Last Update: Friday, 02 June 2006
12:28
(v2.01i)
[for
v2.01i] Instant free on-line licensing
(via WWW and e-mail).
Support unavailable 11 June 2006 to
30 June 2006. Please be patient!
On This Page You Will Find | |
Overview |
|
Download & Installation |
|
Support |
OmniFlop is a ‘universal’ floppy disk reader, writer, and tester for the IBM PC or compatible which can handle alien floppy disk formats not normally supported by DOS, Windows and Linux.
For access to files on alien format disks you will
need to use this to image the disk, then other software to interpret the filing
system - see here.
OmniFlop consists of a Windows driver plus a Wizard. The Wizard can be used without installing the driver, but only the ‘standard’ DOS formats can then be read, written or tested – none of the alien ‘extended formats’ will be available.
It runs under Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows
XP. For DOS and Windows 95 through to Windows Me, use OmniDisk instead. Under Linux,
you've got a whole host of tools already (of course) more than
capable!
OmniFlop was written to archive aging floppies for alien formats from other systems (e.g. BBC DFS and BBC DDOS). OmniFlop knows many disk formats and can even work out formats if they’ve never been seen before. Formats that have never been seen before can be tested, read and written - the known formats can also be used to format disks (then use a disk image to write the filing system & files on to the disk).
If you find a new format please e-mail me the format code produced by the Diagnostic 'Test disk'. This allows me to add the format properly to the program (including the format function) - you’ll get credit for 'discovering' the new format.
OmniFlop has been released but is still a ‘work in progress’. This means changes can be made by request.
* Most modern PCs can support single density. The main difficulty in getting it to work is usually the software or the configuration of it. Don’t assume your PC can’t do single density: try OmniFlop or OmniDisk!
Some of these functions require a (free) license. See section 2.5 of the User Guide (in the download) for more information.
OmniDisk is a Command Prompt universal disk reader, writer and formatter. It is more powerful than OmniFlop but harder to use. It includes native support for some filing systems, and configures itself automatically to your system. It is capable of automatically reading all formats that the hardware can, even if these formats have never been seen before, or are copy-protected. [OmniFlop can also test, read, and write all such formats if uniform.] The original 16-bit version of OmniDisk runs under DOS or a DOS Command Prompt in Windows 95, 98, 98SE, or Me. The new version of OmniDisk, OmniDiskXP, runs in a Command Prompt under Windows XP, 2000, NT.
FDC is a Command Prompt disk reader, writer, and formatter. It is manually configured and you must use the correct combination of commands for your system to access disks correctly. There is no auto-configuration. FDC runs under DOS or a DOS Command Prompt in Windows 95, 98, 98SE, or Me.
The most important difference between these utilities is the Operating System(s) they work under. There is no point trying [the 16-bit version of] OmniDisk or FDC under Windows XP!
|
16OmniDisk XPOmniDiskXP |
OmniFlop |
FDC |
Configuration |
Automatic |
Automatic |
Manual |
User Interface |
Command line (DOS box) |
Windows Wizard |
Command line (DOS only) |
Ease of use |
Medium |
Easy |
Medium/Hard |
Facilities under DOS |
16Disk read/write/format 16Interpretation of disk images |
Not compatible |
Disk read/write/format |
Facilities under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me |
16Disk read/write/format Interpretation of disk images |
Not compatible |
Disk read/write/format |
Facilities under Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP |
XPDisk read/write/format Interpretation of disk images |
Disk read/write/format Disk test (v0.03+) Diagnostics |
Not compatible |
Editing Disk Images |
Supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
.inf Files |
Supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
DFS ‘*’ Commands |
Supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
DDOS ‘*’ Commands |
Supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Floppy Drive Types Supported (BIOS setting) |
Any - BIOS setting not used. |
5¼" 360kB (v0.04+) 3½" 720kB (v0.04+) 5¼" 1.2MB 3½" 1.44MB 3½" 2.88MB (v0.04+) |
Any - BIOS setting not used. |
Filing Systems Supported |
BBC DFS BBC DDOS Stride PDOS (Basic) |
None (use external program, e.g. emulator) |
None (use external program, e.g. emulator) |
Physical Formats Supported |
All including: All DOS formats All BBC DFS formats All BBC ADFS formats All Spectrum formats All Amstrad formats All CP/M formats All PDOS formats … plus many more … |
See 'Features' above, but including: All DOS All BBC Acorn All BBC Opus DDOS All Acorn ADFS All Acorn DOS/Plus CP/M-80 PDOS ZX Spectrum +3 CP/M Amstrad ZX Spectrum MGT +More NEC µPD765/7265/ 72065/72066 FDC formats ‑ including Intel 8271 and WDC1770 formats. |
DOS 180kB DOS 360kB DOS 720kB DOS 1.2MB DOS 1.44MB DOS 2.88MB (untested) BBC DFS 40-track BBC DFS 80-track Acorn ADFS L 640kB Acorn ADFS 800kB DEC RX01 DEC RX02 DEC RX50 |
Support/Enhancement |
Available |
Available |
|
Status |
16v3.6 Established XPNot yet released |
v2.01h established. v2.01h available as pre-release |
v0.13 Established |
If you format a disk with OmniFlop it does not put on the disk all the filing system information for the format you choose - it just makes a disk of the correct physical format. The reason for this is the sheer number of operating systems out there - I do not have the time in my short life to implement all the Operating Systems ever invented, even if it is just to access the disks! For the same reason you can't see all your files listed in OmniFlop (see Filing System vs Format).
If you format a disk to your chosen format you must then put an image onto the disk for the correct Operating System/Filing System. That is, you are meant to use OmniFlop like this to create blank 'formatted' disks:
OmniFlop knows no Filing Systems at
all.
OmniFlop will give you the raw data off floppy disks of the formats listed above plus other formats it can work out. However, it can't work out the filing system (data format) of the disk - such as FAT12, FAT16, NTFS, DFS, ADFS, Atari ST, RS-DOS - to give you access to the logical files on the disk! Once you've got the data onto your PC in an image file, though, it should be easy to extract the data from the disk image, either manually or with software. Many utilities already exist out there on the Internet to interpret your disk image as files of a whole variety of formats - see Compatible Programs below.
The OmniFlop Wizard will let you archive a whole disk to a file on your PC and write such a file back onto a disk, formatting it if needed. This is great for handling the whole disk, but if you want to edit or alter the content of the disk (i.e. files, samples, data) on the disk you'll need a program which understands the (logical) format of the disk - i.e. the filing system (see above).
Some utilities allow you to edit the images of the disks - i.e. the files produced by the OmniFlop Wizard. Other utilities are integrated with the OmniFlop driver and can directly access the disks themselves - for these, you will need a version of the OmniFlop driver installed which has the necessary support - or a later version.
I have
got… |
…of Disk
Format… |
…so I should
use: |
OmniFlop
version required |
a disk image file from OmniFlop |
for an ancient computer |
an emulator for that computer. |
Any |
a file *.ssd |
BBC DFS, Opus DDOS |
Almost any BBC emulator [DFS], BBC Explorer, OmniDisk, DFS Explorer |
Any |
a file *.dsd |
BBC DFS, Opus DDOS |
Almost any BBC emulator [DFS], BBC Explorer, OmniDisk, DFS Explorer |
Any |
a file *.adl |
Acorn ADFS |
Almost any BBC emulator [ADFS], ADFS Explorer |
Any |
a file *.adf |
Acorn ADFS |
Almost any BBC emulator [ADFS], ADFS Explorer |
Any |
a floppy disk or image file |
Shima Seiki |
v2.01a | |
a floppy disk or image file |
EPS Ensoniq |
v2.01a | |
a floppy disk or image file |
Electroglas Wafer Probers CP/M |
Electroglas |
v2.01b |
a floppy disk or image file |
Tandy/RadioShack |
unknown |
v2.01d |
a floppy disk or image file |
All AKAI All Ensoniq All Roland Dynacord |
Ensoniq MID-Disk Tools, Ensoniq Disk Tools, Ensoniq ASR-X Tools, Translator all by Rubber Chicken Software Co. |
v2.01e |
Note: You must have the OmniFlop driver installed with the version specified, or a later version, for direct disk access from these programs to work. Those accessing file images of the disks do not require the OmniFlop driver.
OmniFlop is
written for Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP only. For DOS
and Windows 95 through to Windows Me, use OmniDisk instead. If you want
to use OmniDisk under Windows 2000 and Windows XP you will need to install OmniFlop then use OmniDiskXP.
Download the latest version unless you specifically need a previous version. Make sure you re-install the driver if you download a different version.
Download the latest release of OmniFlop here
Download the next
(pre-release) version of OmniFlop here
Note: Licensing is via WWW and e-mail, or by manual e-mail
alone. E-mails to support are dependent on my Internet connection - please send
an e-mail and be patient.
The download contains installation instructions in Adobe ‘pdf’ format. You can read these with the free Adobe Reader at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html, if you don’t already have it installed. If you want to read them immediately on-line they are also available here.
The download contains a user guide (OmniFlop.pdf), a Windows driver (OmniFlop.inf, OmniFlop.sys), and a Wizard (OmniFlop.exe).
The Wizard can be used without installing the driver, but only the ‘standard’ DOS formats can then be read, written or tested – none of the ‘extended formats’ will be available.
The driver can also be used without the Wizard from v2.01 onwards. See support.
Download the archive, install the driver (if you want extended format support beyond the standard DOS formats), and run the Wizard.
For help or suggestions, use the ‘Support’ contact at the bottom of this page or in the ‘About’ box from the Wizard.
Previous and Pre-release
Versions
In case you need to use a previous version, here they are. Please tell 'Support' if you find you need a previous version, because usually that means the newer version doesn't do what you want!
If you have problems, check the lists below, and look in the User Guide - online (the one with your download may be out-of-date).
OmniFlop is designed to work with the majority of PCs using a 'standard' Floppy Disk Controller and in most cases works immediately without any changes to the host system. However, trying to use some alien disk format in a PC under Windows is fraught with problems:
so you shouldn't expect it to work. Also, floppy disks are physical media using magnetism to store binary data - trying to read that 20-year old floppy in a modern PC with an unrelated drive from 10 years ago is fraught with opportunities for things to go wrong. Start with a floppy disk and drive that works - i.e. a 1.44MB or 1.2MB DOS-formatted floppy.
Generally, if you have a problem, make sure you've got the latest version of the driver and wizard installed, turn off your anti-virus software, and run in Safe Mode.
If you have tried all the suggestions on this page then use the contact address in the ‘About’ box of the Wizard, or post to the BBC Mailing List with ‘OmniFlop’ in the subject - if that doesn’t work, contact the host of this page (who will have my e-mail address). My e-mail address is not available on this page due to excessive spam. You will need to provide details of:
If your hardware does not work properly then OmniFlop won't work properly. Make sure your hardware works - under Windows, you should be able to format disks (to Windows'/DOS' FAT12), write them, fill them up, read them, and delete files off them - this must all work without error. Then try this disk with OmniFlop. Make sure you have a decent floppy drive, and disk, that actually works before trying to get support for one that doesn't.
Your hardware includes the media - i.e. the floppy disk. If the disk is old, damaged, dirty, or losing its magnetic coating, then the disk will be at best unreliable, at worst unreadable. Use decent, known good, media, at least initially for testing. Once you know the system works, you can then try those disks from 20 years ago. Make sure you use a disk of the correct density for the format - 3½" disks can be Double Density or High Density:
3½" Double Density disks:
3½" High Density disks:
You should use the correct media format for the disk format you are trying to use.
Note that there are cases of PCs with chipsets that do not support Single Density operation. However, it is not as common as portrayed out on the Internet - those who it didn't work for are vocal about it, while those it did work for remain silent ("How can you say it works for most PCs when it doesn't work on mine…?"). The PCs known about so far that do not support Single Density are:
If you find more, or wish to clarify which particular machines are afflicted, please contact support.
To test single density support on a PC, get hold of a known, working floppy disk drive, and a known good double-density floppy disk (one with only one hole in the top - not a High-Density one). First make sure that a double-density format works, by, for example, formatting the disk to Acorn BBC DDOS 720kB, then reading it back in - it should be recognised as this format and should read without error. If this works, try re-formatting the disk to Acorn BBC DFS 80-track double-sided 400kB, and try reading that back in - if the disk is not recognised as BBC DFS 400kB or it cannot be read back in then it is reasonable to assume your PC does not support Single Density. Contact me and I will add it to the list above - you will have to use another PC if you want to handle Single Density disks.
Software
If your hardware works properly then under Windows there is an added complication: other software. Other software running at the same time as OmniFlop may interfere with OmniFlop's operation; OmniFlop needs exclusive access to the floppy disk while it runs. As a first step, check:
If none of these help, reboot Windows into Safe Mode. To do this, as your PC reboots, before it starts Windows, press 'F8' many, many times, like a lunatic, even if the PC starts beeping at you. This should give you the Windows Options Menu - select "Safe Mode" and hit 'Enter'. Try OmniFlop once Safe Mode is up and running.
If you want to prove that your hardware is OK then reboot your PC into DOS and use a DOS-based program such as OmniDisk to SAMPLE a disk. If this does not work, then your hardware (PC) and the disk you are trying to read simply aren't compatible. Try another PC, or disk, or both.
Requests
Use the support contact – requests are welcome and are normally implemented.
You do not always need a license. However, some functions require a license so that I get feedback on whether they work or not. Licenses are free and used for feedback only - they are not used for marketing. When a format or function is known to work (because of sufficient feedback) the license is usually removed.
You do not need a license unless the program tells you so. Use the program and it will prompt you for a license if you need one. From v2.01i onwards, the program offers you the choice of registering automatically on-line (via WWW with an e-mail reply) or using e-mail alone.
If you use the on-line registration process (via a web browser and an e-mail account) you should get an almost immediate response. If you use the e-mail contact alone a license is usually issued (manually) within 1 working day. However, as this is a free service you do not get 24-hour emergency support.
If you want to use the facilities of OmniFlop with your own program this is also possible from v2.01 onwards. The users of your application must get themselves a license to enable access your formats (see 'Get a License' in the Wizard) - they can use the on-line registration to do this with the minimum delay. Note that the formats you want to access must be known to OmniFlop before you can access them - make sure all formats you need are registered with OmniFlop first by using the 'Test disk' function in Diagnostics.