*** SOLVED *** 3.5 " floppy connection to qdisc interface

[techy]

" Update: I found a disk and could format it (1440 sectors).
It's possible to load and save files ! "





That is what it is all about

now to find out how qlunzip works --> ( if you find the way to do that , feel free to give me the instructions )



techy

[RWAP]

There are instructions on the Sinclair QL Homepage (!)

[Andi B.]

Yes, I could transfer/unzip files (Easel & Cavern) to the QL disk (...I have to try this step by step again to understand & improve).
I think I did it in this way:
1) saved zipped QL file on PC
2) Unzipped it with Q-emulator and Unzip tools (very confusing) on PC
3) Copied unzipped files with WXQT2 to disk on PC
4) Loaded the files from disk on the QL
5) Admired the fancy error messages on my QL

You see - unfortunately both programs didn't correctly start and gave me Superbasic error messages in some lines. I have to investigate this problem I think it's more software related.
But the data transfer itself works.

[RWAP]

If people are not too sure about how to use UNZIP (me included), the best bet is to have a look at the ACP front end available on the Sinclair QL Homepage which adds a pointer driven menu to conrtol lots of archiver programs.

As for the reason why the programs gave an error message on the QL....

This is probably because you saved them to the PC hard disk using q-emulator. Q-emulator adds a special header (when saving to the PC hard disk) to store information on files (such as the dataspace needed for executable programs) - whilst this does not affect you loading them back into q-emulator, programs such as WXQT will not know to remove this header.

Why did you not just attach the floppy disk drive in q-emulator, then use q-emulator to format the floppy disk (in QL format) and copy the files to disk ? Q-emulator would have stripped the header information and turned executable files back into executables

[Andi B.]

Hello Rich,

thanks for the tip with Q-emulator - it's obviously easier...

The errors I mentioned don't occure because of bad file transfer - it has something to do with my QL itself.
E.g. in cavern_bas I get an error message that my QL doesn't know the command ALCHP.
When changing the command to RESPR it works.
I'm a newbie and have no knowledge about the different QL-ROMs or Toolkits but I think it has something to do with that...

And back to topic:
What should I do/know about when connecting a second floppy drive to the controller?
Currently I have a 1:1 cable (only lead 10&12 swaped). How should it look like if I want to connect two drives?

Thanks for any hints!

[techy]

Andi ,


1:1 goes to one 3,5 , the end with the swop of 10 and 12 denotes the second floppy.

That is becous pc drive don't have drive select jumpers anymore nowadays.

Mind that some 3,5 's still have solder points inside which could hardwire it 1 or 2 .


techy

[RWAP]

E.g. in cavern_bas I get an error message that my QL doesn't know the command ALCHP.
When changing the command to RESPR it works.

Ah - ALCHP comes from Toolkit II - it is similar to RESPR, but there is a difference....

The name RESPR comes from Resident Procedure - it's original intention was to allow you to install new procedures and functions for SuperBASIC - the memory allocated cannot be recouped until you reset the QL - but it does mean that if you use it to install a SuperBASIC toolkit, the extra commands will always be available for your programs.

The name ALCHP comes from Allocation Common Heap - this is an area of memory which is reallocated by the QL whenever you use a NEW command, or LOAD command. You can also use the Toolkit II command RECHP to grab back the memory.

The trouble is that Toolkit II became so common, that many programs just assume it is present !

[Andi B.]

Hello,
to connect a floppy to a power supply:
I have a 5V DC with a red and black lead. Simply to connect them with the same coloured leads of the drive connector does not work: the drive is making a continous noise...???

Now I've to watch Felix's Stratos Jump!!!

[techy]

Andi ,

with the brand name , and type of drive you have to do a google search ( there are drives which require +12v too ).

red = +5 v
2 x black = -
yellow = + 12 v



techy

[Andi B.]

Hello,

I have some problems with my disk drives.
As a controller I use a Sandy Board with 512KB and the drives are a "modern" TEAC (1,44MB) and an old TEAC (720KB; Atari ST). The disks I have are used HD disks. And the QL is a German one (with German error messages - so I don't know the exact English ones...)

The problem is now, that following things happen very often (but not always):

Dir flp1_ -> drive starts and don't stop.
Dir flp1_ -> drive immediately says something like "not found".
Format flp1_ -> drive starts and brings a format error after one second.
Load flp1_xyz -> If disk was recognised, loading of a program (e.g. 'clone" of PSION's programs) starts (screen turns blue) but program will not be loaded and QL freezes...
...and so on.

So what could be the source of this strange behavior?
Are the disks worn, the drives old, the IC sockets of controller & QL oxidised, rising temperature...?

Any feedback & help is welcome!