| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Smartport Virtual Hard Drive | 2.04 MB |
A few weeks ago I contacted Cedric Peltier regarding the Smartport Virtual Hard Drive. I've been looking for an HD solution for a long time. I heard that the assembled product was on back order, so I ordered the basic Micropendous only.
After getting the main unit, had to order some resistors and diodes. Finally today I spent all day putting together a bare bones version, and it looks fantastic!
It loads right after the floppy drive, you only have to rename any floppy or disk image as "drive0.img" and that's it. I have some images of it, hope you like it.
Cheers
Javster
Javster,
Absolutely Cool!
I ordered my full (completely built) version from Cedric at the end of February.
I expect it to arrive in the next couple of months as he has a waiting list.
This will be the crowning jewel for my IIc.
I cannot wait for it to get here.
I think you will love it, gsmcten. My only question is how to load my collection, as I think its just like the CFFA: uses ProDOS formatted images. I'm new in these large formats, and wonder how to load images like Karateka, Prince of Persia, etc in one volume to select directly.
Regards
Javster
ADTPRO
http://adtpro.sourceforge.net/
Its the bestest in the land!
Well, I use that to create the floppies the I download from the web, but how about compiling a 32 MB image? I think it has to be ProDos format...
Any one that have created big archives for the CFFA?
Cheers
Javster
Javster, very nice addition to your iic. Curious to know how long it took from payment to your doorstep? Also any plans on what enclosure you will be putting this into?
Try CiderPress:
http://ciderpress.sourceforge.net/
It took about two weeks from purchase to delivery. I'm planning to use an old A9M0106, gut it and adapt it. Will look nice.
I will have to install parallels to run ciderpress, and will have to research how to create large disk images on DOS 3.3 and ProDos.
The Smartport is used to host a usb drive on the IIc? I use CiderPress on a PC for CFFA3000, so I would guess it is similar. Something like: Run CiderPress->File->New->Disk Image->ProDos->32Meg. Now you have your Apple "Hard Drive." Then open a second window of CiderPress to open existing disk images, say from Asimov ftp site. Then copy files over, as desired, from existing disk images to the new 32 Meg Prodos file. When done, you have a "hard drive" image which can then be copied from the local PC over to the USB drive, and attach the USB to the SmartPort. I do not have a SmartPort, so I'm making inferences here.
Save your money, try https://www.virtualbox.org/
All you need is the Windows license, as VirtualBox is open source and free.
Has anyone received their complete finished product?
Omne,
I was told that they are supposed to start shipping in September.
I'm on the list, so I'm waiting too.
I forgot to share an image of my SPVHD, after fitting it into an old IIGS drive. Here it is, and works flawlessly.
Final SPVHD
Javster,
Looks good!
Very nice.
I absolutely love this picture, because you're running the 'lo-res startup' I wrote for my 32MB HD image I was using on Applewin!
Oh and that card looks fantstic - Great job!
Let me know if you want me to customize that startup routine to match your system!!
I could redo the graphics to say something else, for example: Smartport HD!
Cheers!
Craig
Wow! Craig, so you created that image? Let me tell you, I found it online and consider it the best! Thanks and kudos for it! Yes, if you don't mind please add "Smartport HD, we can put it somewhere available to everybody.
I'm very happy with the SPVHD in the case, bought it on eBay for $11, cleaned it and gutted it, inside is a small mess but used most of the original parts. I'm thinking on caulk it and paint it to match. Will see.
Regards
Javster
Hello Javster,
Definitely glad you enjoyed it, and it's good to know the time I spent at the ole keyboard back in 2005 wasn't a complete waste!
So for an updated version, I thought it best to remove that floppy disk 'icon' and replace it with a SPVHD icon... Well, as close as we can get in low-res graphics.
Let me know what you think, or if you want any of the text re-arranged or revised.
My plan is to animate the border like the original 32MB/HD title screen, every so often have the SMARTPORT letters swap from blue to orange and have the 3 lights (red-yellow-green) light up.
Thoughts? Feedback? Suggestions?
I'll work on a bit of coding in Applewin this evening, hopefully I'll have something ready for you no later than next weekend.
Cheers,
Craig
Well, after picking up my jaw just have to congratulate for the awesome graphic, it's perfect! Will be looking forward for the new version. Thanks!!
Javster
So far so good ... I've got the 32MB ProDOS Hard drive-image all redone, new title screen on and the border scrolling nicely.
Find the zipfile here: http://www.apple-2.com/vintage-dl/smartporthd.zip
Of course I've post-dated it to the 21-Aug-13, so it's not technically even released yet, lol!
I might add a few more animation routines as time permits, but for now that'll get you started with an updated frontend for your SPVHD.
If you want to speed up or slow down the border scrolling, do as follows:
(Work from a backup copy, just in case)
LOAD STARTUP
CALL -151
E16:A9 -- (Change -- to a value between $01 and $FF)
Example 1: E16:A9 45 (fast)
Example 2: E16:A9 FF (slow)
Press CTRL-C followed by the RETURN key
RUN (to preview)
SAVE STARTUP (when happy with the speed)
Enjoy!
Cheers,
Craig
Craig, here is a photo of your great splash screen, again, thanks!
Javster
New SPVHD splash screen
Hello Javster,
You're most welcome, and that picture sure looks great! Enjoy!
Cheers,
Craig
Hello everyone,
I am trying to do smartport emulation on my Apple IIc (Rom 0) via the floppy emu from Steve Chamberlin. The smartporthd file provided by Craig (see above) works well but I do not understand the rules/guidelines for creating my own 32MB ProDos disk image. So I have two questions:
1) what files must be present in the root of the virtual drive?
2) how can I copy 5.25" disk images onto the virtual drive to run the program that they contain?
Any other info would be greatly appreciated.
I want one.
Hello,
1) PRODOS.SYS and BASIC.SYSTEM.SYS on a formatted image will create an absolutely bare-bones bootable disk. The quick and easy way to do this is take my SPVHD image and delete everything but PRODOS.SYS and BASIC.SYSTEM.SYS. Or create a new image and copy those two files over to it.
2) Depending on whether or not the 5.25" disk is copy-protected or uses a custom DOS, it can be rather difficult. If it's all file-based programs and the disk is not copy-proteced they can be cut and pasted with Ciderpress or copied from within the real machine using System Utilities or Copy II+.
The problem with Copy-Protection and non-standard DOS is that they don't play nicely by the rules. So if you managed to somehow break down a Copy-Protected disk into a file-based 'replica' (no small task to begin with) there could still be routines in the files that access the disk directly via a modified DOS3.3 RWTS and that could end up playing havoc when you're trying to run them from a Hard Disk.
Cheers!
Craig
Which reminds me...
I daresay it's time for me to code up the SMARTPORT letter color swap and the LED lights on that HD disk image this coming weekend.
Not too bad of a turn-around time, only like 2 years and a month...
Who do I have to kill to get one of these?
After getting one of these and thinking that it was broken I just wanted to add that the device expects a directory called spvhd with the disk images in it. Four images can be enumerated as drive0.img to drive3.img.
http://pcedric3.free.fr/SmartportVHD/
Mine is booby-trapped.
Only I can use it. lol
Steven