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[zektor]

Well, I have been out of the loop for awhile due to my overwhelming job, but now unemployed, I have *some* time to tinker....well, when my daughter gives me the time

So, what has Zektor been up to lately? I have been playing around with the "HxC Floppy Emulator":

http://jeanfrancoisdelnero.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/index.html

Basically, it is a floppy drive emulated in hardware/software. I have been using it with an Amiga 500 for awhile (mount adf images and run them like they are disks!) and decided to gut an old Super UFO SNES backup unit and test it the other day. Happy to report it works flawlessly, as the UFO natively handles .SMC files...which is the only SNES based file format the emulator software currently supports. Now it is as simple as mounting a given SMC rom file and turning the system on. From there, the copier boots the mounted file (the system is connected standard USB to the PC) and it runs as if I had it on a floppy disk inserted into the UFO. I think pictures give a better explanation

Best part is that the initial configuration of the UFO copier required an AC adapter, which was mainly designated for power to the floppy drive. That floppy drive is now in a bin of parts and unneeded, as is the extra power supply that was once required!

[zektor]

One more

PS: yeah, I know this SNES is crudball. I have a new "non-yellowed" SNES I will be hooking up shortly and trashing this turd...haha!

[dantheman]

So this lets you take *.smc files from your computer and load them to your SNES copier via USB rather than having to use floppies?  If so, then that's a pretty awesome hack, and a great way to bring old hardware up to speed.

[zektor]

So this lets you take *.smc files from your computer and load them to your SNES copier via USB rather than having to use floppies?  If so, then that's a pretty awesome hack, and a great way to bring old hardware up to speed.

That is correct. The loader software is simply a little box on the Windows side. Just drag and drop the .smc file to the window and turn on the SNES. When I go into the UFO's menu for loading a game, it sees the .smc file I mounted on the Windows PC and loads it. The UFO is thinking it is a floppy inserted Works great!

The software on the windows side already handles a few file extensions (.smc, .adf, .st and a slew of others) and it would just be a matter of the author to add more extensions. Perhaps he can add a Sega Genesis extension and I can get ahold of a Genesis copier and do the same As for now, I am pretty happy with running roms on an actual SNES so easily

[socket]

that, sir, is awesome.