Copying U3.01 Program Disk

[horizonsound]

Hi All,

I'm trying to copy U3.01 program disk from 3.5" over to an 8" format, however Copy ALL only wants to copy within the same drive.
It should fit on an 8" disk.

Anyone know if there is a command to copy across drive formats?

Alternatively, I have made a 3.5" disk .img file, but can't work out how to convert that to an 8" .img file.

Anthony.

[Jdm5149]

Hey there. I don’t know but I was thinking of this today also.  I just received a 5.25 drive that was on eBay.  Console still in storage but once up and running I was thinking of using the 8” drive I know that works and using this 5.25 and hopefully a 3.5 that I have as backups and archiving data also.  All my manuals are in storage but I thought I read somewhere about saving across drives.

[horizonsound]

Yeah you can copy reel disks across drives, but am struggling on the program disk.

The protocols for 3.5" and 8" are completely different. 5.25" drives were never used in an SSL system, but may be compatible with the 8" Shugart MFM protocol.

Anthony.

[pascal.verdet]

Hi Anthony,

Normally, the "COPY ALL EX" command duplicates the system disk.
BUT !!! As I recall, I believe that in SSL programming, they assumed the same drive would be used...

Cheers,
Pascal

[Jdm5149]

This is the discription of the drive I purchased. Will try to get my computer out of storage to test it it came with a v3.5 program disc  :
This listing is for a vintage Solid State Logic (SSL) 5.25" Floppy Disc Drive, originally used in SSL 4000/6000 series console automation systems. Pulled from BBC Maida Vale Studios, this unit is a rare artifact from one of the most iconic recording environments in broadcast history.

Brand: Solid State Logic (SSL)
Type: Console Automation Drive
Compatibility: SSL 4K / 6K Series (E/G)
Media: 5.25" Floppy Disk
Provenance: BBC Maida Vale Studios (UK)

[Richealey]

SSL never used a 5.25" floppy drive. I looked up the ebay listing and that is an 8" floppy drive. If you look up the part # of the Verbatim floppy FD 34-8000 you'll see that's an 8" floppy.

[Dave Dicson]

SSL did use a 5.25" data cartridge for a short time.

[Jdm5149]

Yes. Just looked at it. 8”.  Well at least I have a spare 🤞

[Richealey]

Is this Metalworks Dave Dicson ? Are you thinking Bernoulli

[Dave Dicson]

Yes.

[Clip6]

https://youtu.be/__yq7rKpCG8?si=WzBcwgX84CprPkNi

Anthony you look into this Zulu drive.

We need a floppy replacement.

[horizonsound]

Unfortunately it is not that simple.

The SSL 3.5" disk system uses a SCSI interface with some fairly specific protocols. It converts SCSI to IDE through a Teac FD-1 card.
The drive itself is a rather specific Teac FD-235HF 6700.
Power for the FD-1 is taken from a the modified 3.5 drive, back up the 34way ribbon, IIRC.
I've tried many combinations of emulators on the SCSI and the IDE side of it, even have the developers work along side me.
Still no luck.
The 8" USB emulator, whilst took a bit of time to work out, has been 100% solid for me over the last 5 years.

Anthony.