Reading/writing Vic 20 (and C64/128) files, revisited

[PaulQ]

As some of you know, I have an old PC loaded up with DOS to use my X1541 cable with one of my 1541's.

It's difficult justifying keeping that computer set up when I don't have a permanent home for my Vic 20.

We all know the problems with using StarCommander, and even the X1541, with a modern Windows XP computer.

I'm going to try an alternative. I've discovered a package that will automatically repartition an NTFS disk to create a 500MB Fat32 partition, and then will install DOS. It also installs a boot manager. All without destroying the existing files. My theory is, since my PC will be running pure DOS, StarCommander and the X1541 ought to work perfectly.

Here's the link for others to try:

http://johnson.tmfc.net/dos/

Click on "Add DOS to Preinstalled Windows" in the menu on the left.

[ral-clan]

I'm going to try an alternative. I've discovered a package that will automatically repartition an NTFS disk to create a 500MB Fat32 partition, and then will install DOS. It also installs a boot manager. All without destroying the existing files. My theory is, since my PC will be running pure DOS, StarCommander and the X1541 ought to work perfectly.

I don't know about the X1541. The parallel ports on some of the newer PCs are wierd or different in some way and require an XE1541 cable, oft-times. I think this is what happened with me (and the computer the X1541 cable failed on was only as recent as 1999!).

The X1541 worked fine on an old 486 laptop I had, though. So I just pulled it out to use as a "convertor box" from PC 3.5" disk (containing VIC files) to Commodore 1541 5.25" for a while (until I finally built a XE1541 cable).

[dragos]

CBM4WIN, GUI for CBM4WIN and an x-cable. all you need for trouble free xp love.

star commander is lame....

[Jeff-20]

CBM4WIN, GUI for CBM4WIN and an x-cable. all you need for trouble free xp love.

star commander is lame....

Word! Everything he said. It took me years to figure that out, and I am sooo happy now.

[carlsson]

But you need the XM1541 cable, not the XE1541 if you want to play in XP. The difference is minimal, just two wires crossed if I recall correctly.

In theory, you can take your X1541 cable, open up the parallel port side and solder in four Schottky diodes (e.g. BAT85) in the right places.

[6502dude]

I used to have an old 486 dedicated setup for Star Commander.

I switched to an old P2 notebook. It takes up less space and may be put away quickly when not needed.

[PaulQ]

I used to have an old 486 dedicated setup for Star Commander.

I switched to an old P2 notebook. It takes up less space and may be put away quickly when not needed.

Which is an excellent idea. I'm just thinking long-term here, as well as convenience. That old Compaq of mine that you helped me with isn't aging gracefully, I'm afraid. It still functions, until it gets too warm.

[nbla000]

I've a really practical solution for your problem.

What you need:

1) SD-Card reader on your PC + an SD-Card like used for digital Cameras
2) a C64 with the 15x1 drive
3) MMC64 cartridge for the C64


How it works:
1) Copy the D64/D71/D81 images from your PC to the SD-Card
2) Write the D64/D71/D81 images to the 15X1 disk drive by using the C64+MMC64


that's all, no X[m]1541 cables, no bios change, no drives/psu to move, just copy and paste.

[Mayhem]

I used to have an old 486 dedicated setup for Star Commander.

I still have mine from when I was at uni in the mid 90s, faithfully sitting around waiting for transfer time... I bought it an extra parallel card a couple of years back so I could have my parallel modded 1541 and 1531 connected at the same time for MNIB/Star Com/MTAP action.

Of course having been so long it was an "interesting" experience remembering what ports/DMA/IRQ I was already using so I could set the jumpers on it correctly

[carlsson]

MMC64 cartridge

Is the MMC (Replay) 64 more reliable than the MMC2IEC interface? That is one that I'm really curious to buy, and if it works properly has the added advantage that you don't need a C64 to play VIC games. Also the 1541 Ultimate comes with an IEC port so it can be used outside of a C64 solution.