted type these words exactly & then hit the return key on the Amiga and then Enter on your PC;
RX RAM:Setup
Be aware, this might take a little while. Don't forget the Amiga is ancient in Technology Years. xD
When it has finished, exit Shell and enter the 'RAM Disk'. Here you will now find "AExplorer" and "ReadMe.txt".
So that I don't have to go through this process every time I want to copy a game, I deleted some things off of my copy of WB and then drag and dropped AExplorer into Workbench. Now I only have to use the one disk to load up Amiga Explorer.
After doing this, double click on 'AExplorer' to start the program on the Amiga.
After a few seconds, a window will pop up showing you that it is connected. You can now close any Drawers you have open.
Finally, we've reached the part where you get to write your disk!
Eject Workbench, and put your blank, formatted floppy into the Amiga's Floppy Drive.
Going back to the PC, double click on Amiga Explorer to open the program, if it's not open already.
You will be presented with a screen showing you the following;
Ram Disk (Type; Volume)
diskname (Type; Floppy)
Kick.rom (Type; ROM file)
diskname.adf (Type; ADF file)
Find your .adf file you want to copy to the floppy in the Amiga, then drag and drop it onto the floppy drive. In this example, you would drag and drop the file onto 'diskname'.
You will then be asked if you're sure you want to copy the file to disk, click 'OK' and you will be presented with a progress bar and you should hear your Amiga's floppy disk drive start up!
In my experience, it takes about 15 mins per floppy. So you might want to wander off and occupy yourself with something while it transfers! :P
...and that's it!
Woah, that's more long winded than I thought it would be.
All fairly simple though.
~XW
Thaguy123
~thaguy123
D: The only thing i miss is an copy of workbench 2.0 (i have 1.2 D: - But the 2.0 ROM... Kinda messed it up :3)
