SIO2SD questions and comparison with SIDE2

[+remowilliams]

Yes, you can pretty much run any SIO replacement device you like with it.

[TheNameOfTheGame]

Yes, you can pretty much run any SIO replacement device you like with it.

 

Ok, that makes sense, but when I turn on the computer with the SIO2SD attached, SDX has D1: still pointing to the SIDE 2 cartridge. How do I access the SIO2SD when the SIDE 2 is also connected?

[candle]

unleash the power of "MAP" command

[TheNameOfTheGame]

The MAP command? I have no idea about it haha . How does it work to make the SIO2SD show up?

[Roydea6]

The MAP command? I have no idea about it haha . How does it work to make the SIO2SD show up?

 

Page 91 SpartaDos 445 Manual.

 

MAP Command

Purpose

SIO.SYS control.

Syntax

MAP unit [sIO|OS|NORMAL|OFF] [d:]

MAP [/?] | [fname.ext]

Type

External - on device CAR:

Availability

As of SpartaDOS X 4.40.

Remarks

MAP or MAP /? will envoke a help screen. The command "maps" the given

drive id 'd:' to the drive associated with the specified number (unit). An

internal SIO translation table is used here. The additional options control

the communication mode for the specified disk:

NORMAL - standard mode, PBI has priority over SIO.

SIO -SIO communications only (PBI is bypassed).

OS - communication is redirected to the ROM OS.

OFF - drive disabled (or handled by another driver).

The 'SIO' option allows to gain access to a serial drive, which has been

masked out by a parallel (PBI) drive having the same number. For in-

stance, the command 'MAP 1 SIO B:' creates a logical drive B: (or D2:),

which uses physical disk drive number 1. 'MAP 3 K:' creates a logical

drive K: (or DK:), which uses drive number 3. Drive #3 can be a SIO or a

PBI drive. 'MAP 11 K:' will remap drive #11 to K:.

The 'OS' parameter applies, when the OS ROM routines are to be used in-

stead of the native SpartaDOS communication routines. 'OS' cannot be

used, when the DOS is configured to USE OSRAM mode.

MAP fname[.ext] calls SIO parameters to be changed from a text file,

whose name can be handed over to the MAP command as the only argu-

ment. Each line of that text file has to contain correct MAP parameters

starting from the unit value. This feature allows for changing the settings

of multiple drives at once.

CAUTION: MAP does not work, when SIO.SYS is installed using the '/A' or

'/C' option!

[TheNameOfTheGame]

omg my head is spinning now haha...can someone just give me an example to try out using the actual hardware?

[candle]

how about map 1 sio d1: to have d1: back on sio2sd

or

map 1 sio d8: to remap sio2sd d1: to d8:

Edited May 20, 2013 by candle

[w1k]

[solved]

Edited May 20, 2013 by w1k

[TheNameOfTheGame]

how about map 1 sio d1: to have d1: back on sio2sd

or

map 1 sio d8: to remap sio2sd d1: to d8:

 

Ok, thanks I went with the D8 line, because if I used the D1, it think it would cloak the SIDE 2 cartridge's D1. I don't have anything on D8 so that seems the best.

 

So I typed "map 1 SIO D8:" and got a response "H:=1 SIO"

 

Now I moved to D8 and type "dir" and it says "148 Unknown file system"

 

I am using the SD card that came with the SIO2SD. I made no changes to it. I did press the buttons trying to get a feel for it. Maybe I have it pointing at something that is not an atr?

[candle]

have you mounted anything on sio2sd using buttons it has?

more importantly, have you read how to use sio2sd?

[TheNameOfTheGame]

haha finding the manual was part of the problem I know.

 

I just found a guide on the wiki that discusses the buttons. I will try to get something mounted after I read about the operation.

[TheNameOfTheGame]

Ok, I read about it. So I navigated to a file (remember this is the sd card that came with the sio2sd so I haven't done anything to the card) and mounted it with the k4 button.

 

Now my sio2sd lcd shows D1:Bandits.atr

 

So I map the drive to D8: with "MAP 1 SIO D8:" and sdx replies "H:=1 SIO"

 

I then changed to drive D8: and try to list a directory with DIR but sdx replies "148 Unknown file system". When I enter DIR at the sdx prompt both red LEDs on the sio2sd flash briefly then go off.

 

So that is where I am stuck. Am I missing a step somewhere?

 

*Edit* I pointed the sio2sd to another atr and now it says "D1:Beach-Head.atr" Now with this atr, I can pull up a directory in SDX, so maybe the first file I tried was compatible.

 

*Edit 2" I pointed to a third ATR, Draconous.atr and it doesn't work either...says 148 Unknown file system.

Edited May 20, 2013 by TheNameOfTheGame

[Roydea6]

Ok, I read about it. So I navigated to a file (remember this is the sd card that came with the sio2sd so I haven't done anything to the card) and mounted it with the k4 button.

 

Now my sio2sd lcd shows D1:Bandits.atr

 

So I map the drive to D8: with "MAP 1 SIO D8:" and sdx replies "H:=1 SIO"

 

I then changed to drive D8: and try to list a directory with DIR but sdx replies "148 Unknown file system". When I enter DIR at the sdx prompt both red LEDs on the sio2sd flash briefly then go off.

 

So that is where I am stuck. Am I missing a step somewhere?

Bandits is probably a Boot disk without a directory or an xex in a k-file wrapper.

Try finding a Dos atr on that sio2sd that will have a directory. or if you want to play Bandits type COLD /N

[TheNameOfTheGame]

Bandits is probably a Boot disk without a directory or an xex in a k-file wrapper.

Try finding a Dos atr on that sio2sd that will have a directory. or if you want to play Bandits type COLD /N

 

Ah ok that makes sense if some ATRs can't display a directory due to being a boot disk.

 

So I tried the COLD /N on a couple ATRs but none worked.

 

The screen goes black for a second then the blue screen comes up and says "Error: no DOS" then it hangs.

[TheNameOfTheGame]

I removed the SIDE 2 cartridge to see if the COLD /N would work. And it does get further.

 

Instead of saying "Error: no DOS" it says "SIO2SD TURBO [OPTION+] START or SELECT" then the actual SIO2SD sits there beeping and flashing on the lower led. Pressing START or SELECT doesn't do anything.

 

The SIO2SD says "31: $52® $8003"

[flashjazzcat]

more importantly, have you read how to use sio2sd?

 

What he said... it becomes more relevant with each successive post.

[candle]

point is, not everything is as simple to use as side in loader mode

[TheNameOfTheGame]

Ok, I understand your point and yes I am a broken and dumb old man hahaha .

 

So what do you recommend to read to get up to speed with this thing? Did anything in my previous post make sense to you?

[candle]

it was obvious that you didn't have a clue on how to use sdx or sio2sd, but this is not the knowledge you're suppose to be born with anyways

what you're experiencing (ie error: no dos) is expected with things set up the way you have it

and also, Roy said true about the fact that most of the whole-disk (aka atr) games you'll find will give you 148 unknown file system error, as they doesn't contain ANY filesystem

they just raw stream of sectors that game boot loader knows how to handle - there is no dos that will recognise them as valid filesystems

 

i can't help much with sio2sd troubles, as i don't use it, and besides, there is lots of diffrent firmware versions for it, that redefine its functionality completly

 

most of the games you'll find in xex/com format

some will be atr-only - these are multidisk games, or protected games that will load either from ultimate1mb pbi driver (using build in loader), or won't load from anything else than SIO device - ie sio2sd

 

if you have any specific questions, or you're trying to do something, just split it out, and if i can i'll try to help you out

[TheNameOfTheGame]

It's ok, I know I ask a lot of questions and pester everyone. Well the main benefit for me with the SIO2SD will be to transfer files to the SIDE 2 folders (so it can be my hard drive for A8). You're right, for xex and atr loading I will just use the SDX/SIDE 2 loader.

 

I think I have enough SIO2SD knowledge now to at least map the device to an unused drive so thank you for all the help there.

 

I will find a program to make an ATR on my PC with files I want and then I can MAP it onto D8 and move the files over to the SIDE 2 partitions.

 

I'll get there, but I am slow haha. Thanks again!

[candle]

when you do (try makeatr for example), then easier way is to put atr file on fat32 partition, and use matr from FlashJazzCat web page to copy the content onto SDX partition

it will be much faster

[Roydea6]

http://sio2sd.gucio.pl/wiki/English

 

IMHO:

My SIDE/SIDE2 partitions start at D3: aka C:

This will leave D1: and D2: open for SIO use APE---ASPEQT--1050's--SIO2SD--SDRIVE....and never a conflict needing the MAP command occasionally I do use the SWAP command to swap partitions for a short while..

[TheNameOfTheGame]

http://sio2sd.gucio.pl/wiki/English

 

IMHO:

My SIDE/SIDE2 partitions start at D3: aka C:

This will leave D1: and D2: open for SIO use APE---ASPEQT--1050's--SIO2SD--SDRIVE....and never a conflict needing the MAP command occasionally I do use the SWAP command to swap partitions for a short while..

 

Hmmmm, that is a good idea. I'm gonna redo the partitions to start at D3 also. Thanks for the advice.

[TheNameOfTheGame]

Ok that was cool. I used the video here

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM8BgdAM84U

 

But just set drive numbers since my card was already set up. I just bumped the drive letter up by 2...this started me at D3 so the SIO2SD had D1 to use...very easy to do.

 

Now can I hook up my XF551 and chain the SIO2SD so that the XF551 is D1 and the SIO2SD is D2? That would make this setup perfect for me.

Edited May 20, 2013 by TheNameOfTheGame

[TheNameOfTheGame]

So I tried the XF551...when I first powered them, it was apparent that both had ID D1:

 

I couldn't see a way to make the SIO2SD drive D2:, so I set the XF551 to D2: via the switches in the back.

 

So now I have SIO2SD as D1 and the XF551 as D2..pretty cool although I want to change it around so that SIO2SD is D2 and the XF551 is D1...Is this a way to change the ID of SIO2SD?

Edited May 20, 2013 by TheNameOfTheGame