Re: Reading ".DSK" images directly on PC...

["Charlie" <charlied@NOSPAMbboard.com>]

"Jeff Thomas" <a2forever@usa.net> wrote in message
3DCF829A.76A6BD61@usa.net">news:3DCF829A.76A6BD61@usa.net...
> I have utility that allows me to read Commodore 64 (C64) ".d64" disk
> images used by C64 emulators. It has spilt-screen, showing the directory
> listing of files on C64 ".d64" disk and otherside that of my PC,
> enabling me to transfer files without using null-modem cable and
> communication software. Does similar utility exist for ".dsk" disk
> images, commonly used by Apple II emulators on PCs and Macs?

To my knowledge there is no utility that will allow you to read Apple II disks
on a PC unless you have special hardware on the PC (such as a TrackStar card).

If you have Apple II disk images already on the PC (with Windows 95 or later)
and you want to view the files on the image or do some types of transfers you
can use FishWings.

http://www3.bboard.com/charlied/fishwings.htm

>If not,
> could Applied Engineering's Transporter PC Emulation card for IIGS
> access both disk formats, when PC 5.25" disk drive and Apple II 5.25"
> disk drives are connected?
>

I'm not sure about 5.25" drives but an Apple 3.5" drive will definitely
read/write PC/Apple II disks when connected to a PC Transporter (on an Apple
IIGS).  This is the way I transfer files between my PC and my Apple IIgs and it
works flawlessly provided:

1. The disks are double density (720K/800K) not high density.
2. The MS-DOS disks are formatted on a PC's 3.5" drive not on the Apple 3.5"
drive.
3. You have the software that comes with the PC Transporter.

I have yet to find an Apple file that will not shrink down (using ShrinkIt)
small enough to fit on a 720K MS-DOS disk.

One note of caution:
Do NOT connect a 3.5" UniDisk to the PC Transporter. It will damage the drive
and the PC Transporter.

> Other question, I know the 5.25" disk drive is technically incompitable
> with the PC and the Macintosh can read ProDOS formatted 3.5" disks. But
> what about the other way around, can Apple II 3.5" disk drive read/write
> PC or Macintosh formatted low density diskettes?

As mentioned above the Apple 3.5" disk drive itself can read double density
(what I think you mean by "low density") PC disks but it needs a controller
that will allow it.  Unfortunately, even when you have the PC Transporter as a
controller the MS-DOS file system translator doesn't recognize the disks on the
Apple side.  So all file transfers must be done from within MS-DOS using the PC
Transporter "Transfer" program.  If you have a hard drive on an Apple IIGS then
you can set up the PC Transporter to share the hard drive and then I believe
you can use MUG (a shareware program) on the Apple side to transfer the files
between PC and Apple.

I believe an Apple IIgs can read/write double density (800K) Macintosh disks
formatted with HFS if the HFS File System Translator is installed.

Charlie