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The SVD PC Software consists a few things, all of which
you get in the single simple download below:
| SVD Control Program (SVD-CP) | The SVD-CP is the software that runs on your PC to control
the SVD unit. It uses the serial/rs-232 port on the PC
to talk to the SVD.
* FAQ: What if I don't have a serial/RS232 port on my PC?
The SVD-CP understands a bunch of different
on-line floppy image formats and can download/upload these
to the SVD. It also understands the way in which the
files on the floppy are stored (the filesystem) so it can
be used to send a single file to the SVD instead
of a complete image.
| | Sample Floppy Images | There are numerous floppy images for all different platforms
distributed with the software. These are simply to get you started.
You should go to the links section for links to web sites with far
more floppy images and programs.
| | Conversion Programs | The SVD-CP is all you really need for using floppy images with your
vintage machine. However, it uses a couple of "helper programs" which
do fast conversion of floppy images. You can easily use these applications
to convert files as well. There are html-based manual pages
for these helper applications, too.
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Version 2.3 of the Helper Tools
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| This is a partial update of the Version 2.2 distribution that
adds Apple formats to the "Save Image" dialog within the Control Program.
This update is only necessary for those of you who want to save Apple
images in NIB, DO, or PO formats.
THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE VERSION OF THE SVD INTERFACE!
Please download Version 2.2 before installing this update.
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To use this update,
download the file into the target
directory that you originally extracted
Version 2.2 and extract the files.
It will replace the two helper programs
tosvd and fstool.
Version 2.2 (latest and greatest)
This version includes Apple ][ support and supports Firmware v2.3.
See here for information on this release.
Version 2.0 (previous release)
This was a major release of the SVD Control Program that included
the ability to support writing to the virtual disk.
See here for information on this release.
The SVD software is downloaded as a simple "ZIP" file for
Windows and a "GZIP-TAR" image for Linux.
The software doesn't use an install script, or anything fancy at
all. The basic task to install the software is to extract
the files from the download into a target directory. You
can then run the SVD Control Program (the SVD CP)
from that directory.
The simplicity of the SVD CP installation makes it easy to
have multiple different versions of the program. Further,
it makes updates simple.
The downside is that you must know how to use WinZip on Windows
or gunzip on Linux.
Windows
The SVD CP comes as a file of the form:
Which stands for version 2.2 of the SVD CP in zip format.
You can simply unzip or extract the
files into a location that suits you.
Normally, I simply create a directory/folder such as "SVD22" and
then extract the files into it.
You must allow the zip program to create subdirectories
though! If you unzip the download file, and the resultant
directory doesn't have the subdirectory OSFiles
in it, then the zip didn't create sub-directories as it should.
You'll need to unzip again, after setting the appropriate option.
Linux
Linux installation operates in the same was as Windows, except
that the download file is named as:
indicating that it is a gzip'd tar archive.
Just as with Windows you should extract the archive into a directory
that suits you.
For example:
$ gunzip < SVD22.tar.gz | tar xvf -
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Or for Linux distributions with ability to use a gzip filter in tar:
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| | Each one of these sections includes a bunch of illustrations and screen shots so they may download a bit slowly on slow connections. |
For a single file, printable version version of these instructions, click here. Note that the file which next comes up will NOT have the menu on the left side, and may take a little while to load. |
Can't Download the Software
If you can't download the software, then there is something wrong with the
web-site!
Please
contact me
right away so I can fix it.
Can't Get it to Run
When you download the software, you will get a "ZIP" file.
Within this file are the programs and other files necessary
for the software to run. So the first thing you much do
is UN-ZIP the file. Please see the install/running instructions on the
PC Software Page for instructions on how to do this.
The Darn Thing Just Crashes!
Yikes! A crash like that is not supposed to happen.
The program runs on Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Linux.
If you are seeing an unexplained crash, then something is
amiss.
Please
contact me
right away so I can fix it.
| There is one reported (actually, I found it myself) crash
that I can't fix. If you browse for a file on the Desktop
of Windows XP, and the extension of the file is unknown to
Windows - which is often the case with image files - the
file browser within the SVD CP may completely crash. I'm
working with Microsoft to figure out why this occurs.
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Can't Get it to Talk to the SVD
This is the most common problem that people experience with the SVD CP
software.
Here are a few steps to follow to figure out the problem:
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Start the SVD Control Program (SVD CP)
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Once you have the SVD CP installed, user the browser to navigate
to the directory in which you UN-ZIPPED it. Then click on the
main program which is called SVD. If you can
see the extensions on Windows, it may appear as SVD.exe.
On Linux it will not have an extension.
Clicking on this program should cause it to come up immediately.
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2. |
Try the Simple "Check" Button
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On the SVD CP interface, there is a little "Check" button at
the lower right.
Clicking it causes the SVD CP to try to contact the SVD over
the serial port.
If the connection is successful, a message comes up saying that
the SVD is responding just "peachy." Also, you will see the
version number of the SVD firmware filled in at the lower left.
If the connection is NOT successful, a message saying so will pop-up.
The best thing to do at this point, is to Reset the SVD
by using the Reset button on the physical SVD.
Then try to click on the "Check" button again.
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Make sure the serial/RS232 Port is Correct
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In both Windows and Linux you must tell the SVD CP what serial/RS232 port
you are using. The SVD CP will use this port to talk to the SVD hardware.
Setting the port is rather simple, so please see the
PC Software Page Instructions
for setting this port correctly.
However, sometimes it just won't work.
The best advice I have here is to try different ports.
On Windows, the SVD CP queries the operating system to find out which
serial ports are free - this is the "probing" operation that it does.
If the serial port looks like it is connected to something else, then
it won't be displayed in the SVD CP. Note that if you have TWO
SVD CP's running, one of them is unlikely to see the serial port.
On Linux it is a bit trickier. The SVD CP doesn't try to query the serial
ports. You need to type in the full filename of an appropriate serial
port. Linux is often configured with "getty" processes running on serial
ports. It may make sense to turn those off, although modern distributions
are smart enough to stay out of the way of programs like the SVD CP. Also,
you'll want to ensure that your user name has permission to use the serial
port.
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Set the Speed to a Reasonable Value
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Setting the speed of the serial port is just as easy as setting its name...maybe
easier. Go back to the
PC Software Page Instructions
for setting the speed correctly.
However, different machines sometimes have problems with the serial port
and keeping up with the SVD transmit speed or even working with the SVD.
My rule of thumb is to keep the speed set at 19200 or higher. Most machines won't
work with the SVD below this speed. In fact, set it to 57600 for best
results. Personally, I always use 115200. So try a couple of
different speeds.
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Check the Cable
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Finally, you may have a cable problem.
The SVD uses a "straight-through" 9-pin serial cable.
By "straight-through" it means that the transmit and receive
lines aren't physically flipped.
The SVD itself "flips" these signals to communicate with the PC.
Also, all pins on the cable must be connected. This is important
because the SVD includes "Null-modem" wiring. Null-modem wiring
effectively causes the PC to ignore modem control signals that
would be used when controlling an old modem. If all pins aren't
connected in the cable you are using, then the PC may think it
is talking to a real modem.
As a last resort, just try another cable.
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