[Coco] DriveWire - test results using the now free code

[Robert Gault]

Steven Hirsch wrote:
> On Sat, 7 Mar 2009, Robert Gault wrote:
> 
>> There are four new descriptors in the OS-9 version of DriveWire, /DD 
>> and /X1-/X3. Each of these descriptors is set for a 32,768 sector, 
>> $400 track, 1 side, $20 sector per track .os9 image as reported by 
>> dmode and free. That is very different from the standard .vhd image of 
>> $5A000 sectors with $5A tracks, $40 sides, and $40 sectors per track.
>> I was able to mount my .vhd image in Winserver as drive #1 and read 
>> the OS-9 section correctly without changing the /X1 descriptor. 
>> However, if I were going to use the .vhd image via DriveWire it would 
>> be much safer to change the descriptor to match the .vhd image.
> 
> Any possibility of a quick tutorial on patching media descriptors?
> 
> 

Hmmm, there could be specific .pdf files on the Cloud-9 site regards 
DriveWire use. Basically all you need to do is used the OS-9 command 
dmode, ex.

dmode /x1

That will show you how the descriptor x1 is currently set and the same 
command can be used to change the descriptor. Once changed, the change 
can be made permanent with the OS-9 command cobbler.

The main problem is deciding what changes you want to make and knowing 
enough about disk structures to select reasonable values. Until I get 
more familiar with DriveWire and or get to see the source code for the 
OS-9 drivers, I don't want to offer more detailed examples at this time.