Copying files to and from A500 Plus

[AmigaBruno]

I recently bought an A500 Plus and I need to find the best way of copying any files I save onto other devices, uploading them to the Internet, and copying new files onto the A500 Plus. At the moment, it's got Kickstart 37.175, Workbench 2.04 (I thought it was 2.05 I was buying) and just the internal floppy drive. I no longer own any of my previous Amigas (A500, A600, and A1200) or software, but still remember most of the knowledge I gained from them. I only got up to Workbench 3.0 on floppy disk, though. The A500 Plus is now one of 8 computers I own. I feel the other computer which is most likely to be some use in transferring files is a desktop PC bought in 2000, because it has a serial port and a floppy drive. Unfortunately, my Amiga may not be able to read MS-DOS disks at the moment, so I need a reminder how to sort that out. I bought some blank formatted MS-DOS HD floppies and they reformatted OK, then I copied the Workbench disks onto them. They were described as ? when I first inserted them, probably because they're HD. I remember once refusing to buy more HD disks after having trouble with them. It seems these floppies are new or NOS sold in a shop a few minutes walk from me.

[Matt_H]

Don't worry about not having 2.05. As I recall, the only "feature" is the removal of narrator.device and its associated files. There are some other differences in the 2.05 Kickstart ROM that are only relevant to the A600.

For floppies, make sure to cover the extra hole on the disk with some sort of solid tape (or a taped piece of paper). This will make the drive think its a double-density disk instead of a high density one. But to work with it on your Amiga, you need OS v2.1 or higher or a product called CrossDOS (2.1 includes CrossDOS, you see). Mount the PC0: device (I think it's on the Extras disk in the Storage/DOSDrivers directory) and then you'll be able to read 720KB-formatted PC disks.

So your best option is probably Amiga Explorer (part of the Amiga Forever package, and I think it's also available separately). It'll allow you to easily transfer files and disk images over a serial cable.

Getting your 500+ on to the modern internet is going to be a major challenge. Only one model of ethernet board was made for the 500, and I'm not sure I've ever seen one for sale. The only other ethernet option is a clockports adapter, a Subway USB card (out of production), and a USB to ethernet adapter. If you're willing to put up with dialup, a good old fashioned modem will get you online, but without a hard drive, more RAM, accelerator, and OS3.1, not much software is compatible with your machine.

Heavily-upgraded Amigas these days get expensive fast

[AmigaBruno]

Don't worry about not having 2.05. As I recall, the only "feature" is the removal of narrator.device and its associated files. There are some other differences in the 2.05 Kickstart ROM that are only relevant to the A600.

For floppies, make sure to cover the extra hole on the disk with some sort of solid tape (or a taped piece of paper). This will make the drive think its a double-density disk instead of a high density one. But to work with it on your Amiga, you need OS v2.1 or higher or a product called CrossDOS (2.1 includes CrossDOS, you see). Mount the PC0: device (I think it's on the Extras disk in the Storage/DOSDrivers directory) and then you'll be able to read 720KB-formatted PC disks.

So your best option is probably Amiga Explorer (part of the Amiga Forever package, and I think it's also available separately). It'll allow you to easily transfer files and disk images over a serial cable.

Getting your 500+ on to the modern internet is going to be a major challenge. Only one model of ethernet board was made for the 500, and I'm not sure I've ever seen one for sale. The only other ethernet option is a clockports adapter, a Subway USB card (out of production), and a USB to ethernet adapter. If you're willing to put up with dialup, a good old fashioned modem will get you online, but without a hard drive, more RAM, accelerator, and OS3.1, not much software is compatible with your machine.

Heavily-upgraded Amigas these days get expensive fast

I forgot they'd deleted narrator.device . That was a step back. Kickstart 2.05 also added IDE support. I can't find a copy of Workbench 2.1 foe sale at the moment. I don't need to get my Amiga onto the Internet, because that's a form of communication, not computing, which means working things out. I may have to get a USB to Ethernet adapter or WiFi adaptor for my old PC as my ISP has completely changed their router since I last went online with that PC.

I didn't cover the extra hole on the disk when formatting on the Amiga, because I assumed the DD drive doesn't know HD disk exist. I suppose I'd have to do that on a PC.

[Xanxi]

It's possible though to use an ethernet board on an A500 Plus.
Just get the zorro side slot adapter (sold on Amibay) and use any amiga ethernet board (build a custom case if needed).
Otherwise, as the good Matt_H said, there are several possibilies with a null-modem cable.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I'm not sure if you saw that other similar thread on this topic already or not, but I just ordered this kit off ebay for use with my A500, after reading about it here on amiga.org:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121032492058?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

"AMIGA<->PC COMPLETE ADF/FILE TRANSFER KIT:EASIEST,FASTEST,CHEAPEST WAY TO DO IT!"


I'm looking forward to receiving it, since, for the price, it's hard to beat.  Will post a followup review once I've received it.  

Side note: I think those Zorro side adapters are sold out, at least from the thread I saw on Amibay.  Sure would be nice if he made more, lol!  

[AmigaBruno]

I'm not sure if you saw that other similar thread on this topic already or not, but I just ordered this kit off ebay for use with my A500, after reading about it here on amiga.org:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121032492058?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

"AMIGA<->PC COMPLETE ADF/FILE TRANSFER KIT:EASIEST,FASTEST,CHEAPEST WAY TO DO IT!"


I'm looking forward to receiving it, since, for the price, it's hard to beat.  Will post a followup review once I've received it.  

Side note: I think those Zorro side adapters are sold out, at least from the thread I saw on Amibay.  Sure would be nice if he made more, lol!  

OK, that OK looks like the best way to do it, and for a good price! That listing or the relisted item does say use this kit if your PC doesn't have any parallel port and comes with a plug in board. The item here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMIGA-PC-ADF-FILE-TRANSFER-KIT-EASIEST-FASTEST-CHEAPEST-WAY-TO-DO-IT-/121038108803?pt=UK_VintageComputing_RL&hash=item1c2e6ef883 is without the board.

Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for a copy of Deluxe Paiint to arrive. BTW,I installed GrafX2 under Linux several weeks ago and I've hardly used it, because it's not all that much like Deluxe Paint.