QL vDrive upgrade

Any 680x0 based information, repairs, images, upgrades and other cool stuff that is not Atari and Amiga based but based on the Motorola 68K range of processors
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by rubber_jonnie »

@stephen_usher Just wondering if you have any experience of mdump_task for the QL?

I have managed to get this onto floppy and run the command: ew flp1_mdump_task as instructed here: http://qxl.win/ql_cartridge_recovery.htm

However all I get in return is 'bad parameter' suggesting I need to perhaps add something extra to the command line. It's driving me nuts as I want to test mdv cart dumping, but it just won't run :(

All thought welcome, and I will also have a look over on the QL forum.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by stephen_usher »

I've forgotten what the program was I used to read the carts. It was by an Italian bloke. I wish I could remember.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 11 Nov 2021 22:03 I've forgotten what the program was I used to read the carts. It was by an Italian bloke. I wish I could remember.
If it's the Italian bloke I'm thinking of it's mdump_task, which I can find precious little info on how to run. I've got a post up now on the QL forum, so we'll see if they can give me any pointers.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by rubber_jonnie »

rubber_jonnie wrote: 11 Nov 2021 22:11
stephen_usher wrote: 11 Nov 2021 22:03 I've forgotten what the program was I used to read the carts. It was by an Italian bloke. I wish I could remember.
If it's the Italian bloke I'm thinking of it's mdump_task, which I can find precious little info on how to run. I've got a post up now on the QL forum, so we'll see if they can give me any pointers.
It's Simone Voltolini, website here: https://sinclairql.wordpress.com/
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 11 Nov 2021 22:03 I've forgotten what the program was I used to read the carts. It was by an Italian bloke. I wish I could remember.
You may have seen my posts here by now: https://qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1 ... 8&start=10 but I managed to create a disk from an image that contained the beta 2.0 version of mdump_task and can now boot from floppy to run it, and have copied 3 carts. I now need to fix the pads in the carts I really want to back up and then understand how I can convert the images for use with vDrive.

I have a newer version of mdump now too, so need to unzip that in QDOS and add it to my boot disk.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by stephen_usher »

:dualthumbup:
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 12 Nov 2021 14:14 :dualthumbup:
Just to add, I also bought Q-Emulator :)

That should help
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by stephen_usher »

I've used SMSQmulator ( https://www.wlenerz.com/SMSQmulator/ ) in the past to do the disk transfer. It can also handle Microdrive images from what I can remember.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
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Posts: 14905
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Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 12 Nov 2021 16:12 I've used SMSQmulator ( https://www.wlenerz.com/SMSQmulator/ ) in the past to do the disk transfer. It can also handle Microdrive images from what I can remember.
That was suggested too over at the QL forum, just not had a chance to play with it today.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Posts: 14905
Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
Location: Essex

Re: QL vDrive upgrade

Post by rubber_jonnie »

@stephen_usher

So I splashed out on Q-Emulator and it really did make life easier. I have been able to make a boot floppy for mdump_task and was able to do some cartridge dumping earlier :)

IMG_20211113_143455.jpg

I managed to dump all of my MICE carts, so ICICLE, TOOLKIT, SPRITEGEN and MICEART plus my Talent Assembler Toolkit and port them back to vDrive QL and use them as MDV images, so altogether a successful day.

To top it off I managed to get the felt pad replacement technique sorted for the carts I was trying to preserve :)
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Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...

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