How to run pirated software on an Atari Computer without SIO2PC adapter?

[Atari PAC-MAN Fan]

Hello Everyone!

 

I'm getting an Atari 600XL tonight. I made sure I had all the peripherals I needed to run it. I had everything except something to run backups on. I know there is an SIO2PC device to let you do that, but is there a less complicated way to do this?

[Mclaneinc]

Easy answer, not that I know of and I'd seriously recommend a change of heart and to get one, they are not really complicated at all, 99% of people are up and running in minutes and there's no shortage of help on here. Either that or hope to get an old 1050 drive that a. works and b. is not expensive.

 

I suspect many might have been put off by the thread name

 

Whilst technically correct its a little intimidating, we prefer the term back up or even copy for these old disks, pirate makes us all sound like we have rows of Blu Ray writers burning off the latest films

 

These days 99.9% of these games have long since being protected by copyright holders and most of those are now out of business and don't care as long as people enjoy them

Edited March 24, 2017 by Mclaneinc

[Goochman]

As long as you have the pirated software on a floppy disk or cassette then you dont need a SIO2PC adapter.

[+Gemintronic]

What's the technical issue that make you include "pirated" in your question? Are your fully bought-and-paid for backups acting differently?

[+MrFish]

 

 

[Atari PAC-MAN Fan]

Sorry guys. I'm some what new here, so I don't know what you guys call this stuff.

[Mclaneinc]

Software is the best start

 

And if you do not have a disk drive or a tape player then an SIO2PC is what you need.....If you only have what we call digital images ie files called atr etc then you will need an SIO2PC..

Edited March 24, 2017 by Mclaneinc

[BillC]

Software is the best start

 

And if you do not have a disk drive or a tape player then an SIO2PC is what you need.....If you only have what we call digital images ie files called atr etc then you will need an SIO2PC..

Sdrive/SIO2SD devices can also be used to access ATR files, they are more expensive but also allow use without being tied to a PC.

Edited March 24, 2017 by BillC

[Atari PAC-MAN Fan]

Do they still sell 5 1/4 inch floppy disks and floppy drives? If they do could I just write the rom image to a floppy and load it from the Atari disk drive?

Edited March 25, 2017 by Atari PAC-MAN Fan

[+DrVenkman]

Do they still sell 5 1/4 inch floppy disks and floppy drives? If they do could I just write the rom image to a floppy and load it from the Atari disk drive?

 

You can buy Atari floppy drives all day long on eBay and several other specialized retailers and other collectors. But floppy disks generally haven't been made in years. There might still be places selling them but they're likely to be "NOS" (New, Old Stock) stuff. Which is fine, but we're coming up on the physical lifetime for these things - the magnetic particles are literally falling off the Mylar disk surfaces due to age. As the disks physically fail in this way, they become useless. I have two working 1050 drives but rarely use them to save wear and tear on my now-ancient 80's disks.

 

Do yourself a favor and get some kind of solid-state storage: an SIO2USB type device to connect to a modern Mac, PC or Linux box (I actually use a Raspberry Pi Zero W for this purpose), an SIO2SD device (which keeps files on an SD card), or an IDE cartridge or internal device. Plenty of options if you're dedicated.

[Mclaneinc]

Real floppies have that true retro kick but seriously, the SIO2PC is the way to go or if the computer is no where near the PC then the SIO2SD will work as well, its down to cost and ease of use.

 

You also have the problem that the older NOS floppies WILL at some point die unless you care for them perfectly (and even then they will fall over some time in the future..)