HiassofT's Atari 8bit world

Here is some info about programs I have written for Atari XL/XE computers.

AtariSIO for Linux
AtariDsk (for MSDOS / Windows)
WriteAtr (for MSDOS / Windows)
MyPicoDos (for Atari 8bit computers)
MyIDE Tool (for Linux/Windows)
Highspeed SIO patch (for Atari 8bit computers) new!

AtariSIO driver and utilities for Linux

Current version: V0.30-pre1 beta

The AtariSIO package contains:

Please note: AtariSIO code is still beta. If you have some troubles, please contact me by email!

AtariSIO requires a 2.2, 2.4, or 2.6 series Linux kernel (with enabled module support) and a serial port with a 16550 compatible chip. So far I've tested it only on i386 architecture (I don't have any other platforms running Linux). It worked quite well on my laptop (a Compaq Contura Aero with a 486SX/33 and 8MB RAM running Debian potato with a 2.2.19 kernel), on my main PC (a 600MHz Pentium-III with 1GB RAM running Debian woody with a 2.4.26 kernel), on another PC (233MHz Pentium MMX, 64MB RAM, Debian woody with kernel 2.4.18), and on yet another PC (350MHz Pentium-II, 256MB RAM, Debian sarge with kernel 2.6.6).

Attention: please use the same gcc version to compile the kernel module as you used / it was used to compile the kernel. If you mix gcc versions, your system might crash or lock up!

current version:
atarisio-0.30-pre2.tar.gz 08/31/2004
  • Fixed kernel 2.6 issues
  • Fixed a bug in atarixfer which prevented writing 180k and 360k disks
development snapshots:
atarisio directory   Please use the latest development snapshot (atarisio-YYMMDD.tar.gz)
if you use a recent kernel (>=2.6.19) or if you have problems
with the latest release
old versions:
atarisio-0.10.tar.gz 02/12/2003
  • Initial alpha release
atarisio-0.10a.tar.gz 02/18/2003
  • Fixed gcc-3.x compilation problems
atarisio-0.10b.tar.gz 02/19/2003
  • Updated Makefile and documentation
atarisio-0.11.tar.gz 04/09/2003
  • Added loadable highspeed SIO code to atariserver (thanks to ABBUC!)
  • Added "print directory" function to atariserver
  • Several minor bugfixes and improvements
atarisio-0.20.tar.gz 05/22/2003
  • Added support for DCM/DI/XFD images
  • Added transparent .gz compression/decompression support
  • Added 'all images' option to (un-)protect, uninstall, and write image functions
  • The kernel driver now supports devfs
  • Added support for non-standard SIO2PC cables (command connected to DSR instead of RI)
  • Several minor bugfixes and improvements (see Changelog)
atarisio-0.30-pre1.tar.gz 06/10/2004
  • Completely new curses frontend
  • Added support for linux kernel 2.6.x
  • Preliminary support for the ATP format
  • Lots of fixes and new features (see Changelog for details)

Download the atarisio tarball and read the file README for usage and installation instructions.

Here's the Changelog, if you are interested.

AtariDsk

Current version: V1.2

Ataridsk is a program for MSDOS-PCs that allows you to access Atari floppy disks in double density (180k). All you need is a PC (XT or 286 should be sufficient) and a 5.25" floppy drive.

Features of this tool:

You can download ataridsk.zip here (22k). Please unzip the file and read ataridsk.doc for installation notes.

WriteAtr

Current version: V0.92b

With WriteAtr you can write double density ATR-images to Atari floppy disks on your MSDOS-PC. You can also create ATR-images of double density floppy disks! All you need is a PC and a 5.25" and/or a 3.5" floppy drive.

Version 0.92b added experimental support for the enhanced density (1040 sectors/128 bytes per sector) format. Please note: this format doesn't work with a lot of floppy controllers - use it at your own risk!

current version:
V0.92b 07/24/2003
  • Added experimental support for enhanced density format
old versions:
V0.9 beta 01/05/2002
  • initial release
V0.91 beta 01/06/2002 Attention - support for XF551 is currently broken!
  • preliminary, untested support for 360k, 720k and 1.44M disks - see writeatr.doc for details
V0.92 03/24/2002 Attention: 720k XF551 mode does not work in this version!
  • support for 180k, 360k, 720k and 1.44M disks in all mappings I currently know of
  • sectors are verified by default when writing a disk
  • enhanced error-reporting and possibility to abort/retry/ignore failed operations
  • plus several smaller bugfixes
V0.92a 12/31/2002
  • Fixed 720k XF551 (3.5") mode
  • Included blank 180k ATRs (to quick-init a disk)
  • Updated the docs

Unzip the file and read writeatr.doc for installation notes.

MyPicoDos

Current version: V4.04

MyPicoDos is a "gamedos" for the 8-bit Ataris that can read COM, EXE, BIN and BAS files. It's main feature is the ability to cope with the special MyDOS features like subdirectories and large disks (eg 3.5" HD disks). The current version supports all single and double density DOS 2.x and MyDOS formats from 720 up to 65535 sectors and can access D1: to D8:.

Starting with version 3.0 MyPicoDos is GPL'ed and comes with the full source code in Atasm format.

current version:
mypdos404.zip 08/11/2007
  • Highspeed SIO support for 1050 Turbo, XF551, Happy 810
  • "standalone" .COM versions (loadable from DOS)
  • Stripped-down "barebone" version without highspeed SIO
  • Fixed MyIDE density recognition problems
  • Fixed APE PC-Mirror subdirectory problems
  • Code cleanup to reduce size
  • Changed screen layout (file selection window is now 15 instead of 12 lines)
  • Improved large disk (16-bit MYDOS sector links) detection
old versions:
MYPDOS.COM V2.1 03/15/1992
  • Only supports DD disks with more than 1023 sectors!
mypdos30.zip 02/23/2003
  • Added support for SD and DOS 2.x formats
mypdos401.zip 10/28/2004
  • Support for displaying long filenames
  • Separate highspeed and standard SIO versions
  • Rewrote large parts of the file loader to reduce memory usage
  • Lots of bugfixes and improvements (see README.txt for details)
mypdos402.zip 11/02/2004
  • Fixed corrupted screen in standard SIO version
mypdos403.zip 03/01/2005
  • Added joystick support
  • Fixed problems with KMK/JZ IDE interface

MyIDE Tool

Current version: V0.30

MyIDE Tool is a program that provides direct access to harddrives in MyIDE format on your Linux/Windows PC. It will work with IDE harddrives, with Compactflash cards attached to either a CF-IDE adapter or to an (USB) cardreader and with images.

You can easily write ATR images and MyIDE movies to your MyIDE drive, list the contents of your drive or back up your data to your PC.

The current version V0.30 also supports Shawn Jefferson's MyIDE Image Manager. You can set the image category when writing (new) images to your disk, or quickly sort the image manager info (a lot faster than on your Atari).
Note: you need to use version 4.1 or higher of the MyIDE Image Manager, older versions are not supported.

current version:
myidetool-0.30.zip 11/11/2007
  • Read/write support for MyIDE partitions and images
  • Support for MyIDE image information (name, density)
  • Support for MyIDE Image Manager (category, sorting, clear and rebuild table)
  • Advanced moviewriter support: write color and grayscale movies (or just other raw data) in IDE (256 bytes per sector) or CompactFlash (512 bytes per sector) mode.

Highspeed SIO patch for XL/XE OS and MyIDE OS

Current version: V1.12

This patch extends the SIO routine of the OS so that the following highspeed SIO modes are supported:

It is the first patch that is 100% compatible with the MyIDE OS (tested with versions 3.x and 4.x). Of course, it also works with the stock Atari XL/XE OS.

The package includes the full source code and a precompiled EXE (patchrom.exe) so that you can create a patched ROM file on your PC (and then, for example, program it into an EPROM).

current version:
hipatch-1.12.zip 09/02/2008
  • Added keystrokes to enable/disable/reset the patch and to cold-boot the Atari
  • Fix compatibility with 1050 Happy (fast writes are now enabled by default)
old versions:
hipatch-1.10.zip 06/24/2008
  • Rewrote large parts of the source
  • Fix compatibility problems with Turbo DOS XL/XE
  • Improve error handling
  • Add fallback to standard SIO speed in case of transmission errors

Contact

If you have suggestions for future versions or problems with these programs, please send email to hias+atari@horus.com

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