Date   : Wed, 14 Aug 1996 09:20:45 +0200
From   : Robert Schmidt <rsc@...>
Subject: Re: BBC software transferral

A.Burton wrote:
> 
> Help -
> I finally have my BBC micro to hand, all my old software - boy is it
> nostalgic sifting through all that, and a pc with a 51/4 floppy drive.
> Trouble is I have two problems - first most of my software is on tape,
> and although somewhere I have a program to copy from tape to disk - many
> programs I put on disks that way simp[ly will not run from disk -
> problems with filename length for one, what is the best way of getting
> these gems onto a pc for use in an emulator?

The best way is the easiest one, i.e. the one most readily available.
You either need a PC-BBC serial cable, or a PC with an old floppy
controller.  Tapes can be decoded on a PC, if you have the equipment
(i.e. a sound card) to sample the tapes.

> My other problem is that I use Solidisk 1770 disk filing system, can I
> read these disks on a pc? Otherwise how do I construct a serial cable to
> transfer the files - I know this is a lot of questions but if anyone can

Get Mark de Weger's BBCXfer from my pages.  The docs tell you all there
is to know about the serial cable.  He has also written the page
http://www.nvg.unit.no/bbc/xfer-conv.html on transferring and conversion
issues.

It is very unlikely that you'll be able to read the disks on a PC,
because modern floppy controllers have problems with the low density of
data on BBC disks.  However, if you have access to an old XT/AT with a
5.25" drive, please try FDC, Anadisk and BeebDOS!  Maybe you're a lucky
man.  All are found on http://www.nvg.unit.no/bbc/software.html .  Disk
images are easily converted to other formats using Wouter Scholten's
bbcim.

Also, DOSFS is supposed to be able to read (write?) DOS 360KB disks on a
BBC with sideways RAM and a 1770.

> help I hope I can pay back by uploading a lot of stuff to
> www.nvg.unit.no/bbc if it's wanted that is!!!

Any contributions are welcome - never fear... :)  If it's large, I'd
like a notification through mail first, though.

--
Robert Schmidt <rsc@...       > 
Software Developer / Vingmed Sound tel +47 67124237 fax +47 67124355
Private tel +47 22352293 WWW http://www.nvg.unit.no/~rsc

It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.