Copyright: Jean-Philippe CIVADE (1997)
Citation: You shouldn't have printed this without my permission.


Why disk2file ?

Reference.

 Disk2File can be obtained from http ://www.zicweb.com

 Author can be contacted at jpcivade@cge.net

 A small history...

I was looking for a tool able to help me to archive my beautiful sampler sounds to a CDROM. I tried to have more information about sampler CDROM format.

After asking to many people on the Web (Akai Japan, EMU US, Roland Japan, various CD-ROM manufacturers) it appears that the file system used in the samplers CD-ROM was totally proprietary. I found that it was exactly the same used for sampler hard disks. So I had an idea. Why not build the CD-ROM content to an Hard disk connected to the sampler and copy it to  a CD-ROM ? I tried and it worked.

In fact, that’s the method used by sample CD manufacturers to make their prototyping. A that day, there’s no CD-ROM recording software able to do that with a PC. On the Mac, Gear or Toast Pro are able to record a disk using a hard disk as source. Because I don’t want to buy an other computer, I wrote disk2file.

Later, I modify the software to duplicate or archive hard disk content because I’m also a Linux user and it’s the quickest way I found to duplicate a Linux hard disk...

What to use it for ?

Disk2File have been designed for SCSI disk users. It’s primary use was to help to build CDROM for samplers, but three main functions are included in the software :

  Read a SCSI disk using a binary sector per sector method and writes content into a file. Length can be specified (starting at sector 0).

  Read a file and writes it to a SCSI disk using the same binary method. Length can be specified also (up to file or disk size).

  Execute a binary copy from one disk to another.


What are Disk2File capabilities ?

Reference.

 Disk2File can be obtained from http ://www.zicweb.com

 Author can be contacted at jpcivade@cge.net

Disk2file main features.

  Supposed to work on Win95 (tested) and Win NT 4.0 (not tested) with Adaptec ASPI 32 Layer.

  Support up to 4 controllers.

  Automatically scan for controller buffer size (up to 128 Kb).

  Improved speed : transfer rate is very closed to media transfer rate.

  Reports any device installed, performing an SCSI Inquiry.

Disk2file can be used for several tasks.

   Read a sampler hard disk and build an ISO file  to record a sampler CD-ROM.

   Read a CD-ROM using a SCSI CD-ROM reader to store the image file for recording later.

   Copy very quickly a SCSI disk (speed is close to media transfer rate) to an other for production purpose. It can be used for example to duplicate well done configurations of any operating systems. Because Dis2file don’t care of file system, this duplication can be done for OS9, DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT, OS/2, Mac OS, Sampler’s file systems, Linux, Solaris.....

   Binary backup of a whole disk to a file (before installing a new version for example).

   Restore a backup from a file to a disk.

   Duplicating Zip, Syquest on any removable media.

   Have information about SCSI installed devices on many controllers (up to 4 controllers).

Known limitations:

  Does not support wide controllers.

  Does not re scan SCSI bus automatically. When using removable media, please insert the media before launching Disk2File.


Disk2File Controls

Click on the selected region to have more information


Reading a source disk to build an image file

1. Fill the disk with you data. If it’s a sampler, connect it to the sampler, format it, fill it using sampler read and save functions.

2. Connect the disk to the PC AFTER BOOTING WINDOWS 95. (This is to walk around a plus and play bug of 95 : windows writes sector zero of all disks connected with a special work to identify if disk changed). To see the SCSI disk, use the Control panel, System, Drivers, Refresh button..

3. Launch Disk2File

4. Select Software mode. Here this is Disk2File

5. Select The source controller where disk is attached to and disk itself.

6. You can verify this is the right device using disk information

7. Select File where to store the image. Image extension is .ISO for EZ CDPRO.

8. Select desired sector size. A CDROM is not more than 650MB, but Akai and EMU just use 500 Mb. You can use the select all sectors checkbox if all disk content is to be read.

9. Click on Proceed button to execute the action. A dialog will be displayed indicating the current completion status.

10. After completion, you’ll have a file with exactly the selected size.


Writing an image file to a target SCSI disk

1. Connect the disk to the PC AFTER BOOTING WINDOWS 95. (This is to walk around a plus and play bug of 95 : windows writes sector zero of all disks connected with a special work to identify if disk changed). To see the SCSI disk, use the Control panel, System, Drivers, Refresh button..

2. Launch Disk2File

3. Select Software mode. Here this is File2Disk

4. Select The target controller where disk is attached to and disk itself.

5. You can verify this is the right device using disk information

6. Select File where to get the image from.

7.. Select desired sector size. You can use the select all sectors checkbox if all file content have to be written on the disk. If file size was superior than the disk, sector will be automatically adapted.

8. Click on Proceed button to execute the action. A dialog will be displayed indicating the current completion status.

9. After completion, the selected disk will be a copy of the image file.


Copying  an SCSI disk to another

1. Connect the disk to the PC AFTER BOOTING WINDOWS 95. (This is to walk around a plus and play bug of 95 : windows writes sector zero of all disks connected with a special work to identify if disk changed). To see the SCSI disk, use the Control panel, System, Drivers, Refresh button..

2. Launch Disk2File

3. Select Software mode. Here this is Disk2Disk

4. Select The source controller where disk is attached to and disk itself.

5. Select The target controller where disk is attached to and disk itself.

6. You can verify devices using disk information

7.. Select desired sector size. You can use the select all sectors checkbox if all file content have to be written on the disk.

8. Click on Proceed button to execute the action. A dialog will be displayed indicating the current completion status.

9. After completion, the selected disk will be a copy of the image file.


Building a CDROM for a sampler
Building a CDROM for  sampler

1.Proceed as described in  Reading a source disk to build an image fileto read the sampler cdrom image.

2. Open your CDRecording software (for example EZCDPRO)

3. Create a new project as “ Build a CDROM from an image file ”

4. Load the image file that you’ve just created in “ image file ” tab.

5. VERY IMPORTANT : After loading image file, select [Mode1 CDROM] From General tab. Because the image file format is not known from the software automatically, default type will be set to “ Audio CD ” and must be changed manually to Mode1 CDROM.

6. Proceed as indicated in your CDR recording software for cd recording


Disk2File License Agreement

Disk2File, copyright 1996 by Jean-Philippe CIVADE,  is a SHAREWARE product. This help topic contains legal binding information about licensing, registration and distribution of Disk2File. If you do not agree with the conditions and rules stated in this text, please remove your copy of the Disk2File software.

The term "SHAREWARE version"  identifies the complete package containing the Microsoft Windows 95 version of Disk2File. By complete package we mean: Disk2File's executable file, associated Reach Text  File and registration form files. The term "SHAREWARE copy" identifies an instance of the SHAREWARE version.

 Disk2File can be obtained from http ://www.zicweb.com

 Author can be contacted at jpcivade@cge.net

DISK2FILE Distribution:

1. SHAREWARE copies may be freely distributed by individual users for trial and leisure utilization.

2. SHAREWARE copies may be uploaded to Bulletin Board Systems, FTP sites, Usenet newsgroups and any network sites providing its users with access to download it for trial and leisure purposes. Bulletin Board Systems should restrict downloading charges for the SHAREWARE version to flat rate connection fees.

3. SHAREWARE copies may NOT be distributed in CD-ROM disks, diskettes or any other media, without express authorization of the author, the single exception being case (3) above. Authorization for distribution may be obtained in the form of a specific "Non-exclusive Distribution License Agreement", signed by the author of the software.

4. SHAREWARE copies may NOT be distributed with any software package, or be systematically  recommended to users of any software system or service, without express authorization of the author. Authorization for distribution may be obtained in the form of a specific "Non-exclusive Distribution License Agreement", signed by the author of the software.

6. REGISTERED versions may only be distributed by the author of Disk2File, or by distributors who have obtained a specific "Non-exclusive Distribution License Agreement", signed by the author of the software.

Evaluation and Registration:

This is not free software.  You are hereby licensed to use this software for evaluation purposes without charge for a period of 21 days.  If you use this software after the 21 day evaluation period a registration fee of 150 French Francs is required.  Payments must be in French Francs , and should be sent to:

Jean-Philippe CIVADE

11 rue Duguesclin

34000 MONTPELLIER

France

When payment is received you will be sent a registered copy of the latest version of Disk2File. Unregistered use of Disk2File  after the 21-day evaluation period is in violation of France and international copyright laws.


You can select here the source device for disk2file mode or disk2disk mode. The controller name and device number must be specified.


You can select here the target device for file2disk mode or disk2disk mode. The controller name and device number must be specified.


This is an info zone. It contains detailed information for selected device. Depending of selected work mode , either source device and/or destination device are available. Available information are total disk capacity in sectors and megabytes, sector size in bytes, and media type code (0=Hard disk, 4= CDROM, 5=SCANNER...)


This zone is to specify work mode of the software, file name to save or to read (depending to selected mode), and number of sectors to process. This must be filled before processing.


Those buttons are to control the software.

About is calling well known “ About ” screen

Help will give this file

Proceed will execute the selected function.

Quit will quit the software