mfm_write can write an emulator file to a disk drive. I got it to the state I could write the disk I needed but it is not a finished program. Currently it can only write an entire disk at once. It will pick up number of cylinders and heads to write from emulator file. To change other parameters such as write precomensation cylinder you need to edit mfm_write.c main routine to set the parameters for your drive. I have not fixed command line parsing.

These command line options will be supported at some time along with options for setting the write precompensation. Currently only emulation_file, version, and quiet work. Emulation_file must be specified.


--begin_time -b #

The number of nanoseconds to delay from index to start reading track

--cylinders -c #

The number of cylinders.

--drive -d #

Drive number to select for reading. Only valid for read command. Drives are number 1 to 4.

--emulation_file -m filename

File name to write emulation bit data to. No file created if not specified

--heads -h #

The number of heads.

--quiet -q #h

Bit mask to select which messages don't print. 0 is print all messages. Default is 1 (no debug messages). Higher bits are more important messages in general.

--unbuffered_seek -u

Use unbuffered/ST506 seeks. Default is buffered/ST412.

--version -v

Print program version number.


To work mfm_read-00A0.dts for revision A or B boards or mfm_read-00C0.dts for revision C boards needs to be modified. This line

0x190 0x07 // OUT P9_31 = gpio3_14

needs to be commented out and this line uncommented before running setup_mfm_read

//0x190 0x2d // OUT P9_31 = pr1_pru0_pru_30_0

If you already ran the setup script reboot before rerunning.


Use mfm_read to verify the disk is properly written. The first attempt had a couple tracks that seem to be written to the wrong head. The next run worked ok. This program does not do anything to avoid using bad locations on the disk,