Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    I tried to make a backup of Dungeon Master, but it always fails
    on destination track 0. I tried all the modes??
    
     mark

    You might have to read the documentation :-).  If you select the
    parameter copy there is a list of program disks that it specifically
    knowes.  And "Dungeon Master" is in the list.

    Yes, i picked DM from the parameter list, but it doesn't work. Track
    0 and i tried booting it and it hangs at the FTL logo...
    
     mark

    It's nifty.  All of you old timers who have Shanghai, and Mean
    18, and haven't bothered playing them recently since you couldn't put them
    on your hard disk, Nib is for you.  I've got both of those guys
    on my HD now.  I've always loved both of them, since they're so well
    behaved.  I can play 18 holes while I'm downloading something.

    Thanks, Richard, for uploading.  
    
    That author is going to get $16 from me.

    Gary

    I was skeptical at first, but after about 5 tries it finally
    (apparently) backed up my copy of Dungeon Master.

    re .3
    
    The parameter copy did work on my copy of Dungeon Master.

    re:.6
    
    didn't work for me either.  What did work was the parameter to
    copy nibble + index format.
    
    -dave

Re: .3, .7

In order to defeat copy protection software, some titles are released
in two or three variants that use different copy protection schemes.
So, it may be that half the DM disks can be backed up using one scheme,
but other half of the DM disks can only be backed up using another scheme.

Many software manufacturers change the copy protection scheme every time
they release a new bugfix version of the software ("fixed the 'saved game'
bug"), or do another manufacturing run of the software.

    Has anyone used NIB to backup Aunt Artic?
    							bill
    

    Hi,
    has anybody tried to backup FALCON ? I got always a copy-error on
    the first track. Of course i select Falcon Disk 1 of the parameter-list
    
    Ralf
    ====

    
    Nib copied Falcon Disk 1 just fine for me, and even removed the
    codewheel protection.
    
    Ed.
    

    The Salesperson in the shop told me something about a 
    	"LONG TRACK COPY-PROTECTION" mechanism

    Whats that ???
    Nib's Track-Display changed it's colour from blue to red during
    the copy - and went to track 1. (track 0 causes the "problems"
    
    Ralf
    ====

    I bought DM just three short weeks ago. when I tried to backup via NIB
    (parameter or index nibble etc) it comes up with the red highlight on
    cyl  zero. I dont have the results with me but I recollect that the
    number of bytes in the sector seemed to be slightly more than the "max"
    bytes per sector. I guess that this says that I have to live with long
    track copy protection!
    
    Any suggestions as to how to get around this??
    
    glenn

    
    What I found out is that Nib inserted a custom graphics bootblock
    on that DM copy. Since DM checks for its bootblock it didn't work.
    When I copied the block (using DiskX, Sectorama, etc.) it worked.
    Sorta flawkey, but it at least booted through...
    
    Regards,
    	<CB>

    re: .14
    
    I tried DiskX (v2.0) last night but couldn't get it to go....
    The steps were:-
    	go to block zero
    	
    	save the block to a file (tried ram: and df1:. this worked
    	in that I could view the file and it did look like block zero)
    	
    	Tried various permutations (but obviously not the right one) of
    	"restoring" the file to Df1: (where my recipient DM was), but
    	could not end up with DF1: block zero looking like df0: block
    	zero.
    
    I have done something wrong....but what? I have no documentation or
    instructions on DiskX. This is also my first experience of "on disk"
    hacking, so please acccept my apols. if I've done something stupid.
    
    Glenn

    
    There should be "some" documentation along DiskX, at least that
    was the case with the DiskX on a Fish disk.
    Anyway, you don't save the block to a file, but write it directly
    to the other disk.
    I'll try to give you step by step description on monday.
    

    I copied the diskx zoo file out of ff071 on "tape". The documentation was 
    sadly lacking any driving instructions. Got a copy of SECTORAMA and a
    thing called "SAFEBOOT" from a recent fish disk. I'll try both and
    advise on the result.
    
    Glenn

    re: .14  Thanks Christian.
    
    I used a NIB/SAFEBOOT combination and it worked. (safeboot is available
    on one of the later fish disks on TAPE:: ...Thanks guys for the
    uploads.)
    
    The technique:
    
    1.	Save the boot block using safeboot.
    2.	Do a NIB "parameter copy" (everything will copy except the boot
    	block)
    3.  ensure that your recipient is labeled "Dungeonmaster"
    4.	restore the boot block to the recipient via SAFEBOOT.
    
    The added plus is that you will end up with a copy of the boot block
    which could be useful in a virus attack.

    re: .19
    
    Well.....It boots, and it does play! But then it doesn't allow me to
    SAVE does it? I guess that I'm no better off, cause now I've got to re
    insert the distribution disk.
    
    The next step ought to be to do a disk to disk image comparison. Is
    there a suitable utility on the net, and if there is, where can I find
    it?
    
    Glenn

Did anyone notice the strange (actually rather nice looking) behaviour
of SimCity when copied using NIB/Star Racer parameter?

When you boot the the copy disk, neat shades of blue horizontal lines 
emanate from the center of the screen anw scroll to the top and bottom...

John

    
    Re: -1
    
    Well, that's exactly what I was talking about in .11, John.
    I certainly don't like a copy program that inserts such "neatos"
    at free will. And I didn't start complaining about the naughty things
    it does to the copper...
    
    Regards,
    
    <CB>

    I've recently (finally) gotten a second floppy and decided to try
    NIB out last night.  Pretty nifty.  I was a little curious about
    the overwhelming drive noise generated at the last step before the
    copy completed message came up.  It sounded like the stepper motor
    was about to jump out of the top of my 500 (reminiscent of the movie
    Alien).  It really scared the Hell out of me.  Does anyone know whether 
    the drive (it sounded like the source drive) is being damaged by the 
    violent sounding action at that time?  I don't think that I'm the only 
    one with two floppies who must have noticed this.
                             

I was kinda bothered by the fact that Nib played with the boot block when I
copied Dungeon Master too.  The screen freaked out a bit after the neat
graphics were over (I guess because of what it did to the copper?).  Anyway,
my copy of Dungeon Master worked just fine.  It let me save my game and
everything.  Did FTL come out with a different copy protection on some of
the later disks, or what?

...richard

    NIB V2.0 arrived in the mail today, as promised to shareware
    contributors.  It looks quite good, with 63 additional parameters,
    a couple of new copy modes, even sound effects!
    
    For those of you who have used the shareware version and might be
    interested in purchasing of NIB V2, I will post in the next two replies
    lists of new features and disks it claims to be able to copy...
    
    (I consider my shareware check to Mr. Liptak well spent.)

    
    
    I was also plesantly surprised to find NIB 2.0 in the mail the other
    day.  I thought Shawn had abandoned the project.  I certainly it
    money well spent.
    
    General Info:
    
     I personally don't care for NIB talking to me so I tried merely
    removing the sound files to discover that without them, you get
    the infamous "software task held" message.
    
     I was a little disappointed that neither 1.0 or 2.0 is capable of
    backing up my editions of "Hybris" or "Gretsky Hockey" yet they're 
    in the list.
    
    Frank
    

I finaly got my NIB 2.0 version.

It unprotected BlockOut and Falcon operation Counterstrike.
(U.S. version only). I hate to have to look for a book or a
codewheel to play. The kids always misplace them, when they
don't destroy it...

However it didn't unprotect Falcon V1.1 (disk 1).   
It does unprotect V1.0 of Falcon, and if you look at what it
does on V1.0, you can do the same on the 1.1 disk.
The bit pattern is the same. (Total of 9 bytes to modify)

On 1.0 the protection code is on cyl 1 (top head) and on 1.1
it is on cyl 37 but the bits are not at the same offset.
You have to use some hex editor to find it.

I don't want to give the exact procedure in the notesfile since
some may not use it legaly.

So, basicaly there is a way to retire that old piece of... code wheel.

NIB is a good piece of software worth buying, so is Falcon.

    Like -.1 said it didn't backed up Hybris.
    
Vince.
    

    Oh I forgot to mention...
    
    I did a phone order for NIB, I received a $100 hardware copier.
    With the $100 bill, plus postage & handling.
    I returned the whole thing so they refunded ($55) and sent me
    back the right thing.  It shows that at least they are honest.
    They haven't refunded me the stamps required to ship it back
    though.
    
    I taught I might point that out.
    
    Vince.