Idea - 3? Floppy Drive for DreamCast

Saiyan Eye · Post by **Saiyan Eye** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:14 pm

To me this here sounds like a good idea, because, floppy disks hold around the neighborhood of 1.5 megs. That would be a lot of game saves for one floppy disk. You would probably need a program on your PC to format the Floppy disk. This would be nice for a lot of DC users in my oppinion.

Mugworm_Griblick · Post by **Mugworm_Griblick** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:17 pm

how would this be possible? anyway, i think it would be less work just to buy a memory card with a PC link thing, so you can backup your files to your computer.

Saiyan Eye · Post by **Saiyan Eye** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:23 pm

I do not have a TV around where my PC is, and if I moved one of the two my mom would be a little angry...

Mugworm_Griblick · Post by **Mugworm_Griblick** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:25 pm

i'd like to hear from a more experienced member on this subject before i make any more comments...but i really dont see how it would be possible :\

Saiyan Eye · Post by **Saiyan Eye** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:30 pm

I never said it was possible, I am just a DC emu n00b trying to see what can and cannot be done with the DreamCast.

VB_User · Post by **VB_User** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:32 pm

It is definatly possible to create an interface for a floppy drive to run on the dc. A interface has already been designed to use a hard drive on dc and works rather well from what i hear. I am pretty sure you would not be able to save games on it seeing as the game will be looking for a vmu in the controller port. I dont think it would be possible to save on the floppy without change in the games code which is illegal and we wont discuss. Im not sure what you would use the drive for seeing as you most likely cant use it as a vmu but im pretty sure its possible.

No Name · Post by **No Name** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:34 pm

I'll talk with isatokaza (The DragonVisions Extreme Mod Guru) about this. He will be able to give us an idea about the doability of this. He is currently working on Project Cannible. Part of this project is to wire up the hard drive (again) so he should know. I'll talk with him next time I see him.

Mugworm_Griblick · Post by **Mugworm_Griblick** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:35 pm

unless you could somehow change hardware in your DC so that the wires that go to the VMU went to the floppy drive instead o_O but thats getting way over my head

No Name · Post by **No Name** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:36 pm

I don't see how you can use it as a VMU without MAJOR changes to the BIOS.

Mugworm_Griblick · Post by **Mugworm_Griblick** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:51 pm

its possible i'm sure. You'd have to really really know your stuff though o_O

Synlor · Post by **Synlor** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 9:09 pm

is there such a thing as an ide floppy disk drive? if so, write a driver, and build one of those harddrive interfaces. then with netbsd you could access the disk drive. i've never used netbsd, so i don't know if you can access files on it, but if you can you should be able to copy it to the disk.

its all easier said then done. i for one would never attempt it

Mugworm_Griblick · Post by **Mugworm_Griblick** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 9:11 pm

so....any volunteers? lol

BlackAura · Post by **BlackAura** » Thu Nov 21, 2002 9:20 pm

I think that a modified IDE interface would do it, and you could just write a program that copies the contents of the VMU to the floppy drive, and just use it to store VMU files you're not using, or want backed up. You could probably use it to load programs too.

NightHammer · Post by **NightHammer** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 9:09 am

Okay, but you can't copy write protected files (Seaman, Soul Calibur, etc.) with the internal VMU software. Would this be possible with this floppy? If so, is there something in KOS that allows for this? I'm looking into making my own PC interface, and I would love to know how the copying of those files are done. I can't even move them to my other VMU!!!

Later!
NightHammer

BlackAura · Post by **BlackAura** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 9:30 am

For the copy protected files, they can be read and written to like any other file. That means that KOS can read a file from one VMU and write it to another VMU (or a floppy). This is called 'copying'. Copy protected files just have a flag that the BIOS and VMU software checks to prevent copying. KOS can do it easily (the KOSH example, for example, can do it)

NightHammer · Post by **NightHammer** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 9:54 am

So, it is possible to write a program that reads the copy protected file and copies it to your computer's hard drive then too, right?

Later!
NightHammer

BlackAura · Post by **BlackAura** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 10:01 am

Yes. I think you can even upload them using the Web Browser and download them to another VMU or a PC.

MidnightObsidian · Post by **MidnightObsidian** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 2:22 pm

It's completely possible. It would be impossible to get it to work as a VMU, but it wouldn't be TOO horrible to make an EXT attachment for it, and then write KOS-based software to copy things to/from it.

az_bont · Post by **az_bont** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 2:42 pm

Did you ever see the Flopp Drive for the PlayStation? That was done by a unofficial company and worked like a standard memory card, so it shouldn't be impossible.

revengeofLaEternal · Post by **revengeofLaEternal** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 10:29 pm

The floppy drive for the PSX plugged directly into the memory card slot and one floppy equaled a memory card. It was said to be a little slow and not the most stable option for saving games, but they sold enough to get noticed.

They were made by Interact, the same company that makes the GameShark. They were sold only via mail and in limited quantities, so don't go looking for them at your local Target.