Date   : Tue, 07 Jun 2005 01:14:26 +0100
From   : jgh@... (Jonathan Graham Harston)
Subject: Re: GoMMC versus hard drive. Which way to go?

"neil f" <faz@...> wrote:
> HD +/-
> ------
> No file transfer with PC possible - would have to add a PC 5.25"
 
or 3.5" floppy on the BBC.
 
> floppy to achieve this.
 
The BBC/Master filesystem starts at an offset from the start of
the physical hard drive, allowing a DOS/Windows root directory
structure to be placed in the first 128K of the drive. This can
then contain a file entry 'containing' the drive contents that
will be accessible by any software that understands BBC/Master
disk images, eg (off the top of my head) BBCExplorer, BeebEm, etc.
 
Also, with an IDE-CF adaptor Compact Flash cards should be usable.
I am planning on testing this at some point.
 
> Otherwise conventional (hierarchical) HD file
 
Sprow's DOSFS has the opportunity of being able to access the
native DOS/Windows filesystem on a DOS/Windows hard drive.
 
> storage is possible. May still be issues with the interface. Low cost
 
The 8-bit interface is a working low-entry solution. I believe we
have ironed out the bugs in the 16-bit interface. At least one
person has reported it working.
 
> using existing spare HD.
> 
> Are there other issues? I'm not sure which way to go but I could
 
It all depends on what you see your requirements and wishes are. I
prefer the IDE hard drive/compact flash solution, but I also have
a GoMMC.
 
-- 
J.G.Harston - jgh@...                - mdfs.net/User/JGH
HADFS System Resources - http://mdfs.net/Software/HADFS