Date   : Wed, 14 Jul 1999 05:17:37 +0100
From   : Mike Tomlinson <mike@...>
Subject: Re: Making disks from disk images

In article <0182399E7179D211824400A0C9EA408A03C08A@...>,
Jon Bloomfield <Jon.Bloomfield@...> writes
>There was a thread recently concerning the generation of disk image files
>from BBC disks. 
>
>Has anyone out there tried to go in the other direction ? I have just been
>given a BBC Master, with a disk drive, but there was no software with it.
>I'd like to try and create some disks from the images in the software
>archive.

I had the same thought some time ago.  The problem is that very few PC
disc controllers can read BBC discs (which are single density) and
although I haven't tried it, AIUI writing single density would not be
possible.

So the obvious (to me) way forward would be to produce software which
would send the image down the PC's serial port, writing it sector-by-
sector to a fresh disc in the Beeb.  This would require software for
both ends of the link.

I don't think such software exists, does it?

By the way, an advertiser on uk.adverts.computer is giving away free,
but asking the cost of postage, 100 5.25" 360K discs. These may come in
handy for those finding it increasingly difficult to get hold of floppy
discs.  Here's the message:

From: metrobus@... (Andrew Cowell)
Newsgroups: uk.adverts.computer
Subject: FREE: 5.25 inch disks
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 22:11:16


100x360K and 30x1.2M versions available.  Free to whoever can pay the
postage 
or collect from Reading.
Regards,

Andrew Cowell

I'm about to begin sorting through the teetering pile of disc boxes of
BBC discs I have, to try and reduce them to one or two 80-capacity boxes
of software worth keeping.  Would anyone like the spare discs when I'm
done?  I seem to remember Chris Richardson was appealing on his web page
for some.

I recently threw out about 500 360K discs which would have suited the
Beeb but as they contained confidential financial information and I
couldn't face formatting them all, I had to destroy them before putting
them in the bin.  Hate doing anything like that.


-- 
Mike Tomlinson