VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Robert Adamson]

> Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2018 12:55:41 -0500
> From: Douglas Taylor <dj.taylor4 at comcast.net>
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts" <cctech at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images
> Message-ID: <92b4de6a-b537-4bfb-a1fd-1ebe8133f11a at comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> I'm getting an Alphaserver 1000a and wanted to install VMS 8.4 -
> hobbyist license from CD.
> 
> So, I went to the folder on my PC where I have the 8.4 hobbyist
> distribution.? There are 3 ISO files; ALPHA084, ALPHA084LP1 and
> ALPHA084LP2.
> 
> I thought I would burn these to CD and up and away.? However, Windows 7
> balks and says, 'The selected disc image file isn't valid'.
> 
> Is it Windows 7 or is there something I'm missing?? Is the CD on the
> Alphaserver 2048 byte block size or 512?
> 
> Doug

They _are_ 'ISO' images but in a format which Windows 7 or whatever burning
program you're using doesn't understand.
I used Nero (or Daemon I think)  to write CDs for my VAX but there will be
plenty of other programs equally suitable.
You don't need to do anything special, just treat them as an ISO image and
let the burning software get on with it.
Once written, Windows won't be able to read them so don't panic. If the
burning software includes verification then it (not Windows) will be able to
read them back OK.

(I'm using VMS v7.3 but I'm sure this is no different).

Generally AFAIK the CD readers on Vaxes (Vaxen - ugh!!) and Alphas will
deliver 512 byte blocks but this isn't relevant for the image itself.

Bob