Piters' system is for using the CF card in memory mode, not as an IDE device. I assume this means that it can do a software reset so doesn't require the reset line.
It's a similar interface, but it's not really the same thing. The simple IDE interface is an IDE interface, this is a compact flash card interface :)
There is no reason why software shouldn't do 8-bit transfers to the CF card using a standard simple-ide interface. I will probably add this capability to my driver as soon as someone gives me a CF-IDE adapter so I can actually test the code ;)
Going back to working a bit on my CF card drive for my +3e...
Going through the instructions posted on the +3e website for partitioning and formating the CF card/HDD:
"Run FDISK.
Once the disk is completely empty (check this with option 4, display partition information), select option 1 (create DOS partition). Then choose sub-option 2 (create extended partition); this will become your IDEDOS partition. Choose a size in megabytes (noting that fdisk treats 1MB=1048576 bytes); I chose 31MB for my IDEDOS partition. Once this has been done, you will automatically be asked to create a logical drive within the extended partition - do not do this! Instead ESCape back to the main menu.
Now choose option 1 and sub-option 1 (create primary DOS partition). Choose the default of allocating all remaining space to this drive."
I've downloaded several boot up disks from bootdisk.com. Everything from MSDOS to WIN98, etc...
Whichever one I try and run FDISK it won't let me choose first to create an extended partition as stated in the instructions. I have to create a primary partition first.
It seems logical to have to create a primary partition first but wondering if I'm doing something wrong?
I've tried it out a few ways, some, the CF/HDD on the +3e won't even show up and others shows 2 IDE available :/
Also running the latest +3e ROMs 1.38 (sm8en A & B).
It sounds like you are following the instructions to make a "shared disk". This is rather pointless if you only have a simple 8-bit interface as there's currently no software for the simple 8 bit interface that can access IBM-type partitions from the speccy.
Just power the speccy up with the CF card and FORMAT TO 0,31
This wipes off anything that was already on the card anyway.
It sounds like you are following the instructions to make a "shared disk". This is rather pointless if you only have a simple 8-bit interface as there's currently no software for the simple 8 bit interface that can access IBM-type partitions from the speccy.
Just power the speccy up with the CF card and FORMAT TO 0,31
This wipes off anything that was already on the card anyway.
Yay it works! Thanks guesser :)
Have it formated and partitioned (games, utility, system and a couple of swap partitions) and going to load some games up now.
So far so good :)
Majority of the games are loading and running fine.
Trying all in .Z80 format.
A few games seem to have some bugs, but I'll try a few other releases of them:
In Renegade 128K version, pressing '0' or Sinclair joy fire, skips to the next level (could be a cheat in there?). Ahh, and btw, there's no in game music like on my 128k+ heatsink Speccy.
In Target Renegade, level 1 seems to repeat itself.
Jetpac runs, has menu screen, but once you start playing, video goes black (but game still plays).
***Update: Tried different releases of the games and everything now works great. The Jetpac problem was because it was running on a 128k machine and I selected keyboard.
Also, are there any solutions for multi-loading (start/stop tape) type of games?
Example would be Myth and R-Type. They run but then ask to load level 1 or side B. Again just trying .Z80 format. Would saving the snapshot in .SNA save the entire game and loads, or other method?
Will probably try one in .SNA and see what happens. Hmm...will have to see if you can save the entire game data maybe as a .ROM file?
Also, most if not all of these .Z80 files are captured and saved in Spectaculator in +3e mode (same file I'm using on my real +3e...sm8en), game loaded, paused, then save as (xxx.z80).
Comments
It's a similar interface, but it's not really the same thing. The simple IDE interface is an IDE interface, this is a compact flash card interface :)
There is no reason why software shouldn't do 8-bit transfers to the CF card using a standard simple-ide interface. I will probably add this capability to my driver as soon as someone gives me a CF-IDE adapter so I can actually test the code ;)
Going through the instructions posted on the +3e website for partitioning and formating the CF card/HDD:
"Run FDISK.
Once the disk is completely empty (check this with option 4, display partition information), select option 1 (create DOS partition). Then choose sub-option 2 (create extended partition); this will become your IDEDOS partition. Choose a size in megabytes (noting that fdisk treats 1MB=1048576 bytes); I chose 31MB for my IDEDOS partition. Once this has been done, you will automatically be asked to create a logical drive within the extended partition - do not do this! Instead ESCape back to the main menu.
Now choose option 1 and sub-option 1 (create primary DOS partition). Choose the default of allocating all remaining space to this drive."
I've downloaded several boot up disks from bootdisk.com. Everything from MSDOS to WIN98, etc...
Whichever one I try and run FDISK it won't let me choose first to create an extended partition as stated in the instructions. I have to create a primary partition first.
It seems logical to have to create a primary partition first but wondering if I'm doing something wrong?
I've tried it out a few ways, some, the CF/HDD on the +3e won't even show up and others shows 2 IDE available :/
Also running the latest +3e ROMs 1.38 (sm8en A & B).
t
My Arcade Cabinetl
Just power the speccy up with the CF card and FORMAT TO 0,31
This wipes off anything that was already on the card anyway.
Yay it works! Thanks guesser :)
Have it formated and partitioned (games, utility, system and a couple of swap partitions) and going to load some games up now.
thanks again
t
My Arcade Cabinetl
Majority of the games are loading and running fine.
Trying all in .Z80 format.
A few games seem to have some bugs, but I'll try a few other releases of them:
In Renegade 128K version, pressing '0' or Sinclair joy fire, skips to the next level (could be a cheat in there?). Ahh, and btw, there's no in game music like on my 128k+ heatsink Speccy.
In Target Renegade, level 1 seems to repeat itself.
Jetpac runs, has menu screen, but once you start playing, video goes black (but game still plays).
***Update: Tried different releases of the games and everything now works great. The Jetpac problem was because it was running on a 128k machine and I selected keyboard.
Also, are there any solutions for multi-loading (start/stop tape) type of games?
Example would be Myth and R-Type. They run but then ask to load level 1 or side B. Again just trying .Z80 format. Would saving the snapshot in .SNA save the entire game and loads, or other method?
Will probably try one in .SNA and see what happens. Hmm...will have to see if you can save the entire game data maybe as a .ROM file?
Also, most if not all of these .Z80 files are captured and saved in Spectaculator in +3e mode (same file I'm using on my real +3e...sm8en), game loaded, paused, then save as (xxx.z80).
t
My Arcade Cabinetl