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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Starglider on January 05, 2014, 07:18:59 AM

Title: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to UAE?
Post by: Starglider on January 05, 2014, 07:18:59 AM

Hi, I have a load of floppies that represent a backup done with an Amiga app, of my then hard disk.  It was unusual because the app would allow you to update the backup just by asking for floppies that held the data that had changed.  E.g. if I had saved new versions of files that were stored on floppies 3, 6, 12, 18, 22, the backup app would ask me to insert only those 5 floppies in order to update the hard disk backup.

1) Anyone remember the name of that app?
2) How would I use that app and an external Amiga drive, to restore that backup set onto a virtual UAE hard disk, to run under the emulator?

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: vince_6 on January 05, 2014, 09:46:11 AM

I used to backup with quarterback.
Diavolo backup was at that time too but I don't remember it at all :-/

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: orange on January 05, 2014, 05:23:49 PM

Quote from: Starglider;756384

Hi, I have a load of floppies that represent a backup done with an Amiga app, of my then hard disk.  It was unusual because the app would allow you to update the backup just by asking for floppies that held the data that had changed.  E.g. if I had saved new versions of files that were stored on floppies 3, 6, 12, 18, 22, the backup app would ask me to insert only those 5 floppies in order to update the hard disk backup.

1) Anyone remember the name of that app?
2) How would I use that app and an external Amiga drive, to restore that backup set onto a virtual UAE hard disk, to run under the emulator?

2) I'd make .adf of floppies and 'feed' the backup utility running in UAE. first configure the UAE with at least two virtual hdd drives.

what is the extension of files in backup diskettes?

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on January 05, 2014, 05:51:34 PM

I assume from the way you've worded your question that you no longer have a working Amiga you can restore them to, or use to make adf's of the disks?

Hardware-wise you'd probably need something like a Catweasel ( http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=842 )  that would allow you to read back the contents of Amiga-formatted floppy disks on a PC (for use with something like WinUAE or Amiga Forever).

As for the backup software, might it have been ABackup?  Good luck!

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: Starglider on January 05, 2014, 06:25:23 PM

Thanks guys. I'll let you know.

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: orange on January 05, 2014, 09:02:42 PM

there is a software_only solution for reading Amiga diskettes, if you got two floppy drives, Disk2FDI :
http://winuaehelp.back2roots.org/started/pcamitrans.htm

there's also a simple hack using a wire to parallel port, but cannot remember how its called.

edit: http://www.lemonamiga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=79720&sid=db6dd3ed251afeb9ed2c047e8f197bf2

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: Starglider on January 06, 2014, 06:39:00 AM

Quote from: orange;756438

there is a software_only solution for reading Amiga diskettes, if you got two floppy drives, Disk2FDI :
http://winuaehelp.back2roots.org/started/pcamitrans.htm

there's also a simple hack using a wire to parallel port, but cannot remember how its called.

edit: http://www.lemonamiga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=79720&sid=db6dd3ed251afeb9ed2c047e8f197bf2

Really great advice, thank you!  Unfortunately the second link to the hack doesn't actually reveal the hack.  Can't seem to find it anywhere :-/

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: rdolores on January 06, 2014, 03:14:44 PM

About 8 years ago when I got back into the Amiga scene, I found my QuarterBack backup disks.  I converted them to DMS, when I was DMS'ing all my floppies to preserve them.  Then I used WinUAE to restore them into a WinUAE virtual hard drive.  I was able to restore my WB 1.3  Hard Drive.  Unfortunately, I was not able to restore my WB 2.04 Hard Drive as one of the floppies had corrupted over time.  It was amazing, I was able to resurrect my 1989 WB 1.3 Hard Drive setup.  Everything came through.  I wish I was able to do the same with my 1991 WB 2.04 Hard Drive setup.

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: Starglider on January 06, 2014, 05:47:03 PM

Now you've got me salivating to do the same. Sadly I won't be able to get to my parents' attic for a couple of months.

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: orange on January 07, 2014, 03:47:37 PM

Quote from: Starglider;756468

Really great advice, thank you!  Unfortunately the second link to the hack doesn't actually reveal the hack.  Can't seem to find it anywhere :-/

finally found it:
http://web.archive.org/web/20050312014542/http://home.t-online.de/home/ChristianK./adr-project/index-e.html



BTW, Happy New Year!

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: Starglider on January 07, 2014, 07:07:13 PM

Well done!  From his description it sounds a little temperamental.

First therefore I'm going to try Disk2FDI, because I need a second drive anyway to restore some old Apple ][e disks (if I can find them), and you can use a 5 1/4" drive as the second floppy with Disk2FDI (it doesn't actually use the disk, it just needs a second drive controller).

Thanks for all the help, and happy new year!  And also, happy Easter!  ;)

Title: Re: What was the backup app that put a HD contents on floppies? How do I restore to U
Post by: Starglider on March 06, 2014, 06:17:49 PM

Just to update this thread, I finally got the old Amiga from the attic. The memory expansion battery was corroded, so it wouldn't start, but removing the expansion resulted in a perfectly working A500!

The backup program turned out to be ABackup. I will soon start converting the floppies to ADF files, to feed into UAE.

Thanks for the tips.