Just got my ZoomFloppy working neat!

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Raymond Day

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Aug 27, 2013, 8:42:43 AM8/27/13
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Wow this is cool. I had the ZoomFloppy board for a wile now. But today I just plug in in the USB and then look on line for the driver and it was easy to install.

Then read on line about it some and said how you need opencbm-ZoomFloppy I downloaded it and unzipped it and clicked the one file that installs it the bat one I think it was.

The went to the cmd windows to type things and cd to the folder were the copy exe was.

It was about a hour looking on line and at text files that came with it to find a copy command.

On line I found all I had to do was:

d64copy.exe 8 1541.d64

That's it and it works very good. I love how the LED flashed on the ZoomFloppy as the sound of the drive matches with the DOS screen.

Test the same command on a bought 1541 game disk. But here is what I got using the nibtools.

"C:\Users\Raymond\Downloads\commodore ZoomFloopy\nibtools-msvc-opencbm5-win32-r58
7>nibread.exe 8 sky_jet.d64

nibread - Commodore 1541/1571 disk image nibbler
(C) Peter Rittwage and the rest of the C64 Preservation Project team
Revision 2012 - Built May 25 2013 10:12:02


Drive Version: 73,JIFFYDOS 6.0 1571,00,00
Drive type: 1571
Bumping...
Initializing
Sending 1571 parallel support code...
Uploading floppy-side code ($0394 bytes, $300-$694)...done.
Starting custom drive code...Started!
Testing communication...done.
Failed port transfer test. Check cabling.
Floppy drive initialization failed

Resetting drive...
Cleaning up...

C:\Users\Raymond\Downloads\commodore ZoomFloopy\nibtools-msvc-opencbm5-win32-r58
7>"

Does it need some other cable? I do have the cable hooked up to other drives like 2 1541-II's, 1581, and FD-4000 but I don't have them turn on just the 1571.

It be neat if I could back up all my store bought disk. But I do guess some one has all ready done that on line.

Just wanted to let all know it's neat and easy for this to work.

-Raymond Day

Nate Lawson

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Aug 27, 2013, 10:31:55 AM8/27/13
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Since you have a 1571, you just nead:

nibread -s

The -s is serial nibbling; only works on the 1571.

Glad you like it!

-Nate

Raymond Day

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Aug 27, 2013, 10:54:26 AM8/27/13
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I guess have to look it up more how to.

I put the -s on it and it did seem better but did not make any d64 file. Just 8.log and 8.nbz

"C:\Users\Raymond\Downloads\commodore ZoomFloopy\nibtools-msvc-opencbm5-win32-r58
7>nibread.exe -s 8 sky_jet.d64

nibread - Commodore 1541/1571 disk image nibbler
(C) Peter Rittwage and the rest of the C64 Preservation Project team
Revision 2012 - Built May 25 2013 10:12:02

* Use 1571 SRQ Support

Drive Version: 73,JIFFYDOS 6.0 1571,00,00
Drive type: 1571
Bumping...
Initializing
Sending 1571 SRQ support code...
Uploading floppy-side code ($042f bytes, $300-$72f)...done.
Starting custom drive code...Started!
Testing communication...done.
Passed initial communication test.
Testing code upload...done.
Passed code verification test.
Passed all basic port checks.


18.0: (2)
Cosmetic Disk ID: '??'
Format Disk ID: 'DF'


 1.0: (3) H/S 7786 [CBM OK]
 2.0: (3) H/S 7787 [CBM OK] (weakgcr:1)
 3.0: (3) H/S 7788 [CBM OK]
 4.0: (3) H/S 7795 [CBM OK]
 5.0: (3) H/S 7788 [CBM OK] (weakgcr:1)
 6.0: (3) H/S 7787 [CBM OK]
 7.0: (3) H/S 7785 [CBM OK]
 8.0: (3) H/S 7785 [CBM OK]
 9.0: (3) H/S 7785 [CBM OK]
10.0: (3) H/S 7788 [CBM OK]
11.0: (3) H/S 7782 [CBM OK]
12.0: (3) H/S 7790 [CBM OK] (weakgcr:1)
13.0: (3) H/S 7786 [CBM OK]
14.0: (3) H/S 7786 [CBM OK]
15.0: (3) H/S 7787 [CBM OK] (weakgcr:1)
16.0: (3) H/S 7789 [CBM OK]
17.0: (3) H/S 7787 [CBM OK] (weakgcr:1)
18.0: (2) H/S 6947 [CBM OK]
19.0: (2) H/S 6947 [CBM OK]
20.0: (2) H/S 6947 [CBM OK]
21.0: (2) H/S 6949 [CBM OK]
22.0: (2) H/S 6948 [CBM OK]
23.0: (2) H/S 6950 [CBM OK]
24.0: (2) H/S 6952 [CBM OK]
25.0: (1) H/S 6575 [CBM OK]
26.0: (1) H/S 6576 [CBM OK]
27.0: (1) H/S 6569 [CBM OK]
28.0: (1) H/S 6569 [CBM OK] (weakgcr:1)
29.0: (1) H/S 6569 [CBM OK]
30.0: (1) H/S 6573 [CBM OK]
31.0: (0) H/S 6222 [CBM OK]
32.0: (0) H/S 6222 [CBM OK]
33.0: (0) H/S 6222 [CBM OK]
34.0: (0) H/S 6222 [CBM OK]
35.0: (0) H/S 6222 [CBM OK]
36.0: (2) H/S/R 7557 Long Read! [NDOS]
      (2) H/S/R 7338 [NDOS]  (weakgcr:7047)
37.0: (2 NOSYNC!) 0 [Unformatted Track]
38.0: (2 NOSYNC!) 0 [Unformatted Track]
39.0: (2 NOSYNC!) 0 [Unformatted Track]
40.0: (2 NOSYNC!) 0 [Unformatted Track]
41.0: (2 NOSYNC!) 0 [Unformatted Track]
Converting to NIB format...
Successfully parsed data to NIB format
Successfully saved file 8.nbz

Resetting drive...
Cleaning up...

C:\Users\Raymond\Downloads\commodore ZoomFloopy\nibtools-msvc-opencbm5-win32-r58
7>"

-Raymond Day

Alexander Oberhuber

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Aug 27, 2013, 11:14:41 AM8/27/13
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Raymond Day schrieb am 16:54 27.8.2013 :
>I guess have to look it up more how to.
>
>I put the -s on it and it did seem better but did not make any d64
>file. Just 8.log and 8.nbz
>
>"C:\Users\Raymond\Downloads\commodore
>ZoomFloopy\nibtools-msvc-opencbm5-win32-r58
>7>nibread.exe -s 8 sky_jet.d64

Ofcourse. The syntax is "nibread -s filename"; your filename is "8".
Thus, the file "8.nzb" contains the nibbled data from the drive.

You perhaps wanted the commandline to be:

nibread.exe -s sky_jet

in which case a file called "sky_jet.nbz" would have been created.


Raymond Day

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Aug 27, 2013, 11:18:15 AM8/27/13
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I thought it my be that.

But the .nbz is a zip up D64 then.

-Raymond Day

Nate Lawson

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Aug 27, 2013, 11:50:31 AM8/27/13
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No, it's a nib file, which has much more lower level data (like copy protection info). After nibbling, you can convert to a d64 with:

nibconv file.nbz file.d64

Of course, this loses copy protection info in the d64 and so may not work if it's a commercial title. It will work fine if it is not protected though.
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Carsten Jensen

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Aug 27, 2013, 11:52:30 AM8/27/13
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You've made a nibble file, not a d64 file.
in order to get your file to work in an emulator you'll need to use nibconv, which makes a g64 file (it can afair also make a d64 file).
if there is a copyprotection and it isn't fixed in the conversion process you won't get the game to work.

nibbling is not the same as making a copy of a disk to a d64 image, it contains a lot of other info too, like copy protections etc.
therefor it is a way to make an (near) identical copy of the disk.

Raymond Day

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Aug 27, 2013, 9:21:03 PM8/27/13
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So the nibbler can copy the disk and then copy it back to some other real disk the same so can use it later with protection still on it?

That would be good at lest it be backed up.

-Raymond Day

Pontus Berg

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Aug 28, 2013, 1:51:32 AM8/28/13
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This is the whole idea with the combination nibbled and ability to generate a disk image. Archive in original format - including errors/protection...

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Raymond Day

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Aug 28, 2013, 6:21:44 AM8/28/13
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This is real neat then.

So can copy errors and protection to a file to back it up and then can restore it later to some other good disk. Or can use it in a emulator it sounds like.

Is there any disk any one found were it don't work?

It be neat if I can back up all my store bought disk with just a command like:

nibread.exe -s disk0001

Is there any like click on program with menus and things that interfaces with the CMD commands. I all ready forgot the list dir command. Will have to look it up again.

Thank you for doing this with the ZoomFloppy. It real neat and works good.

-Raymond Day

Raymond Day

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Aug 28, 2013, 6:48:55 AM8/28/13
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The 2 1541-II I have long ago I added lots too them more RAM and a parallel 9 pin plug. I have a user port plug with a switch on it labeled on one side "GEOCable" and the other "Super Snap shot parallel" but they all so plug in to 15 pin plugs and that's one that's on the ZoomFloppy. I guess it my just work. I made all the cable's my self long ago. I guess I found out how to wire them on Q-Link that's how long ago. I guess I posted about it on Q-Link back then too. Junk they lost all that Data on Q-Link.

Any why I will put two photos up here to show how I have it. I don't want to power this on if I don't have it wired the same and it could mess up the ZoomFloppy or my 1541-II drive. Let me know if I should try that please.

This would be so neat it it works. I guess I just my have it wired up the same. It plugs right in to the ZoomFloppy and the back of my 1541-II that I did years ago.

-Raymond Day

Raymond Day

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Aug 28, 2013, 8:13:16 AM8/28/13
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I did plug it all in and power them up with the parallel cable. Seems like all works.

I did this command:

nibread -D10 image.nib

The Zoom Floppy LED blinks but nothing on my 1541-II.

Do I need the serial cable on it too? Not sure what device number it is set to any way. But I don't think it's 8.

-Raymond Day

Raymond Day

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Aug 28, 2013, 8:28:37 AM8/28/13
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Just plug in the serial cable with the parallel cable too. The 1541-II is set up as device 9. I don't think I wired my parallel cables the same. I did a test and got this:

"C:\Users\Raymond\Downloads\commodore ZoomFloopy\opencbm-ZoomFloppy-2.0-i386\open
cbm-ZoomFloppy-2.0-i386\exe>nibread -D9 image.nib

nibread - Commodore 1541/1571 disk image nibbler
(C) C64 Preservation Project
Revision 528 - Built Sep 24 2011 22:38:17

* Use Device 9

Drive Version: 73,CBM DOS V2.6 1541,00,00
Drive type: 1541
Bumping...
Initializing
Sending 1541 parallel support code...
Uploading floppy-side code...done.
Starting custom drive code...Started!
Testing communication...done.
Failed port transfer test. Check cabling.
Floppy drive initialization failed

Resetting drive...
Cleaning up...

C:\Users\Raymond\Downloads\commodore ZoomFloopy\opencbm-ZoomFloppy-2.0-i386\open
cbm-ZoomFloppy-2.0-i386\exe>"

Guess now to look up how I wired them and make them the same as the ZoomFloppy.

-Raymond Day

Raymond Day

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Aug 28, 2013, 8:54:35 AM8/28/13
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What I remember when I made the cables was I did not want to use the big DB15 so used the smaller DB9 and use the ground for the 10TH wire.

Thinking of just making my own DB15 to DB9 cable.

Looking at:


Now to see what to do.

-Raymond Day

Pontus Berg

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Aug 28, 2013, 9:27:05 AM8/28/13
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2013/8/28 Raymond Day <raymo...@gmail.com>

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Raymond Day

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Aug 28, 2013, 12:16:28 PM8/28/13
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Very good the CBMxfer works with the Zoom Floppy very good. Very easy. Just have to copy a lot of files to it's folder to use it from opencbm files.

-Raymond Day

Raymond Day

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Aug 28, 2013, 12:31:28 PM8/28/13
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Just thought of this. My parallel cable I made plugs in the User port so I plug that in the same type plug at the edge of the Zoom Floppy and put the switch to GEOCable side. But looks like it's not using it. I still get the "Failed port transfer test. Check cabling." 

Not sure what else to do. That cable did work as a GEOCable long ago.

-Raymond Day

Raymond Day

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Aug 28, 2013, 1:13:30 PM8/28/13
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I have like a Y cable for the parallel cable I made and I removed it. But it still don't work. I guess my cable is to long for Zoom Floppy.

-Raymond Day
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