Re: Trackstar 128 Problems - Please Help

[Mike <moose@rocknet.net.au>]

Rubywand wrote:

> Mike writes ...
> >
> > Rubywand wrote:
> >
> > > Mike writes ...
>  ....
>
> > 1.  The Trackstar E STAR program wouldn't run and gave a "This Trakstar E utility is not
> > compatible with your Trackstar 128 card" type message.
> >
> > 2.  The Trackstar E TSUTILIT worked with my card and did allow me to create disk images -
> > but without the rest working, I cannot really tell if these disk images are good or not.
> >
> > Is there a way to convert these TRACKSTAR disk images to .dsk or .nib format for use with
> > an emulator ?
>
>      Under Trackstar, yes. You would run DSK2FILE to create a disk image file on your
> virtual ProDOS hard disk. There is a Transfer utility for moving files from your
> Trackstar disks to your real PC hard disk.

DSK2FILE - the one in the utility directory on Asimov - contains an Apple BASIC program which I
need to run in the Trackstar emulator (?).  What I would like is a program that converts
mydisk.app to mydisk.dsk.


>  ....
> > On my old 486-DX 33 (where I installed the Trackstar 128 last night), the program gets
> > further - but still doesn't fully load.  I get an error message :
> >
> >     "Unable to load system - please insert Trackstar Utility Disk"
> >
> > This may not be quiote the correct wording, but it is the general gist of the message.
> > None of the 3 original Trackstar v6.2 Utility disks can get me past this message.
> >
> > Has anyone got / solved this error
>  ....
>
>      It may be an error relating to a messed up system file on the diskette. Or, the
> diskette may not be bootable. The usual way to start Trackstar is from files moved to
> hard disk.

I have 3 original Trackstar v6.2 utility disks.  One is write protected.  Al 3 give the same
result.

However, someone else suggested that it may be because I am running from a 1.2 MB 5.25 inch
drive.  The Trackstar manual I have says the disk is copyprotected - so maybe this is some kind
of copy protection failure / error due to my high density 5.25 inch drive.

>      Trackstar (at least the E version) really needs just four PC files:
>
> star.com
> star.sys
> tsutilit.com
> filetrn.app
>
> These can be copied from your diskette to a hard disk folder and run from there.

Yes, but only TSUTILIT appears to work with my Trackstar 128 card.  None of the other Trackstar
E stuff works with my card.

The Trackstar v6.2 disks I have - for my Trackstar 128 card - need to be run from the PC floppy
drive - there is some sort of copy protection on them.  This is mentioned in my Trackstar 128
manual.

> > >
> > >      As far as I know, all of the Trackstar stuff available to users is on
> > > USA2WUG. If you could upload the files from your Trackstar disk to, say, Asimov, it
> > > would help to expand the collection of Trackstar materials. It would, also, make it
> > > easier for other users to help you get started.
> >
> > I will definitely do this.
>  ....
>
>      Okay. The files you need to upload to Asimov and/or Ground are the PC files
> listed above plus, if available, netmod.com and startup1.app .

The Trackstar 128 software is much more basic - there is STAR and a few other files only - no
*.app files or netmod.* files.

I will copy up what I have on Monday.

Picking up my Apple ][c in 1.5 hours - so I will also try transferring disks with it.

Mike O'Malley