8" floppy system needed to recover old game data

[Kieron Wilkinson]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Dunfield
>
> CP/M itself is independant of any particular disk format. It 
> can work with hard-sector systems, soft-sector systems, 8" 
> 5.25", 3.5" drives, ROM disks and RAM disks. The only real 
> requirement is that there be block addressable storage.

Nice! At least, it probably was at the time. ;)

> Most 8" systems use IBM soft-sector format, and a lot of them 
> use the WD series of FDC controllers. Most of these can be 
> read with a 765 type controller, but there are a number that 
> cannot. There really is a lot of variation.

Okay.

> Getting data from 8" drives will require some work. Chances 
> are that it can be recovered on a PC with ImageDisk or 
> TeleDisk, however to do so they would have to make an adapter 
> to connect the drive, connect it to the PC floppy controller, 
> power the drive, configure the software etc/, and you run the 
> risk that after all that effort, it may not be a disk format 
> compatible with the PC floppy controller (we could tell this 
> in advance if you can find out the exact type of CP/M system it is).
> This sounds like it is more work they they are willing to do.

Ouch. Yes, exactly.

> If the original CP/M system is still running, then the 
> content of the disks can be pulled off with a serial 
> connection to a PC - but this will require getting the 
> connection established, getting a bit of software running on 
> both the CP/M system and the PC.

No, only the media is available unfortunately. Hence the problem.

> Failing either of the two above, then you need someone local 
> who can do one of the above, or have them send the disks to 
> someone further away who can do it.

I'll contact Sellam Ismail, he is certainly looking to be my best bet so
far.

> I have the ability image 8" disks directly to a PC, and I 
> also have a multi-format copying station that I have not yet 
> "gotten around" to setting up (but I could do that). I also 
> know someone relatively close to me who does have a 
> multi-format copying station up and running. You could have 
> them send the disks to me (Ontario
> Canada) which would be a bit closer than going "across the pond".

Lets see what we can do on location, and if that fails, we will have to
campaign to get them to send somebody the disks. :)

> I've been fairly actively involved in preservation of disk 
> images from classic systems in the past couple of years - if 

Ah really? That is very interesting! Check your mail. ;)

> it would help, the game developer can contact me directly to 
> discuss ways to recover the data.

Thanks for the offer! I'll keep it in mind if things pan out that way.

Kieron

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