Re: Help with creating disks from disk images...

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Bob and Linda Barrett write ...
> 
> I would like to echo this sentiment.  I have tried to restore some of
> the old education programs we have from dsk. files, but have had no
> success.  I used a similar approach trying to use DSK2FILE, but as Will
> stated, when I try to find the converted programs on the target disk,
> there is nothing.  Since most dsk. files are DOS3.3, I made sure the
> disk I was transferring to was in this format.  When that didn't work, I
> tried ProDos formatting.  Still nothing. I have heard of another program
> called ASIMOV (?) that is supposed to do something similar.  Would that
> be a better option? Or are we doing something else wrong?  Please help
> Will and me out!
> Bob. B.


     The following may help. It is from the Csa2 Uploading & Downloading
FAQs on Ground at ...

ftp://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs
http://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs


>>

009- What are DSK "disk image" files and how do I use them?

     A "disk image" is a file containing everything on the diskette--
i.e. Catalog tracks, files, DOS (if present) etc.. Usually, they are
images of Apple 5.25" game, utility, etc. diskettes. A standard 5.25"
disk image file is 143,360 bytes in length.

     DSK files are disk image files used by emulators like AppleWin to
run A2 wares on the PC or Mac. Emulators treat DSK files like diskettes.

     DSK files are also a handy way to archive DOS 3.3 disks on hard
disk and to maintain old DOS 3.3 wares on Apple II ftp sites. On Ftp
sites, DSK files are usually in a ZIPped form to conserve space. For
example, on the Asimov site, narfgames.dsk.gz is a DSK file of the
narfgames disk which has been g-zip compressed. On a PC, WinZIP will
unZIP g-zipped DSK files into uncompressed form.

     On an Apple II, a DSK file can be converted to actual 5.25"
diskette form using DSK2file or (GS-only) ASIMOV. (Note: use a
pre-formatted diskette.)  You can, also, use DSK2FILE or ASIMOV to
create DSK files from unprotected 5.25" diskettes. 

     In some versions of Copy II+ (up to around version 7.x) the
COPY--DISK function can create disk image files and convert them back to
diskette. Copy II+ disk image files are not compatible with those
created by DSK2FILE and ASIMOV; and, they do not work with emulators.

Note: You can download the current DSK2FILE at
http://keaggy.intmed.mcw.edu/dsk2file.html .
      

----------------------------


010- I have downloaded a bunch of files for the Apple II
     lately that are in a format called GZ.  I understand it
     is some variation of Zip but I don't have a translator for
     it on my GS. Does anyone know where I can find one?

     Files downloaded from Asimov, mod files, and some others are,
often, in GZ "g-zipped" format and usually have the .gz file name
extension (like narfgame.dsk.gz). If you download the files to a PC, you
can use the Windows version of PKZip (WinZIP) to unzip the file.

     Usually, once unzipped, an Asimov GZ image file will end up as a
143k DSK file. The file may be moved to your Apple via NULL modem and
converted to Apple-readable diskette form using DSK2file or (GS-only)
ASIMOV. 


     If you download a GZ file directly to your Apple you can use a
program named "GZPK" v2 to convert it from gzip form to a zip format
which can be unzipped via PMPUnzip 2.0 or Angel. A GZ file from the
Asimov site should end up as a DSK file.

<<


     So, some things to do when downloading and converting most DSK
files include:

 1. For an ftp download, do the download in Binary mode.

 2. Most DSK files are maintained in .gz compressed form. Use WinZIP or
a similar utility to unzip the DSK file on your PC or Mac. (Or, on a
IIgs you can use GZPK v2 to obtain a plain .ZIP and PKUNZIP to unZIP the
.ZIP file to obtain the DSK file.)

 3. When converting the DSK file to diskette form on your Apple II, use
a formatted diskette as the target.

  

Rubywand