Best method to run *.ADF games on A1200HD

[kknd]

Hi all, rather than go through an entire typing session again, I'll keep this short.  I posted a thread below

http://www.retrogamer.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28528

Which is asking about how I might, using a combination of CompactFlash/PCMCIA/The Amiga hard drive to play ADF games.  The advice in the thread makes me feel as though just using an emulator is the only way to go, but I'd love to get some use out of my Amiga 1200 and play ADF games on the original machine itself.  Is there anything I'm missing? Are there ways that don't involve more ram, or a bigger hard drive on the Amiga (it has the original 40MB drive)

[amigakit]

You could use the EasyADF PCMCIA Transfer Kit which does not require a hard disk or extra memory.  It has a boot floppy that can run stand-alone and allow you to access the Compact Flash with ADFs on it and convert them back to floppy disks.

[kknd]

You could use the EasyADF PCMCIA Transfer Kit which does not require a hard disk or extra memory.  It has a boot floppy that can run stand-alone and allow you to access the Compact Flash with ADFs on it and convert them back to floppy disks.

If I were using that method do I require double density disks to convert onto? Sorry, just trying to conceptualize the step-by-step of what you do *with* the kit for the end result of turning ADF files from the PC onto a playable game on the A1200

[orange]

you'd be better off with WHDLoad. I think it uses .adf or similar format.
not all games have 'slaves', but probably all popular ones do.
others are not worth your time.

[fitzsteve]

If I were using that method do I require double density disks to convert onto? Sorry, just trying to conceptualize the step-by-step of what you do *with* the kit for the end result of turning ADF files from the PC onto a playable game on the A1200

Hi!

Yes you will need some blank disks for this method, EasyADF was the first thing I got when I pulled my A1200 out fo storage 2 years ago.  Its very simple to use - I just bought the software a I already had CF PCMCIA adapter in my box of PeeCee parts.

After a couple of months writing ADF's started to get a little tedious and I bought an 8mb Upgrade and started using WHDLoad which is a much better experience, problem with old floppy disks is read/write errors unless you can find good or new Disks.

Still well worth getting the transfer kit though as it'll open doors when/if you do decide to upgrade further

Here is the step-by-step bit you wanted:

Insert CF/PCMCIA Adapter with Fat16 Formatted CF Card contining ADF's
Insert EasyADF Floppy and turn on Amiga, it will start to boot and ask you for a Workbench disk.
Once workbench is loaded you will have an EasyADF Icon (all Compact flash drivers will already be loaded)
Run EasyADF and pick the ADF you want to write, insert blank floppy and write!

If you have a hard Drive and booting Workbench enviroment already EasyADF and the Compact Flash Drivers can be installed to Workbench and ran from there.

Have fun!

Steve.

[kknd]

Hi!

Yes you will need some blank disks for this method, EasyADF was the first thing I got when I pulled my A1200 out fo storage 2 years ago.  Its very simple to use - I just bought the software a I already had CF PCMCIA adapter in my box of PeeCee parts.

After a couple of months writing ADF's started to get a little tedious and I bought an 8mb Upgrade and started using WHDLoad which is a much better experience, problem with old floppy disks is read/write errors unless you can find good or new Disks.

Still well worth getting the transfer kit though as it'll open doors when/if you do decide to upgrade further

Here is the step-by-step bit you wanted:

Insert CF/PCMCIA Adapter with Fat16 Formatted CF Card contining ADF's
Insert EasyADF Floppy and turn on Amiga, it will start to boot and ask you for a Workbench disk.
Once workbench is loaded you will have an EasyADF Icon (all Compact flash drivers will already be loaded)
Run EasyADF and pick the ADF you want to write, insert blank floppy and write!

If you have a hard Drive and booting Workbench enviroment already EasyADF and the Compact Flash Drivers can be installed to Workbench and ran from there.

Have fun!

Steve.

Thanks so much Steve, big help So, the other small component to this puzzle is that I *believe* the floppy drive in the 1200 is stuffed.  How does this alter the steps? I could be wrong and the drive could be okay (it may just be all the old floppies I have) but it does make some awful noises.

I guess the only other question is (to the wider audience) can one still get double-density floppies, anywhere??? (I'm from Australia)

[foleyjo]

http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/

I got this and it works a treat.

[kknd]

http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/

I got this and it works a treat.

That looks awesome, awfully expensive though 1 AUD = 1.5 GBP, so around $100 for the emulator.

[foleyjo]

That looks awesome, awfully expensive though 1 AUD = 1.5 GBP, so around $100 for the emulator.

Well worth it though

[fitzsteve]

Thanks so much Steve, big help So, the other small component to this puzzle is that I *believe* the floppy drive in the 1200 is stuffed.  How does this alter the steps? I could be wrong and the drive could be okay (it may just be all the old floppies I have) but it does make some awful noises.

I guess the only other question is (to the wider audience) can one still get double-density floppies, anywhere??? (I'm from Australia)

Ahh, this could prove to be a problem.  You'll need a working floppy drive, the problem with Countries prone to humidity is the floppy Disks grow mould on the inside and this comes off on the drive heads.  You could run a cleaning Disk through the drive and then try some new Disks (hard to find anywhere though now)

This may or may not help.

http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/

I got this and it works a treat.

Its a great bit of kit, I have one in my A600 but for you I think the money would be better spent on a trapdoor upgrade for your A1200 and run games via WHDLoad then you have no need for the Floppy drive, you'll need to prepare your hard drive (or replace with a CF card) this can be done connected to the PC via WinUAE so again no need for the floppy drive.