Hi friends,

I've tried START.COM utility to load DSK files on real MSX from HD and CDROM.

But how can I manage multiple dsks with this utility? For ex. f1sp1.dsk and then f1sp2.dsk, when program ask me to change disk?

Thank you, regards,
Enrico

well, first, you should combine all DSKs into one (1) DSK file, like this:

copy /b f1sp1.dsk+f1sp2.dsk f1sp.dsk

. You'll have a F1SP.DSK file then, which contains the both DSK files which you had previously. Now, you'd just say

START F1SP.DSK

and it will start. As soon as it asks for another disk (let's say, the 2nd), press the '2' and <SPACE> down, simultaneously.

Important notes:

• When you do the copy /b like thing, always remember that the boot disk should be mentioned first.
• Keep in mind the order of the disks, when having issued the copy /b command. If you've done something like copy /b XAK2-1.DSK+XAK2-4.DSK+XAK2-2.DSK+XAK2-5.DSK+XAK2-3.DSK XAK2-ALL.DSK, remember that you should press down '3'+<SPACE> if you want to play on disk 2 (it's mentioned third in the command line).
• The most usual way to do this is issuing the file names in the correct order (so copy /b SD-SNA1.DSK+SD-SNA2.DSK+SD-SNA3.DSK SD-SNAT.DSK), so you can just press '3'+<SPACE> when the program asks for disk 3.
• Also remember that almost all software won't work with DSK files and START.COM (e.g. all MicroCabin games, so the XAK-example was crap )

However, it was recently revealed that if you create a directory in which you not only put the .DSK file you created, but also the files that were on the disk, your Microcabin games suddenly start working

Hey! Nice one snout! Didn't know that, but maybe I overlooked it!

Haha, my FAT16-partitions will be badly used for the XAK-saga now

Thak you very much for your help! 2 seconds after my post I've read the MSXFaq and in the fMSX section there was the answer of multiple disks.

I'll try to test all dsks I have and help to write a more complete list of dsks that start with START.COM.

That would be great!

Do you already have such a list?