#help/file transfers
7 messages in this thread
I am a PC user; my brother is the Amiga user.
Sometimes I need to give him graphics files. He supposedly can open some bit
mapped files, right from my PC formatted diskettes. However, the operation has
succeded rarely. Mostly the disk drive goes on spinning forever and nothing
happens. My bro syas you Amiga Experts will tell me to go buy him some pretty
ex$pensive $oftware. I say you'll come up with some idea. His Amiga has an
MC68040, model 4000 I think. I have no more datails, let me know if you need
more to help.
Also, what to do to stop and endlessly spinning drive? How can that problem be
solved?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Edgar.
Edgar,
With a 68040 and a model 4000, your brother should have at LEAST version
2.1 of the system software. If so, he has CrossDOS built into the system.
By calling his df0: by its MSDOS name, PC0", he can read MSDOS disks
directly. Now, he probably can read only 720K disks. It's possible that
he has a high density drive that could read 1.4, but not necessarily.
Could you tell us a bit more about what he is typing, and what error
messages he is getting? We're a bit blind from here, since we cannot see
what is happening. I read 720K MSDOS disks – and write them – all the
time. It should be working properly. We need to know more about what is
happening on his machine.
—Betty
Betty,
Actually he must have at least 3.0, and can read hi-density disks. That
is, unless there's something wrong with his floppy drive. So he normally
should have no problem at a system level reading 1.4MB disks.
DJ
On AP from Queens, the thrill and excitement of the Big Apple
Where a little paranoia is always a healthy attitude …
Thanks. I don't have a 4000, so I don't know much about what is available
on it. Too bad that being a sysop does not automatically make one able to
get the latest and greatest…..but that's the way it is. <g>
—Betty
Edgar,
your brother should be able to read and write IBM 720K formatted
diskettes at least. That should be built-in, although he made need to
drag a few files around to get it working. Check the Amiga manuals that
came with the system for system specific information.
As for reading various graphics formats, it is true that the best
solution is something like Art Department Professional or such. However,
I went for a good long while without it just by using the programs over in
AmigaArts that will read various IBM formats. In any case, both systems
should be capable of transferring graphics files in .GIF format using
existing library programs in AmigaArts and IBMNew. Try searching for the
programs using IBMFF and AmigaFF by the format name.
I hope this helps.
One thing you should _definately_ do is when you write a file to a disk
for your brother, is use copy with the "/v" switch. PC's don't error check
the files when they write them (unless you use this switch), and we've
seen a lot of files that work fine when the "/v" is used as compared to
when it's not used.
The next issue is compatible file formats; make sure your software can
read the formats you're using. For instance, our software can read most
files that would come from a PC; but that's not true for all Amiga
programs.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Edgar,
The endlessly spinning drives is normally caused by MS-DOS attemting to read
not FAT formatted disks (MS-DOS formatted disks). I suspect that your brother
gave you an Amiga formatted disk (1.7mb instead of 1.4mb) and the PC chokes big
time with them. Also, the if your brother is trying to read the MS-DOS
formatted disk using DF0: (or DF1:) which are the AmigaDOS formatted drive
device then the Amiga will spin forever trying to figure out were anything is.
He should be reading it from PC0: (or PC1: or whatever name he gave to the
MS-DOS formatted device). He has to install (unless he has not done it so) the
PC0: or CrossDOS utility to read and write 1.44 (the 4000 has not problem doing
so). As far as I know there is nothing you can buy on the PC to read AmigaDOS.
And I do not believe you do not need to buy anything unless you can not read &
write IFF (also known as ILBM) format. But for that Image Alchemy, PhotoShop,
HIJAAK, and Graphics WorkShop (among others) on the PC, ImageFX, ImageMaster,
and Art Department Pro on the Amiga can help you with the format convertions.
By the way I do this everyday. Once you know how to do it, it is very
reliable.
Eduard
VIS