Re: December meeting

[Roger Hanscom]

>> Specifically, I'd like to get my IMSAI to boot from a disk and from a Gotek.

Mike --

I know nothing about the IMSAI nor the California Computer Systems board set, but I've got my Cromemco System 1 booting into 3 different operating systems from a Gotek.  I'm not a usual attendee to the meetings (too much of a trip from Mt. Vernon), but if my system might be of interest, I could bring it to the Dec. meeting?  If you are not familiar with the System 1, it is S-100.  I think I'm using the Flash Floppy firmware for the Gotek (it's been a while since I set it up).

Roger

[Clay Erickson]

I thought of bringing my California Computer System 2200.  It needs some tantalun recapping on the backplane (one went ‘pop’ during testing).  I also have the CCS

manual for it that describes the boards including the CPU; I can bring the manual for reference if anyone is interested…

Looking forward to the meeting.

Clay.

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[Mike Begley]

That would be awesome!

If your 2200 (tantalum capacitors aside) set up to read from a disk drive (actual or gotek or whatever)?  Because that's the point where we're stuck, and it might be helpful to use your machine as a reference.

I would love to get a copy of the manual you posted - I don't have that particular manual.  Is it an original, or did you find a PDF?  Also, what does it cover?

My IMSAI came with a polymorphics video card and ASCII keyboard; it would be nice to get that set up someday.  But for now, my goal is to get it to boot to CP/M in some fashion.

Thanks, 

-mike

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From: seattle-...@googlegroups.com <seattle-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Clay Erickson <clay.eric...@gmail.com>

Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2025 4:43 PM
To: Roger Hanscom <norwe...@gmail.com>
Cc: SRCS mailing list <seattle-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [SRCS] Re: December meeting

 

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[Mike Begley]

That would be great!  The Gotek is a lot more confusing than I expected it to be, with a variety of firmware to choose from and a they all seem to have different disk formats.  We just haven't managed to find the right combination of things to make it happy.  I haven't found a "Gotek for Dummies" page out there, but I sure need one.

-mike

---

From: seattle-...@googlegroups.com <seattle-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Roger Hanscom <norwe...@gmail.com>

Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2025 4:35 PM
To: SRCS mailing list <seattle-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SRCS] Re: December meeting

 

[harry.speer]

I did a google search for "gotek for dummies" and found this:

https://www.gotek-retro.eu/gotek-installeren/

There were machine specifics in the google results, EG: for Amiga, 

and for Atari, 

but not for "Retro Hobbyists running CPM-80 2.2", nor for CPM-3, 

CPM-86, CPM-68k (I would like to see the 68k one),  nor for MS-DOS.

I have not posted those but I wish that they were there.

One additional problem is that CPM-80 2.2 used different types

of formatting - example: Osborne Luggable versus Kaypro Luggable.

Nor for Xerox 820-II (which I also owned one of). 

MS-DOS and IBM did create a defacto standard, but that was years

later than 8080, 8085, Z80, and so on.  

I am unable to personally check whether it is or is not helpful 

as I do not (yet) own a gotek of my own.

Hope this helps,

Harry

[Salvador Limones]

The FlashFloppy wiki contains all the information that you could possibly need to get started:

https://github.com/keirf/flashfloppy/wiki

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[Fraser N64]

I'll add a recommendation for FlashFloppy, I've only used it once to put a GoTek into a Roland Music Sequencer.
Reasons to recommend FlashFloppy:

1. Same developer as the greaseweazle if anyone is familiar (Floppy to USB Emulator).
2. Excellent Wiki https://github.com/keirf/flashfloppy/wiki
3. I personally found the developer to be responsive in the Discussion area https://github.com/keirf/flashfloppy/discussions
4. Still requires a lot of experimentation (jumpers & config file), so don't screw it back together before it's 100% working like you want.
5. Very flexible, so it's very likely you will be able to get it working like you want.

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