Apple II DISK Emulator using STM32

I noticed there is a new 0.80.8 version out there, what needs to be tested?

VIBR wrote:

A new version is available on github with a major fix on stability of read and write.

I have done some testing already but will be good if you can give as well your input.

 

I change the way Interrupt are working between the SDCard and Read Timer & Write Timer,

Priority is on read write, but if I stop the SDCArd DMA IRQ after a few minutes it stop working and I

I will pull the latest version from GitHub and update some of the 15 that I have built with it and test with the focus you suggest above.  If that looks good I will update the rest of them.  So far as far as Disk ][ emulation goes, things really look great and I am super excited about it.  I have yet to get SmartPort to work, but I will take another look at that.

VIBR wrote:

A new version is available on github with a major fix on stability of read and write.

I have done some testing already but will be good if you can give as well your input.

 

I change the way Interrupt are working between the SDCard and Read Timer & Write Timer,

Priority is on read write, but if I stop the SDCArd DMA IRQ after a few minutes it stop working and I

Hello Vincent.

Thank you very much for making the fix available.

So far, no problems. I am able to write programs in basic and save them to the dsk without crashes (4 hours in a row).

In previous versions of the firmware, the crash occurred in less than 20 minutes.

One of the features that I liked is that it is possible to create the DSK, WOZ and PO image directly on the SmartDisk II.

And An interesting thing is that COPYA (DOS 3.3) is working perfectly, I was able to copy several DSKs to a blank image (DSK).

Another test that worked perfectly was creating DSKs from Asciiexpress.net.

I would like to share a custom version of the SmartDiskII that I built myself.

Since I had trouble finding a case for the project, I built one using black acrylic. 

After a few days of gluing acrylic in the correct position, sanding and polishing and a lot of patience, I got a satisfactory result.

I created a new layout and added a vintage bicolor LED.

> No light = No activity

> Green light = Image reading

> Red light = Image recording.

I modified the firmware to light the LED according to the activity.

IMG_8379.JPEG

IMG_8478.JPEG

IMG_8479.JPEG

IMG_8480.JPEG

Thank you,

Daniel.

i built the smartdisk II rev.4 board and seem to be having issues installing the bootloader and firmware.  i used the stm32 st-link utility to flash the .bin from https://github.com/vibr77/AppleIIDiskIIStm32F411/blob/main/Contributed/Build/SmartDiskII_STM32F411_bootloader_v0.12.bin and seems to flash fine but when i try to update the firmware with https://github.com/vibr77/AppleIIDiskIIStm32F411/blob/main/Contributed/Build/AppleIISDiskII_stm32f411_sdio_v0.80.9_A2F.uf2 my blackpill is seen as an unrecognized device, so i am unable to install the firmware (.uf2)

any ideas what i'm doing wrong?  any help is greatly appreciated!

thanks,

mike

mikedanick wrote:

i built the smartdisk II rev.4 board and seem to be having issues installing the bootloader and firmware.  i used the stm32 st-link utility to flash the .bin from https://github.com/vibr77/AppleIIDiskIIStm32F411/blob/main/Contributed/Build/SmartDiskII_STM32F411_bootloader_v0.12.bin and seems to flash fine but when i try to update the firmware with https://github.com/vibr77/AppleIIDisk

I build the firmware from source (cloned the GitHub repository).  I use the ".elf" file and the STMCubeProgrammer app which you can download from ST's web site if I remember right.  If you want to build from source you also need to get the arm-gnu-toolchain.  That's assuming you are using Linux.  I don't know about MacOS and you'd have to install a whole bunch of dev tools on Windows, it's probably not worth the trouble.

Hi Vincent I noticed you have an updated Bootloader Ver 0.13 available however ive tried to write this to my stm32 but it always fails? ver 0.12 however works fine, can you check if the file is ok and or if it's recommended to upgrade. Thank you :-)

stm_prog1.jpeg

STM programming tool

stm_prog2.jpeg

STM programmer attached to computer and emulator

stm_prog3.png

STM programming software.  First press the blue "Read" button.

stm_prog4.png

Then select the .elf file.

stm_prog5.png

Next press the green "Connect" button, then press the blue "Download" button.  You should see messages scroll in the log window and a popup should show the results.  Dismiss the popup.  Press the green "Disconnect" button and then you can unplug the programmer and the emulator should be ready to go with the new version.

VIBR wrote:

No need to update, it is just cosmetic, and it fails because there is a memory protection that need to be removed using ST Prog32

Hi yes sorry what I was meaning is that if I have bootloader vr 0.13 installed it doesn't allow fw to be uploaded when connected via usb? Pressing reset the stm32 fails to be detected just blue light on as if no bootloader installed?

No problem if I use vr 0.12 it works normally (ie double press reset and drive appears) and can upload fw.

I think might be issue with the ver 0.13 file?

Hi VIBR,

thank you for the great apple II flopy disk emulator. I built it, and ti works great :)

I wonder if this hardware will eventually emulate floppy disk drives for Macintosh and Lisa?

Are there enough unused GPIO pins for the exra signals?

Do you have plans on working on the necessary firmware changes?

can i use the .bin thats on the github to program the bootloader?  or do i need to build the bootloader?

when i tried programming the available .bin with my st-link, then plug my blackpill into a usb port, the blackpill shows as an unknown usb device.

sorry to sound newbish...

thanks!  

mike

mikedanick wrote:

can i use the .bin thats on the github to program the bootloader?  or do i need to build the bootloader?

 

when i tried programming the available .bin with my st-link, then plug my blackpill into a usb port, the blackpill shows as an unknown usb device.

 

sorry to sound newbish...

 

 

thanks!  

mike

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Hi Mike ,

I have been through this problem just recently so perhaps I can help.

On VIBR's GitHub page link to page you will see on the right hand side of the page the text" releases 27" and under it "+ 26 releases" click on the link there and you will get to the releasses pages. Scroll down to the bottom of the page a click on page 3, When in page 3 look for update "Bootloader v0.13" and click on the asseets arrow and then select "AppleSDiskII_bootloader.bin". you should now have a download file of this name in your computer downloads area.

Assuming you have STM32 Cube Programmer installed on your computer start this programme.

Take out any SD card as a safety measure.

Connect your ST_LINK programmer to your BlackPill and then plug the programmer into your computer. In the STM Cube Programmer Select ST_LINK blue top right and press connect Green top right.

Assuming you get a connection go to the left hand side of Cube Programmer and click the 2nd from top green icon showing a down arrow. 

On this new page browse to select your file "AppleSDiskII_bootloader.bin"

You should see or set a start address 0x08000000.

set tick for verify prog, set tick run after programming.

set tick full chip erase 

set tick download file.

push the blue start programming button.

If all goes well your Sdisk 2 Oled screen should be showing that you are in bootloader mode.

Next remove the ST_Link programmer from the BlackPill and plug the BlackPill into the usb cable socket on the Pill and the computer. If you do not see the bootloader mode message on the OLED screen then press reset button twice on the Pill, windows should now see the Pill as astorage device and even ask you what you want to do?

Open the blackpill storage device in explorer and in another explorer window open the location of the .UF2 programme you want to load to the BlacPill, drag the .UF2 file into the BlackPill storage device window and you should see the OLED screen showing VIBR brilliant code working.

If you need more info you can PM me and I will give more help if possible.

I have just started on building my second unit and should be able to start testing the pair as I would use a standard pair of floppy drives. 

Regards Mike aka Crusty

the help is much appreciated!  everything worked fine till connecting the blackpill via usb.  device doesn't show up in explorer.

in device manager it shows as an unknown usb device (device descriptor request failed)

but this is the first time i have seen the display actually show anything..

can you update the blackpill via micro sd instead of via explorer / .uf2?

appreciate the help!

thanks,

mike aka kneehighspy

IMG_8991.jpg

Mike aka kneehighspy,

Not sure I can help here.

in device manager it shows as an unknown usb device (device descriptor request failed)

but this is the first time i have seen the display actually show anything..

My computer is an ASUS running most recent windows 11 and whilst it appeared to glitch the first time I tried the programming process it has programmed 3 BlackPill's without fault. I do however have a bunch of security items switched off on this machine so I can run what Microsft considers is dubious electronics programming software.

It does have an issue with one BlackPill that I have every reason to consider I have given a potential problem voltage to a couple of board I/O.

To look at the problem from another angle I used my fairly vernable MacBook Air to Programm the BlackPill at the USB bootloader stage and it went also without a hitch showing up as a memory device and alowing drag and drop to be achieved for the update of the .uf2 file.

Can you update the blackpill via micro sd instead of via explorer / .uf2?

As far as I know Vincent has not provided a method for this.

I have in the past and in different circumsstances performed upgrades to processors via an SD card, but it is not a trivial task as it all to easy to end up bricking the processor.

i do appreciate your help.  you got me further along than i had been.  i've programmed tons of ST32Fxxx chips for other projects with no issue along with pico(x) and pico clones (purple) and was just beating my head against my monitor.  tried with win10, win11 and ubuntu (alienware laptops, and my dell office/lab pc)  all with the same results.  your help has inspired me to keep working with it :)

i appreciate everything and i will work on this issue.

again thanks!

mike

Hi Vincent,

I am very glad to be able to confirm that my copy of CPM boots without error.

I do not know if I have missed an option in your menus  so far ?

But would it be possible to have an option to make and SDISK II card a device 1 or a device 2 .

It should be only a question of setting  in the menu, the drive select I/O for the card to be active High or active Low and should not require any other I/O pin useage. 

I may have this completly wrong but it would be nice to see your comment on this.

Mike Aka Crusty

Have you tried a diffrent USB cable I have had some duff ones in the past.

Crusty wrote:

But would it be possible to have an option to make and SDISK II card a device 1 or a device 2 .

It should be only a question of setting  in the menu, the drive select I/O for the card to be active High or active High or active Low and should not require any other I/O pin useage. 

It is not working like you imagine it is:

 https://www.bigmessowires.com/2015/04/09/more-fun-with-apple-iigs-disks/

Crusty wrote:

Hi Vincent,

I am very glad to be able to confirm that my copy of CPM boots without error.

I do not know if I have missed an option in your menus  so far ?

But would it be possible to have an option to make and SDISK II card a device 1 or a device 2 .

It should be only a question of setting  in the menu, the drive select I/O for the card to be active High or act

I have used two VIBR floppy devices with one attached to the drive 1 connector and the other attached to the drive 2 connector on a Disk ][ controller card to handle a dual drive setup.

If you want to do something like that with the Apple 5.25 card with the single DB19 you would need some kind of splitter like the one BMOW sells or maybe their Daisy Chainer.

Crusty wrote:

Hi Vincent,

I am very glad to be able to confirm that my copy of CPM boots without error.

I do not know if I have missed an option in your menus  so far ?

But would it be possible to have an option to make and SDISK II card a device 1 or a device 2 .

It should be only a question of setting  in the menu, the drive select I/O for the card to be active High or act

Hi Mike, hi Vincent,

I just want to point out that the images for the Applicard for the CFFA3000 are booting, too.

Bootable CP/M System on the CFFA3000 Compact Flash HD for the PCPI Applicard and Apple II (Part 1) - Planemo

I used the Applicard emulation on a A2DVI 4.1 and a Grppler+ Clone in Slot 7 with a Apple //e enhanced 128kB

cu

Georg

@Softwarejanitor,

You are correct and I have a duff cable on the second drive of the Disc ][ controller card.

Please accept that I am getting old , 80 years now,  and it's as hot as hell in my loft workshop today.

Many thanks everyone.

Crusty Aka Mike

PS I do have mains power however unlike some of us.

IMG_2009 2.JPG

I have to say that VIBR's revision 4 PCB is a great deal better than my first stripboard versiom.

Best Crusty