#DOS to Amiga
3 messages in this thread
Betty,
I just downloaded the MSDOS1.LZH … didn't find the /b extension
name.
Perhaps being in the IBM environment for many years has warped my
mind, but I want to be sure I'm understanding you. It appears this file
will make my Amiga read IBM-type DOS-formatted files, games, etc. What I
wanted was to be able to download *actual* Amiga PD games, files,
utilities, etc. from these Amiga libraries on my PS-2, and take them home
to be read on my Amiga. Is that what I can do with this?
Also, the LZH extension; is this a "warped" or archived file? If
so, won't I need the appropriate software to "unwarp" it before it can be
read on the Amiga?
Sorry I'm so dumb about Amigas – just never did get the hang of
them. And the 500 we have is so retarded – just one drive. We finally got
1mg of memory but still have the disk-switching garbage to deal with!
Thanks again for being so understanding!
Shiela 🙂
Shiela, I saw a Unidrive external floppy advertised from a mail order place
for around $100..
LZH archives are just that. Like ARC, only better and the archiver program
you'd use on LZH files is "LHArc" or "LZ". LZH archives are not an 'Amiga'
phenomenon… they exists on MS-DOS, too, and they are usually
interchangable in the sense that LHArc on the Amiga can work on LZH files
created on an MSDOS machine and vice-versa.
The MSDOS handler you downloaded will indeed allow you to read/write
MS-DOS format disks on your Amiga with your Amiga programs. But it must be
properly installed in your system first. It should involve:
1) copying 1 or 2 special files to certain directories on your Workbench
disk.
2) adding (and saving) an entry to your MOUNTLIST file.
3) issuing a MOUNT MSH: (for instance) command from a CLI.
Of course, once installed, all that you need to activate the MSH device is
to issue the MOUNT command (#3). I d/l the same file you did from the file
section here and got it to work with no problem, and infact, got MS-DOS
versions of RAMdisks, etc. to work. So what you downloaded was a workable
system, unless there was an error that corrupted your copy while you were
downloading it.
I don't think there exists an AmigaDOS file for the IBM. The MSDOS1.LZH
will let you read IBM files to the Amiga, or Amiga files to an IBM disk.
Either way!
Yes, you will need LHARC on one or the other of your machines. Ours is in
Library 4, LHARC.EXE, and the key phrase to using it is:
LHARC -M -X X PATH:FILENAME.LZH
You need to make a directory for the new file and make that new directory
the current directory before you use LHARC. If you need help, ARCHLP.EXE
from Library 4 will explain it all.
I do hope your son is getting some of the nicer Amiga things, in addition
to games. DPaint is wonderful for creative kids, allowing both still pics
and animation. CANDO is a programming tool that requires no knowledge of
the standard programming languages. That's just two examples. There are
so many things on the Amiga that encourage creativity and thought – it
would be a shame for a child to miss them all.
……Betty