Interface1/Microdrive loading an mdr file

[Andy Potter]

Hi folks,

Can anyone tell me how I can get the emulator to load an mdr file when in 48K mode?

I have tried selecting an mdr file in the Media->Interface1-> Microdrive 1-> Insert but when typing
'CAT 1' all I get in '0 OK, 0'

If I just type 'CAT' I get 'Missing drive number, 0:1' which suggests that the IF1 is being paged in at that time.

I thnk I must be doing something wrong but don't know what.

Thanks

[Alberto Garcia]

It works fine for me with this one for example:

https://archive.org/download/World_of_Spectrum_June_2017_Mirror/World%20of%20Spectrum%20June%202017%20Mirror.zip/World%20of%20Spectrum%20June%202017%20Mirror/sinclair/magazines/Outlet/OutletIssue001.mdr.zip

You need to indicate the drive number, e.g. CAT 1, and make sure that Interface 1 is enabled.

Have a look at the manual here: http://www.retro8bitcomputers.co.uk/Content/downloads/manuals/ZXInterface1-Microdrive-Manual.pdf

[Andy Potter]

Hi Alberto,

Thanks for the response.

48K Spectrum is selected.
Interface 1 is enabled.
Have tried selecting IF1.ROM ( V1 ROM), IF1-2.ROM (V2 ROM) and IF1-IMC.ROM (V2 ROM modified by IMC). All appear to load correctly without an error.
Selected 'Outlet (Issue 001).mdr' as a file for Microdrive 1.
No file selected for Microdrives 2 - 8.
In all instances typing 'CAT 1' returns '0 OK, 0'
Typing 'CAT 2' also returns '0 OK, 0' even though no file has been selected for Microdrive 2.
Typing 'CAT' returns ''Missing drive number, 0:1'

I have a physical manual for the ZX Interface 1 and Microdrive.

I am running Windows 10 and Fuse 1.6.0

Any other thoughts?

Andy

[Alberto Garcia]

I tried with if1-1.rom and if1-2.rom (their MD5 sums are 5c11c61a2dd2ca4bf39328d9ff42d289 and 31b704ae925305e74f50699271fddd9a).

It works fine with both. I'm using Fuse 1.6.0 in Linux.

All peripherals are disabled except for Interface 1, check if you have others enabled just in case.

When I type CAT 2 I get an error: Microdrive not present, 0:1.

With CAT 1 I see the list of files normally and I can load them using the microdrive commands.

[Andy Potter]

Hi Alberto,

Good news for me. It now works on my windows pc.

Had to uninstall, reboot and then re-install.

Uninstall followed by re-install without rebooting didn't work.

[Andy Potter]

Just tried for the first time since 01/12 and it's stopped working again.
Uninstall, reboot, reinstall didn't fix it.

Tried on a different laptop running Windows 10 32Bit. Same issue, CAT 1 just returns 0 OK, 0:1
Tried using a lubuntu 20.04 VM image. Same issue, CAT 1 just returns 0 OK, 0:1

I must be doing something wrong but can't understand what. Can someone post their .fuserc (linux) and/or fuse.cfg(windows) configuration file so I can check aganst mine.

Thanks

Andy

[Alberto Garcia]

I just removed .fuserc completely, started Fuse, Options -> Peripherals -> General, made sure that only "Interface 1" is enabled, restarted the emulated Spectrum, and it works just fine, CAT 1 lists the contents.

[Andy Potter]

It appears that I have some corrupted IF1-1.ROM and IF1-2.ROM files.
Dumped the IF1-2.ROM from my physical IF1 and it works OK.

Wonder how they got corrupted.
Now going through all my drives on both laptops and server to check those for corruption.