CWVG

[Mike Loewen]

On Wed, 25 Aug 2021, Dennis Boone via cctalk wrote:

> On Wed, 24 Aug 2021, Mike Loewen via cctalk wrote:
> >
> > Back in the 2007 time frame, Andrew Lynch had written a utility to read
> > Vector Graphic hard-sectored diskettes on a Catweasel board.  Called
> > "CWVG", does anyone have a copy of the program?
>
> The program doesn't appear to have made it onto vector-archive.org.
>
> I'll add to Jay's comment about 100 tpi floppies: there was a Tandon
> model (100-4M?) that did 100 tpi also.  Of both the M and T models are
> scarce.

    Indeed, the two Micropolis drives on my Vector 1 are the 1043-2 (master) 
and 1023-II (slave). Both are 100tpi, single-sided. The S100 controller is the 
Micropolis FDC. I haven't had time to find out if they work.

    As a few of the signals on the 34-pin connector are different than the 
Shugart layout, I'm considering making up a custom cable and connecting it to 
my Catweasel MK4+. I have a utility from Andrew Lynch called "cwns", which 
is a modified version of "cw2dmk" to read Northstar hard-sector (10 SPT) 
diskettes. I might be able to modify that to read the VG 16 SPT diskettes, if 
the 1043-2 will work with the Catweasel.

    It's been pointed out that I could write something for the Vector 1 to read 
diskettes and transfer the contents out the serial port. I'd rather attack it 
from the point of my media imaging system, and there is a literal shoebox full 
of diskettes to image.


Mike Loewen				mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us
Old Technology				http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/