Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports: + many more….

Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.9.1a -> v3.1.16.1a cumulative changelog:

• User interface part :
  • Code Refactored
  • Better buttons behavior.
  • Better/faster rotary behavior.

• Normal mode :
  • Press both buttons shortly to jump to the first entry of the current folder. (“..”)

• Normal mode :
  • When returning to parent folder (“..”) the position in the folder is restored.

• Autoboot mode :
  • Press both buttons shortly to jump to Autoboot.hfe / Press both buttons more than 2 seconds eject/insert the disk.

• Indexed mode :
  • Press both buttons shortly to jump to DSKA0000.HFE / Press both buttons more than 2 seconds eject/insert the disk.

• 7 segments screen : Now show when an image is inserted (“—”) or ejected (” – “)
• OLED : init algorithm revised for diymore.cc screens.  (Press the right button at power up at the first diymore.cc screen installation).

• Various user interface fixes.
• Normal mode : key auto-repeat delay increased.
• Revert filtering changes (Rotary support)
• Keys debouncing filter increased.
• Normal mode : Wait the select key release after a directory change.

• New interface modes :
  • IBMPC_DD_HD (PC Mode with auto density selection)
  • S950_DD_HD  (Akai / Shugart-Like Mode with auto density selection)

• New Family :
  • Ensoniq ASR10 (Ensoniq Auto DD & HD support)

• New 7 segments config menu 1 (Interface mode) entries :
  • 0F = S900/S950 (Density Auto)
  • 10 = PC DD/HD  (Density Auto)

• New 7 segments config menu 0 (System family) entry :
  • 11 = Ensoniq ASR10 (Ensoniq Auto DD & HD support)

• Some file system & disks access sanity checks added.
• New menu setting interface menu for normal 7-segments Goteks :
  • To access it, remove the USB Stick and press both buttons.
  • Choose the sub menu number – wait some seconds for the selection validation.
  • Check and/or change the setting – wait some seconds for the selection validation.

This is only a little part of the changelog. The original one is very long and you can read it here. (instruction manual here)

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.1.16.1a (1084)

source: hxc2001.com

NEW TAG: C64 BIG GAME PACK

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

• Cabal +8DFHIR
• Tetris MP [2in1] +F
• Retaliate Preview 2 +2
• Retaliate Preview 2 +
• Retaliate V0.2 Beta
• Lemmings +15DF [easyflash]
• UFF +2TPDF [english]
• Number King
• Ratekoenig
• Axe of Rage +10DMHF
• Retaliate V0.2.1 Beta (Hotfix)
• Find The Pussy
• Jake the Snake V2.2
• Retaliate Preview 2 +3H
• Snake 360 Preview +
• Snake 360 Preview
• Painter +4DH
• Kevin in the Woods Preview +
• Steel Ranger Preview +C
• Balloon Flight +HF
• Wizard
• Trainsmission +1
• Trainsmission +
• Crazy Cars III +6D [easyflash]
• Tink Tonk Castle Clobber +
• Killed Until Dead +D [easyflash]
• Steel Ranger +3C Trainer
• Retaliate Preview 3 +3
• Fallout Hacker
• H.E.R.O. II Preview 2
• Fallout Hacker +1D
• Pirates! [german] [1581]
• Iceblox Plus +5HF
• Killed Until Dead +D [easyflash]
• Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego [easyflash]
• Battle Command [sd2iec]
• Metro Blitz +3DH
• Zork (53 Columns)
• Alien 3 [easyflash]
• Gindevmbly
• Border Blast 3 Enhanced +2H [seuck]
• Dark Destroyer 2117 RX +2 [seuck]
• Delta Run RX +2DH [seuck]
• Valentine’s Day Shopping Simulator +
• Navy Moves +7DFHIRW
• Indeflataball +7HF
• Vitamin +4CTD
• Bounder (Competition Edition)
• Zork III (Proportional Font)

Download: All Games in One Archive (5972)

source: csdb.dk

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports: + many more….

Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.2.0a -> v3.1.8.1a Cumulative Changelog:

• Raw files : Write sector performance increased. / Near Real time sectors write !
• Low level Floppy IO optimizations.
• Raw *.IMG PC Files : Use the DOS 6.22 disk layouts.
• And as always some code optimizations.
• Cache flush fix : Do you not reorder the cache when not needed ( e.g when the track fit the cache size )
• CFG File V1 fix (Autoboot mode) : slots support now file images with 2 characters filename extension…
• More code Speed optimizations. (again ! :) )
• More Code Speed optimizations.
• RAW MFM & FM Images (IMG/ST/…) : More Write speed improvement. / Sector Data cache prefetch.
• RAW MFM & FM Images (IMG/ST/…) : Write speed improvement. / Track cache workflow improvement. / Code optimization (CRC16, MFM 2 BIN…).
• *.ST 720KB Files : Switch to the TOS 1.62 Disk Layout.
• RAW files loader : Internal enhancement.

This is only a little part of the changelog. The original one is very long and you can read it here.

Software HxCFloppyEmulator v2.1.8.0:

• New Loader : Atari ATR file image loader.
• New Write & Loader : HFE V3 : variable bitrate and other proctections support. / (Experimental ! The file format definition is not yet finished !)
• Kryoflux raw files Writer : Fix dead lock with tracks without pulse.
• Amiga DOS image browser : 85 tracks AmigaDos image support.
• Disk Image browser (FAT & AmigaDOS) : Fix null-sized file import issue.
• Disk Image browser (FAT & AmigaDOS) : Can now delete folders.
• All image loaders : Fix possible track skew calculation error.
• Emax image loader : GAP fixed to 30.
• Thomson *.FD loader : Sector interleave set to 7
• Command line tool : -uselayout option can be now used to specify external xml disk layout file.

Download:

• USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.1.8.1a (1831)
• Software HxCFloppyEmulator v2.1.8.0 (1431)

source: hxc2001.com

A new version of the firmware for the interface 1541 Ultimate II+and 1541 Ultimate II is released.

Release notes Ultimate-II & II+ v3.2:

• Completely rewritten SID player, by Wilfred Bos.
• Enhanced version of FC3, by Daniël Mantione.
• Added Tape Index function, as suggested by Tom Roger Skauen.
• Added UCI interface to access the network (TCP/IP and UDP/IP) through Ultimate Command Interface (documentation pending)
• Many additions and bug fixes by Henning and Markus, including Home Directory, REU load on startup, EasyFlash write support (manual save), and more.
• Some enhancements in FTP server.
• Additional bug-fixes.

How to update?

• For the 1541 Ultimate-II:
  • Navigate to the unzipped file ‘update_audio_3.2.u2u‘ or ‘update_dual_drive_3.2.u2u‘ and select “Run Update”
• For the 1541 Ultimate-II+:
  • Navigate to the update_3.2.u2p file, and select “Run Update”.

Download: 1541 Ultimate-II / Ultimate-II+ v3.2 Firmware (1188)

source: facebook.com 1541ultimate.net

Commodore CBM 8032 (HP Early version [1980]) Motherboard Repair (ASSY 8032030)

Defect:

• Garbage screen.

Repair:

• Replaced 4 x 2114 Static RAM (UC4 / UC5 / UC6 / UC7)

Note:

As you can see from the photos this computer is already been repaired by a butcher. The butcher did not use the sockets after replacing the static ram ones and the pads had already suffered from the previous desoldering and soldering, probably using an unsuitable soldering station.

Gallery of the repair:

Commodore CBM 8032 (HP Early version [1980]) PCB Monitor Repair (ASSY 321448)

Defect:

• Dead. Missing High Voltage from Flyback Transformer (LOPT)

Repair:

• Replaced 2 x burned resistors of 56Ohm 1/4w (R752 / R753)

… and now let’s move on to the second defect. :-)

Gallery of the repair: