CrossDOS SyQuest?
8 messages in this thread
Has anyone ever used CrossDOS (as included with Workbench 2.1) to format
an 88 MB SyQuest cartridge so that it will be readable on a MS-DOS machine
with a SyQuest drive? The Workbench 2.1 manual shows an example
mountlist entry in chapter 7 of how this might be done, but it doesn't say
which file to edit (devs:mountlist?) or if I need to use the HDtoolbox
program or how I might go about formatting such a disk. I have tried
setting up a CrossDOS partition on a SyQuest cartridge just to see if I
could format it. All seemed to go well until the formatting procedure. I
couldn't ever get a "NDOS" disk icon to use the Workbench Icon/Format menu
selection, and when I used the CLI format command, it bombed when it tried
to "initialize" the disk at the end of the format.
Anyone ever do this and actually use the cartridge successfully in an
MS-DOS computer?
Mike;
Last time I spoke with Consultron about using SyQuest drives for MSDOG on
the Ami, they suggested that the carts be formatted on a PC. You really
have to have FDISK to set one up I believe.
You might try contacting Chris Tolmie (here on CIS) as he has a great deal
of experience with such matters.
-bill
Could you post the mountlist entry for a Syquest cartridge and CrossDOS? I
have been trying to find out what it should be for a long time.
Thanks,
-Jerry Thompson
Jerry,
Here's mine from the Devs/DosDrivers
/* Mountlist Entry for Ms-Dos image partition. */
/*
* Disk Size: 42 Meg
* Vendor and drive name: 004 SyQuest SQ555
*
* Partition Size: 19 Meg
*/
Surfaces = 1
BlocksPerTrack = 34
LowCyl = 1379
HighCyl = 2549
DosType = 0x4d534800
Buffers = 5
BufMemType = 0
Activate = 1
Device = scsi.device
Unit = 4
Flags = 0
FileSystem = L:CrossDOSFileSystem
StackSize = 2000
Priority = 5
GlobVec = -1
I have only devoted a 19 meg partition on a cartridge to it since I don't
have too great a need for it. You could change the LowCyl figure for a
larger partition or an entire cartridge. The Unit # is the SCSI adress. I
formated it with CrossPC and it works just fine.
-Richard
When you say it "works just fine", do you mean that it is readable on a
DOS machine?
And what is CrossPC? Is that part of AmigaDOS 2.1?
Did the cartridge need to be partitioned with FDISK on a DOS machine
first?
If you are using the SyQuest to move Amiga files to a DOS machine, could
you please share your experience with us? What sort of problems did you
encounter?
I know I ask a lot of questions, but I would really appreciate it if you
could share your knowledge on using SyQuest carts to transfer data to the
DOS world.
Mike,
Unfortunately, I can't answer most of your questions. I've never tried
hooking the syquest up to a real live DOS box. All of the ones at work
don't have SCSI.
CrossPC is a software PC emulation package available from Consultron but
is not included with the CrossDos package licensed by Commodore. I did use
FDISK but it was done with CrossPC. Although my CrossPc formatted
cartridges may work on a real PC, Consultron indicates that PC's are more
finicky than CrossPC about the drives.
For the type of transferring you have in mind, Consultron recommends
formatting the disk on the target PC. Cross Dos can recognize these
cartridges and you should have no problem transferring files and taking
them to the PC.
-Richard
Does this mountlist give you "exchange capabilities" between AMIGA and
PC. I mean a IBM PC with adaptec scsi and syqest f.ex. could this read and
write from your "mountlist syquest".
Geir Molstad
Compuserv:70630,2024 Bix:Gmolstad UUCP:molstag@amigan.adsp.sub.org
Phone:+4722381205 Fax:+4722357797 BBS:+4722687176
Mail: Box 6708 Rode., N-0503 OSLO, NORWAY
Geir,
See my message to Gary. Essentially, Consultron, the manufacturers of
CrossDos and CrossPC state that the drive should be formatted on the PC.
My PCC mountlist example (with the low cylinder value adjusted) will allow
CrossDos to read and write to this drive.
-Richard