d8b Forum

I've just formatted four new floppy's, I used an old PC with XP, after formatting I got the message "Format Complete", when I load the floppy's into my CPU to save a project, I get the message "Insert a formatted disk" any ideas guys?

Hey Phil;

Did you use "quick Format"? Try the full Format and see if there is a difference.

I have a few boxes of "new" floppies and got various messages after formatting. In all but one the d8b would not accept the floppy as formatted. They where probably made in 1988 and the oxide is shedding of the backing. I believe it could be the age of the drives and miss alignment between drives. You could try installing a new floppy drive in the d8b and see if the result is the same.

I switched to a floppy emulator for little $. Game changer!!!

Did you get you 2nd d8b working? Or did I miss the post that went "YEAH!!!"

Cheers and good luck
Bruce

Thanks Bruce,

I did the full format, I'll try it again!

I've bought a fader bank from Gary Stone, awaiting delivery

What floppy emulator did you use?

Phil

If you search amazon for "gotek floppy emulator", you should get some options

Also check here:
http://www.sonido-7.com/d8b/tpis.html#Post23

I believe that to be for Windows, I have a Mac Pro in my music studio, but Windows in my work studio, so I guess that's ok?

Hey Phil;

The Floppy Emulator goes into your d8b, not your MAC or PC.

The software, which you install on the PC (could be the MAC as well, not sure), allows you to format a USB stick into 1.44 Meg partitions. Then you copy files, or Image Files, into the various partitions on the USB stick., For example, I have in partition "0". disk 1 of the d8b 5.1 OS. etc.

You take the USB to the d8b (and/or your HDR if you have one installed there), select the correct partition and away you go. (there's a little more to it than that, but that's the basics).

The need for floppies is gone.

That help???

Lots of info has been complied by arjepsen, about this. I have a floppy emulator in my d8b and it works great. Cheap, like $28.00 Canadian for the Emulator, the Software is free.

On the USB sticks I use, they are 56 MB (small), so I a few 1.44 Meg "Floppy" sized partitions.

Does this help????

Cheers
Bruce

Thanks Bruce, yes I know the drive has to go into the CPU but it's the stick that has to be programmed

I couldn't find the emulators you mentioned but would this work?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FAT32-Floppy-D ... y+emulator

I *think* it would work.
I can't say for sure, but the design looks exactly like mine, so there should be a good chance it does.

The software for managing the usb stick runs on windows, so you need a pc with windows to set that up.

Do these use an existing cable connector in the CPU?

Yes. The floppy emulator basically replaces the floppy drive, and uses the same cables. It's a relatively simple swap.