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Any way to write/convert vMac .dsk images to SD using dd?

Joris W

Member
I'm trying to transfer my BMOW FloppyEMU's hard drive to my SCSI2SD.

To write to my SD card, I use dd. However dd'ing a .disk file to an SD card, results in a disk not being recognized.
I'd like to keep using mini vMac however to edit the drives.

What's the right way to get the contents of a .dsk image, on to an SD card?
 

Phipli

Well-known member
I'm trying to transfer my BMOW FloppyEMU's hard drive to my SCSI2SD.

To write to my SD card, I use dd. However dd'ing a .disk file to an SD card, results in a disk not being recognized.
I'd like to keep using mini vMac however to edit the drives.

What's the right way to get the contents of a .dsk image, on to an SD card?
Why not connect them both to the same retro Mac, and copy the files over to the SCSI2SD from the floppy emu?
 

Joris W

Member
Unfortunately I'm still waiting on my BMOW Rominator II, therefore the SE/30 won't recognize the FloppyEMU right now.
 

Joris W

Member
How does that work? All I got is my SD that I wrote a 7.5.5 boot image to, which is fed to the SE/30 over SCSI by the SCSI2HD. Plus the separate FloppyEMU with its DSK files.
 

Phipli

Well-known member
You can probably use the HD20 extension, loaded from the SCSI boot disc.
Hey, I didn't know about this.

Does it work as late as 7.5.x? If so I have an answer for them, if not... it is more faff but I still have an answer. What is the newest OS it works with?
 

cheesestraws

Well-known member
No idea! I have a vague memory that it works up to 7.1, but all of this is based on highly vague memory I'm afraid. I may be completely wrong.
 

Phipli

Well-known member
If you set up the SCSI2SD any way you like (for example like this) and connect it up to the SE/30. Then, the FloppyEMU should work to emulate regular floppy disks even with the stock SE/30 ROM (just not HD20 images). Because of this, you can make a floppy disk image with System 6.0.8 and the HD20 System Extension.

Boot from the FloppyEMU System 6 + HD20 floppy image.

On the SCSI2SD Disk, move the Finder into the Extensions folder in the System Folder. Rename the System Folder to "System Folder 2".
Copy the FloppyEMU "System Folder" on to the SCSI2SD disk. To make sure it is "blessed" confirm it has the picture of a mac on the System Folder you just copied. If it doesn't, open the System Folder, move the Finder to the desktop, then move it back to the System Folder. If it still doesn't try using System Picker if it is there.
Shutdown.
Set up the FloppyEMU with your HD20 image.
Start up the computer. It should Boot from the System 6 you put on the SE/30, and show your old disk image on the desktop.
Copy everything you want over, except the System Folder. Once everything else is copied, move the SCSI2SD System Folder to the Trash, Copy over the FloppyEMU System Folder, make sure the System Folder you copied over is blessed (move the Finder out and back into the System Folder).
Restart.

You should now be booting from your moved over System and have all your files from your FloppyEMU.
 

LaPorta

Well-known member
Unfortunately I'm still waiting on my BMOW Rominator II, therefore the SE/30 won't recognize the FloppyEMU right now.
I don't understand this. I can use my FloppyEmu with a Mac Plus with nothing additional. Why do you need a Rominator to make it work on an SE/30?
 

Phipli

Well-known member
I don't understand this. I can use my FloppyEmu with a Mac Plus with nothing additional. Why do you need a Rominator to make it work on an SE/30?
The SE/30 stock ROM doesn't support the HD20 protocol, so you can't use big disk images.

Your Plus supports the HD20 protocol.
 

LaPorta

Well-known member
Ahhh big images! I thought he was simply trying to mount a startup floppy image to get going. My fault.
 

Joris W

Member
Thanks everyone, especially @Phipli for the elaborate suggestions.

I've configured the SCSI2SD according to the linked guide and also tried writing a 6.0.8 image from @Realitystorm .

However the FloppyEMU doesn't mount, with the HD20.dsk set on the device.

The FloppyEMU is connected externally on the floppy drive port. Should I connect it internally (replacing the floppy drive) instead?

I don't have the mentioned HD20 extension, assuming that's a software system extension. Where might I find that? Google doesn't seem to have anything on it.
 

Phipli

Well-known member

Joris W

Member
Easiest way is to use Basilisk II on a modern system and copy the contents of your .DSK file (partition image) to a drive image (that SCSI2SD uses).

If that means I can have emulated Mac access to a dsk image, that simply works when flashed to the SD going into to the SCSI2HD, that sounds ideal. However I can't find a BasiliskII binary that doesn't immediately quit on my M2 Mac, even two builds that are supposed to be ARM compatible. (20210801 and 20221130).

Mini vMac runs fine on my M2 Mac by the way, but I can't seem to mount both dsk and img files freely with that. The stuff I'm trying to move to the SCSI2SD is on a dsk image that Mini vMac mounts but doesn't work when flashed to the SD.
 
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