atrax27407 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I have read, with some interest, all of the methods for transferring disks and file back and forth between a TI and a PC. OmniFlop, HDX, TI99-PC and all manner of other complicated techniques. When I decided to move a copy of my entire TI Library to my PC for safe keeping, I opted to take the much simpler approach. Years ago, a program application came out to do exactly that with a minimum of effort. The program is called PC-TRANSFER. Although the docs refer to 360K disks, the fact is that the program will easily handle 720K disks as well. Much to my delight, I discovered that my Windows XP laptop can initialize 720K disks in PC format. All you need is a DSDD disk controller in your TI to make things work to full capacity - a CorComp or BWG. PC-TRANSFER has a series of utility files that come with it to handle: 1) TIFILES headers 2) 7bit TEXT files 3) DF128 Files 4) IF128 files (archived disks for example) 5) SYLK files (Multiplan <> EXCEL files) 6) Normal text files (default) The process is simple. Just put an initialized 720K 3.5" PC-formatted file in one of your TI drives. Using Archiver, archive the disk(s) you want to transfer. Copy the file(s) for transfer to the PC-formatted disk using the IF128 option. Put the 3.5" PC-formatted disk into a USB 3.5" drive on your PC and copy the files. Getting the file from the PC to the TI is a matter of reversing the process. Each 3.5" PC-formatted disk will hold about 6 or 7 1440-sector archived disks. No cables and no fuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 (edited) I have an interesting way of transferring files from my PC to my TI or Geneve. I walk a CF card back and forth. My real TI & Geneve both have CF cards as their SCSI hard drives. I've got a spare 256k CF card laying around here. I have a CF image file on my PC that works with TIimageTool , I transfer the files I need from my PC to the image file and then write the image to the CF card. Carry the CF card to the TI or Geneve and you've got a hard drive of what was just copied from the PC. BOOM! MESS hard drive image works directly on a CF card on the TI! Gazoo Edited May 26, 2015 by Gazoo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrax27407 Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 I just have to turn around and load the disks - no walking in volved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kl99 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I like the approach from Gazoo! atrax27407, what makes HDX usage complicated? I am working on a tool that does not yet cover your usecase, or at least not beyond prototype status. It's called Web99 and can be found hereIf you explain the weakness you see in the current tools and solution, I might be able to come up with something that you like as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I like the approach from Gazoo! atrax27407, what makes HDX usage complicated? I am working on a tool that does not yet cover your usecase, or at least not beyond prototype status. It's called Web99 and can be found here If you explain the weakness you see in the current tools and solution, I might be able to come up with something that you like as well. The old saying, "Different tools for different jobs" may apply here. I too like like Gazoo's approach for huge transfers or multiple disk images. Walking a CF or SD card back and forth does can a lot of time on larger stuff. For small transfers, like a multi-part E/A 5 program or just a few simple files, walking a memory card back and forth can actually take longer and get tedious, especially if you are doing a lot of beta testing which deals with multiple evolutions of a program. In the latter case, I prefer the HDX. I've never been a fan of the one-size-fits-all approach, especially if it requires a bunch of convoluted or 'time sucking' steps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrax27407 Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 With my method, you don't even have to put your coffee (beer) down. All you need is a TI, a PC, and a copy of PC-TRANSFER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 With my method, you don't even have to put your coffee (beer) down. All you need is a TI, a PC, and a copy of PC-TRANSFER. What no transfer cable? COOL! Sorry I could not help myself, I'm in a playful mood this morning! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrax27407 Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 And to modified RS232, no convoluted PC programs to deal with, and just a quick turn around in my swivel chair! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Well now that all the kids are out and I am able to make a computer room that's not in the basement I can have a room with the server and all the TI's. So as I can use the server as a workstation, I just need to move to the other side of the room to plug in a CF cards to transfer files from PC to TI/Geneve. No need to walk down a flight of steps to the Basement Dungeon on the other side of the house to transfer files to a TI anymore! Woohoo! Gazoo 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 ...so no more adidas-network anymore :) very nice place to TInker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkdrummer Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Nice digs big dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 VERY nice multi-system TI Man-Cave Gazoo! Question sir... is this an extra disk drive or is it a hard drive.... and how is it attached? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrax27407 Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 Too much work for me, Gazoo. Wakling all the way to the other side of the room! I simply use my swivel technique - swivel my chair around to face whichever computer I need to access. Look Ma! No cables! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I gotta say, Gazoo... as nice as that room looks, it strikes me as particilarly stale. Where are the soldering irons, the Cosby posters, racks of third party software?? I neeeeeeeeeed TI clutter in this pic for some reason. LOL!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkdrummer Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I believe the enclosure for that drive is from an ez-135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I believe the enclosure for that drive is from an ez-135 Hmmmm.... Is that a standard 5.25 opening? A case like that has it's own power, so could it be easily re-tasked to support a standard floppy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkdrummer Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 It be a 3 1/2 matey. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I gotta say, Gazoo... as nice as that room looks, it strikes me as particilarly stale. Where are the soldering irons, the Cosby posters, racks of third party software?? I neeeeeeeeeed TI clutter in this pic for some reason. LOL!! Hey, give me a chance! I just moved in! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 VERY nice multi-system TI Man-Cave Gazoo! Question sir... is this an extra disk drive or is it a hard drive.... and how is it attached? It's a 3.5" floppy in an EZ135 case. The drive only needs 5v to operate so I just tapped the internal floppy cable for power. It's attached with double sided foam tape. Gazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrax27407 Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 Show-off!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 It's a 3.5" floppy in an EZ135 case. The drive only needs 5v to operate so I just tapped the internal floppy cable for power. It's attached with double sided foam tape. Gazoo That was a damn good idea! I've been hunting for a decent looking external box for a while now. Until now, all I've been able to find were thrashed looking monster sized 5.25 boxes in the $80 price range before shipping. After reading this thread this morning I went on Ebay and picked up the one pictured below. The shipping was more than the actual item, but it still added up to about half the price the of others I've been looking at. The power supply that comes with it is rated 5V. So I'm curious, were the internal power leads to the Syquest less than the standard 5v? Were the power leads non-standard? I suppose I can tap the P-Box as well if need be, just curious. It'll probably be a few months before I get around to hooking it it up though. Thanks for the idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 That was a damn good idea! I've been hunting for a decent looking external box for a while now. Until now, all I've been able to find were thrashed looking monster sized 5.25 boxes in the $80 price range before shipping. After reading this thread this morning I went on Ebay and picked up the one pictured below. The shipping was more than the actual item, but it still added up to about half the price the of others I've been looking at. The power supply that comes with it is rated 5V. So I'm curious, were the internal power leads to the Syquest less than the standard 5v? Were the power leads non-standard? I suppose I can tap the P-Box as well if need be, just curious. It'll probably be a few months before I get around to hooking it it up though. Thanks for the idea! You can use the Syquest power supply, but you'll need an adapter to go from the larger molex plug as used with 5.25" floppy drives to the smaller plugs used with 3.5" floppy drives. To me it was easier to just use the pbox power, one less thing to have to turn on and off. Gazoo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 You can use the Syquest power supply, but you'll need an adapter to go from the larger molex plug as used with 5.25" floppy drives to the smaller plugs used with 3.5" floppy drives. To me it was easier to just use the pbox power, one less thing to have to turn on and off. Gazoo Thanks Gazoo. I won't mind turning it on an off, as it will not get much use, until after the Myarc Clone is released, which is the main reason I bought it. (Planning a future expansion is kind of fun). I know I'm jumping the gun here, but with Ebay, it a "Ya snooze, ya lose" situation. Until then, I can use it as DSK3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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