Newbie Atari ST question

[ac3]

This is a real newbie question having only ever used ZX Spectrums and Amigas so this Atari STFM I just picked up is very new to me and a bit confusing. Basically it loads up fine but trying to load any games it freezes on a white screen. I suspect it's a ram issue so went looking for some ram test software from what I can tell YAART is the one to get. Anyway I've downloaded YAART (Yet another ram test) but it's in .TOS format. So far messing about with floppy disks and an old laptop / disk images I've only come across software and games in .st and .prg format. How do I go about putting this .tos file on disk? judging by the file size it's not a rom image?

 

[Harrison]

As the Atari ST uses a disk format very similar to a PC you can write disk images back to disk from a PC normally. Take a look at this program.

http://atari.8bitchip.info/floimgd.php

Once you have you disk, put it into the Atari and then turn it on. Hopefully it will boot. If you don't put a disk into the ST it will boot to the GEM desktop, and you can then access disks and look at their content.

However a .TOS file is normally an Atari ST rom filem not a disk image. Think if the TOS as similar to the Amiga Kickstart. It's the rom chips inside the ST that boots the system and contains the TOS and GEM desktop. Emulators use .TOS files to load the TOS into them to run the emulation, just as you would load a Kickstart file into an Amiga emulator to make it work.

Regading your ST not booting. You say it loads up fine? So when you start it without a disk in it goes to the GEM desktop? How are you trying to load games? You can't normally load them from the desktop. You insert the game disk and press the reset button.

 

[KBQ]

However a .TOS file is normally an Atari ST rom filem not a disk image. Think if the TOS as similar to the Amiga Kickstart. It's the rom chips inside the ST that boots the system and contains the TOS and GEM desktop. Emulators use .TOS files to load the TOS into them to run the emulation, just as you would load a Kickstart file into an Amiga emulator to make it work.

Err, wot?

.TOS files are Atari ST Programs that don't use the GUI. You can just put it on a floppy disk and click on it.

 

[Harrison]

Depends if it's emulation or real ST related, because in emulators you use .tos files to load the roms.

But yes you are correct. If it's a real ST .tos program file then format a disk on the ST, then pop it into the pc and copy the file onto it.

 

[zedex82]

When you turn the ST on for the first time it does take a liitle while to boot to GEM or a game and the screen will remain white whilst it is doing a memory test and other things. Have you tried leaving it for a minute without the disk in the drive?