Spectrum +3e 8Bit IDE and Divide Plus Help

[z3spacial]

Hi All,

This is probably an unusual configuration - hopefully a couple of you have the same issues, and I'm sure Zetro will know what I'm on about....

I have a 128 +3e with Zeets 8bit IDE adapter - it works perfectly, reading /writing CF all day no probs.

I also have a DivIDE plus, which also works with the +3e no probs.

What I want to do is to be able to copy from a CF attached to the internal IDE to the CF attached to the DivIDE plus - and vice versa.

The problem is, I cant seem to find any O/S that enables me to write to both - it's either one or the other.... residos seems a solution but I can't quite seem to get there....

Is there a solution ?

Helllllllllpppppppppppppp!!!!

(and thanks)

 

[Zetr0]

@z3spacial

Sadly my friend, as you have discovered it is a one or the other type scenario -

However - you can run your DivIDE in 16bit IDE mode - you will need a new set of ROM's sadly

To put your DivIDE in 16bit IDE mode, remove the jumpers from the adapter and insert your DivEN+3e ROMs'

Plug in any hard-disk device / LS120-240 / ZIP and you are away -

A CD ROM will need to be prepared properly for use - i.e. constructed as multiple +3e DOS Volume and partitions - a little tricky to be honest.

But if its removable - quick swap media then you can use a Zip drive or LS120 or similar - as you can have up to 2 16bit atapi devices on the DivIDE

 

[z3spacial]

@ Zetr0
I made a mistake in my help request - i meant CF to CF not CF to CD!!!

Also,

Not for the first time m8, your genius has lost me...

What are DivEN+3e ROMS ? and where would I get them ? Are they just varients of the normal 3e roms ?


And off topic....

How far are you off your utility to add stuff to the CF card via HDF injection - gotta say, i'm really strugglin with this....not aided by my dodgy typos and the limited amount of time I have with it


Thanks!

 

[Zetr0]

Hello my friend,

@ Zetr0
I made a mistake in my help request - i meant CF to CF not CF to CD!!!

Also,

Not for the first time m8, your genius has lost me...

What are DivEN+3e ROMS ? and where would I get them ? Are they just varients of the normal 3e roms ?

you can get the DivEN3e ROMS from this pack here - they are hosted with more info on this site - Amstrad have been gracious to allow distribution of their code as long as its not sold commercially as an embedded product.

Alternatively when I repair your adapter (once it arrives) I can send you a couple of sets of ROM's if you like.

And off topic....

How far are you off your utility to add stuff to the CF card via HDF injection - gotta say, i'm really strugglin with this....not aided by my dodgy typos and the limited amount of time I have with it


Thanks!

Sadly my friend the util will get finished when I get the time to complete it, at the moment I have it working reading the structure of +3e Disks in DOS / SHELL - so its a little way off at the moment - but it is something I am trying to bang out - so watch this space.

 

[protek]

Here's how I've done:
I formatted and partitioned the CF card within the +3. I then read the contents into hdf image using Pera Putnik's DriveImage utility in PC. There's another utility called 3E with a separate Windows GUI that enables you to either transfer snapshots and taps into the hdf or directly into the CF card that is connected to PC. I then write the hdf back with DriveImage. This doesn't directly solve your problem but it does help you to populate the CF card in 8-bit interface.

I'm also trying to utilize the +3 to get stuff on my Amstrad CPC6128. I've got a dedicated partition for Amstrad dsk images in my CF. I've transferred those using the 3E. I'm going to try to get DU54 on to the CF card and use that within the +3 to write the image on real disk.

 

[z3spacial]

I think that is the way to go for now. I've just got all the software and as soon as I get chance, I'll have a play and post on here how i get on.

Thanks Protek (and Zeets)!

 

[z3spacial]

@Protek

Any chance of doing a run through of the Drive Image util ?

I create a CF on the speccy, save a few programs etc and all is well.

I then read it into drive image, but the 3e program (or rather the gui that you can get for 3e) gives a fatal error re: partition structure.

If you can detail the procedure it'd be much appreciated....

 

[protek]

@z3spacial:

The GUI seemed to work but when tried in an emulator, it turned out that the emulator couldn't see the files. So I had to revert to good ole DOS prompt to get the job done.

I used Fuse for emulation and had no problems with that.

If you're not able to format and partition the card in a real Spectrum, you can use DriveImage to create one for you. Just select HDF256 as image format and then click create Image. If you can make the card in a real Spectrum then use 'Read from drive' in DriveImage, while the card is in PC and it'll make the hdf for you. Then use 3E in DOS prompt to transfer files onto the card. If you wish you can use either the GUI or Fuse to check that the stuff has actually been transferred. Just make sure, when you're transferring files that you type also the target filename, otherwise you end up with single file with no name that you can't see in Spectrum but the 3E GUI shows it as empty file.

After you got all the files transferred onto the hdf then it's matter of writing the hdf back to card with DriveImage. It takes a loooong time at least with a 1,7 GB image.

Hope this helps.

 

[z3spacial]

@Protek - thanks for all your hints and tips

I seem to have sorted the problems I had - part of it being that my PC didn't like the CF adapter I was using but neglected to tell me!!

I created a sample card on a real speccy, then read it in via DRVIMG. I was then able to load the new image into the GUI'd +3E util (3EStroSaw10) and added my .z80 images. Losing long filenames is a pain as I thought the speccy supported them - ah well.

I then wrote back to the card with DRVIMG again and could then see the files in my speccy - 90% play correctly = RESULT

Completely changed my usage now - lovely.

THANKS AGAIN!