Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Software Issues and Discussion => Topic started by: bastajn76 on July 26, 2007, 12:33:52 AM

Title: Copy floppy disk boot sector to another floppy disk
Post by: bastajn76 on July 26, 2007, 12:33:52 AM

Hello,

Many years ago i knew how to copy a floppy disk boot sector from one disk to another, but my memory has let me down.  

I have searched the net, but been unable to locate any information.  Quarterback Tools rings a bell.

Can anybody shed some light on this matter please?  I am running emulation, and have an original A500.

Thanks in advance.

Justin.

Title: Re: Copy floppy disk boot sector to another floppy disk
Post by: ajlwalker on July 26, 2007, 01:01:05 AM

Er, I'm a bit rusty myself, but a program like x-copy I think allows you to copy just the bootblock.

Title: Re: Copy floppy disk boot sector to another floppy disk
Post by: bastajn76 on July 26, 2007, 02:43:37 AM

I will try it out, thanks for your input.

Can anybody confirm this, or any other method?

Thanks, Justin

Title: Re: Copy floppy disk boot sector to another floppy disk
Post by: orange on July 26, 2007, 07:18:52 AM

sure x-copy can do it (d-copy is also very nice). just set the  end track to 1. BTW, I'm not sure if its both sides or (probably) just one.
Still, I'd use DMS (or for eg. antivirus like BootX) so that you have bootblock in a file on HDD for easy,fast access and as reliable backup.

Title: Re: Copy floppy disk boot sector to another floppy disk
Post by: bastajn76 on July 27, 2007, 07:14:00 AM

Hi orange,

I tried the method you suggested with XCopy, but had no joy.  I set the end track to 01, and selected only the TOP side.  When i boot the disk, it loaded as per normal with the old boot sector.

I have a memory selector (loader) on the boot sector of one disk.  I would like to copy this loader onto another disk, so i don't have to switch off my expanded memory.

Am i doing something wrong, or barking up the wrong tree?

Any advice would always be appreciated.

Kind regards,
Justin

Title: Re: Copy floppy disk boot sector to another floppy disk
Post by: madsjm on July 27, 2007, 08:39:47 AM

There are numerous utilities on Aminet which copy the boot block.

Examples:
http://aminet.net/package/disk/misc/2b_InBoot (http://aminet.net/package/disk/misc/2b_InBoot)
http://aminet.net/package/util/virus/BootBase (http://aminet.net/package/util/virus/BootBase)

Search:
http://aminet.net/search?query=boot+block (http://aminet.net/search?query=boot+block)

Title: Re: Copy floppy disk boot sector to another floppy disk
Post by: BooBoo1200 on July 27, 2007, 10:30:29 AM

Its track 40

Title: Re: Copy floppy disk boot sector to another floppy disk
Post by: skurk on July 27, 2007, 10:44:20 AM

Quote

BooBoo1200 wrote:
Its track 40

Track 0.  Track 40 holds the root block (directory index).

Title: Re: Copy floppy disk boot sector to another floppy disk
Post by: Ilwrath on July 27, 2007, 12:25:18 PM

Quote

I tried the method you suggested with XCopy, but had no joy. I set the end track to 01, and selected only the TOP side.

Hmm...  Try it with both sides, or just bottom, perhaps?  
Doesn't the Amiga read bottom then top?  (Honestly, I forget, it's been a really long time since I messed around much with custom floppies...  But I seem to remember that tripping me up back in the day.)

And yes, Track 0 is boot block for sure.