From @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Thu May 18 12:48:33 2000 +1300 Status: X-Status: X-Keywords: >From @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Thu May 18 01:47:33 2000 Received: from burger.forfree.at ([206.161.237.241]) by noah.corenetworks.com (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id BAA01449 for <@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@>; Thu, 18 May 2000 01:47:32 -0300 (ADT) Received: (from mdom@localhost) by burger.forfree.at (8.9.3/8.9.3) id CAA09319 for 1997120709; Thu, 18 May 2000 02:46:32 +0200 Received: from gem.win.co.nz (gem.win.co.nz [210.55.105.242]) by burger.forfree.at (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id CAA09315 for <@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@>; Thu, 18 May 2000 02:46:28 +0200 Received: from tos (tos.gem.win.co.nz [210.55.214.18]) by gem.win.co.nz (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id MAA09623 for <@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@>; Thu, 18 May 2000 12:51:09 +1200 Received: from localhost by tos with smtp (Smail3.1.29.5 #1) id m12sEUK-0003CZC; Thu, 18 May 100 12:48 NZST Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 12:48:33 +1200 From: Brian Becroft <@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@> To: @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ <@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@> Subject: Re: AW: [Notator] Backups In-Reply-To: <@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@> Message-ID: <@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Precedence: bulk Reply-To: @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ X-header: ------------------------------------------------------------ X-header: Unsubscribe? Send an email to: @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ X-header: with the following message: unsubscribe notator X-header: Notator website [FAQ/downloads/help/info/archives etc....] X-header: X-header: List problems? : @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ X-header: ------------------------------------------------------------ [Notator SL mailing list] On Wed, 17 May 2000, Ullrich Peter wrote: > I have a bootdisk for the PC that offers Atari disk reading on the PC. > This driver adds new drive letters - I think one for single and one for double side. > But only normal formats are supported - no 82 tracks and 11 sectors... > > I used it years before but should still work... but only under DOS... Adding new drive letters is a cosmetic function and serves to confuse the issue to the not so knowledgeable... maybe having drive letters is a good thing, but it should be noted, as in an earlier post that there is extremely little difference in the file system of the PC and the Atari, they are largely compatible. You simply stick the disc in the PC floppy drive and open drive "A". What could be simpler? I mean, if you are a DOS person, by all means do it the DOS way, there is no problem whatever, but you don't actually need any special software to read Atari floppy discs on the PC! For standard spec Atari systems like most in this group would be using, the file system supports the 8:3 format, unlike the modern PC system whereby long filenames are possible. But this does not interfere with the compatibility. There are some problems, but for most operations they should be directly compatible. The most common issue I have met with Notator owners is: "Can I use my MIDI files from my Atari directly in my keyboard or synths disc drive?" And the answer is: Yes, almost certainly, it is a question of whether the other device in question supports the PC file system, which most do. However, the problem some have is they find this does not work! Why? Almost always because they are using an Atari STFM which does not format the floppys with the extra bit so the PC can read it. (Or if it is a keyboard or similar, find out whether it is PC compatible.) In this case the simple answer is to use a program like FastCopy which has an option in it for formating to be compatible with the PC format. I use this all the time anyway and do not use the built in formating function in the Atari. HOWEVER! If you own and Atari STE, then this will format the discs to be PC Compatible, actually it is the upgrade in the Operating System (OS) that Atari made when they made the STE that made this possible - it is a standard function which you do not have to even think about - only people with an Atari STFM or below will have to use separate software to get the discs formatted for PC compatibility. There are different versions of the OS (called TOS) the STFMs were all 1.02 or below (not naturally PC compatible for formating) and the STE and other Atari machines had TOS 1.06 and above like the Mega STE, TT030 and Falcon - these are PC compatible for formating discs from the file menu on the desktop. (Remember of course that if you use seperate software for formatting like FastCopy none of this is an issue.) Some people had STFM machines and spent the money to get a higher version of TOS (typically 2.06), then they could format discs and then were PC compatible for formatting from the file menu on the desktop. This is of relevance for Notator users because of the common practice these days of transfering their MIDI files from the Atari to the PC - or the Macintosh, the users of Macintoshes have some software like PC Access which gives them compatibility with the PC file system, and so therefore the Atari discs can be read using this method. We have helped Notator owners through both of these processes - from Atari to PC and from Atari to Macintosh, there is never a problem I have heard of once the basic facts are understood. There are some other problems that people can have when copying folders on Atari formatted discs on the PC and then reading them on the Atari, I may have this slightly confused, but if anyone is wanting to know about this just post up and I'll get the low-down from Mario, it is a problem I have had and it is easily fixed. -- | Brian Becroft | Tariland, Atari user group in New Ze