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Transfering MFM HDD contents

PostPosted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 9:10 pm
by Clym5
Please forgive me for asking about what I assume to be common knowledge for collectors and such!

I've got a laptop with a MFM hard drive in it and a 720k disk drive. I was planning to copy some of the files off it, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that. I've heard of LapLink and INTERLINK, but the small bit of research I've done always assumes I run MS-DOS 6.22. I'm running 3.21. Not sure if there's an issue there or not.

Essentially, what's your preferred method?

EDIT: While I'm at it, what's the best version of DOS for a 8086 CPU and 640k of RAM? If there is a singular best, that is.

Re: Transfering MFM HDD contents

PostPosted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 6:41 am
by SpidersWeb
LapLink (you'll want LapLink 3 for remote upload) and Interlink should both be fine on an old version of DOS.

However I do this on a regular basis, and the tool I find the nicest to use is Fast Lynx 2 for DOS. Send me a PM if you need me to dig it out.

I made a video (albeit a bad one) about Fast Lynx 2 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDW7z3yCUxs which shows me using it to transfer files to an IBM 5160 with DOS 3.2 without using a single floppy disk.

If you're short on null modem cables I recommend these guys: http://www.cablesdirect.co.nz/catalog/s ... ll%20modem (new cables - overnight delivery)

For a 640KB PC, for IBM I use PC DOS 3.2 (seemed to be a popular distribution from IBM) and for non-IBM I use MS DOS 3.3 (adds 1.44 floppy support). I avoid using a newer versions of DOS unless I need the newer features, as free conventional memory will suffer when you do not have upper memory or high memory to use.

Re: Transfering MFM HDD contents

PostPosted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:53 am
by David
That Fast Lynx 2 looks handy SpidersWeb were can i fond it.

David B

I found it on a web page if anyone wants the link ill put it on here.

Re: Transfering MFM HDD contents

PostPosted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 8:56 am
by Gibsaw
I actually prefer LL3 to FX2, but that's just me.

It's also just worth mentioning (particularly for a slow machine like an XT) that once I've bootstrapped the program I would immediately switch over to the parallel laplink cable. The parallel port is inherently faster and less work for the machine.

Even back when a 286 was my main machine and ethernet was a distant dream, the software was big enough that I found serial painful. It means two cables, but FEEL THE SPEED!!!! :D

Re: Transfering MFM HDD contents

PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 6:27 pm
by Matt
Has anyone used msdos kermit?

Re: Transfering MFM HDD contents

PostPosted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:33 pm
by davidrg
Matt wrote:Has anyone used msdos kermit?


I've not used it myself but it should work the same as (and be compatible with) Kermit on other platforms. It does include a few extra features though - terminal emulation and built in networking.

msdos kermit won't run on Windows though so if you want to transfer files to/from a Windows PC you'll need Kermit 95. You can grab my latest build of that from here: http://ftp2.zx.net.nz/pub/Kermit95/test ... _build.zip. Due to cryptography export and licensing restrictions that build is missing SSH, LAT, DECnet and XYZMODEM support but it should work fine over a serial line or telnet.