Problems reading USB drive.

[stingrayce1982@gmail.com]

I am having difficulties, figuring out how to use a USB flash drive to access my own software. I am just using the Neo6502 in the Apple II emulator that it arrived with from Digikey. When I hook it up with just a keyboard, it boots up just fine using the internal flash drive and I can run all programs without any difficulties.

I haven't been able to get it to read a USB flash drive. Maybe the problem is that I don't understand what's supposed to happen? I'm assuming that it will still boot up with the drive slot seven that it comes with and the USB flash drive will be looked at as another drive on that same controller or in a different slot.


What I'm not clear on is if the USB flash drive is supposed to have individual Apple II software and files in it or if it's supposed to have .DSK images containing the Apple software. I have tried both without success.

I have read through the user instructions carefully and while it clearly states that the drive needs to be formatted FAT 32, it doesn't explain exactly how to use it to make it appear as drives in various slots.

I am having no trouble getting the Neo6502 to read my keyboard, and
 I have tried several keyboards with success.  I own a fairly large number of USB hubs and my keyboard works successfully with through about half of them.  I also tried using the raspberry pie keyboard that has an integrated hub and it worked fine too.  NONE of them however have allowed me to successfully use USB flash drive.

I have also tried various different brands of and sizes of USB flash drive without noticing any difference in behavior.

[LubOlimex]

The guide explains everything about the USB flash drive (it is "USB key" in the documentation). The most important is the first one:

"If you want to save programs then a USB key is required (It is possible to use SD Cards). For similar reasons to the USB Hub we believe, it requires a fast key. Initially I used "Amazon Cheapies" and none of them worked properly. I replaced this with a Sandisk USB 3.0 key which was about £10 and it works fine."

Make sure to search for "USB key" in the guide:

https://neo6502.com/pdf/document.pdf

Is the USB driver recognized and listed during boot, it should say something like:

USB Key found 0781:55a3

If you have some files on the flash drive try to list them with:

cat

If nothing works, then maybe use SD card to save your data and progress instead of USB flash drive.

[stingrayce1982@gmail.com]

I'm not seeing any messages that would show that the NEO6502 has recognized the USB drive(key). I even tried plugging the USB flash directly into the NEO6502 USB port just to be sure the hub I'm using isn't contributing to the problem.  Either way, there was nothing onscreen that would reflect the NEO6502 has recognized my USB Flash drive.  I've tried both USB 2.0 and 3.0 from Lexar, Verbatim and Kingston (and also a no-name one too)

If it was successfully working, would the USB drive show up on S7D2 or on another slot? Does it always boot from the internal flash?  I put totalreply on the USB drive as suggested.  Does the NEO6502 need to boot from the USB drive?  Do I need to put PRODOS on it too?

[LubOlimex]

For the default Apple 2 emulator "apple2_800x600_400MHz.uf2" that we load you don't need the USB at all, it will show the same games whether you have it plugged or not.

USB with Total Replay is only needed if you change the firmware with the general apple 2 emulator.

[LubOlimex]

We tested today preparing the board with:

https://ftp.olimex.com/Neo6502/apple2e-5.uf2

(downloaded after holding button BUT, applying USB A to A cable, then putting the file in the hard drive that apears)

and then this requires using the flash drive with Total Replay hdv file:

https://ftp.olimex.com/Neo6502/Total%20Replay%20v5.1.hdv

[Ralf]

I'm not seeing any messages that would show that the NEO6502 has recognized the USB drive(key).

That message actually only appears when using the Morpheus firmware.

You probably want to use the firmware and disk image in this zip-file:
https://ftp.olimex.com/Neo6502/blank_disk_for_apple2e_code_development_apple2e_ProDOS_2_4_3.zip

Reflash the Neo6502 with the apple2e.uf2 and put the pro-dos-image in the root directory of your USB key.
On boot of the neo6502 that disk image will then be mounted as S7,D1 and is writable.

Cheers

[stingrayce1982@gmail.com]

Ralf- thanks, your advice cleared things up a bit.  I didn't realize that the Apple II firmware that came on my board didn't support the USB Key (as they call it).  As you suggested, I put the Apple IIe firmware on the NEO6502 and loaded a USB Key(flash drive) with Total Replay and it booted up just fine.  Thanks for that!

Now I know that my keyboard and USB hub are working just fine!

Now I'm trying to get an image that I can use to boot to Prodos.  I tried as you suggest to place the ProDOS_2_4_3.po as the only file on a USB flash drive. Unfortunately the NEO6502 isn't recognizing it and is booting up to ROM Basic with no PRODOS present.  It seems so simple, I don't know how I'm screwing it up.

Is there a maximum flash drive size?  I'm using the same 8GB drive that works OK with Total Replay.

[Ralf]

Hi Stingray,

I tried to reproduce what you have described, and I've come to the conclusion that you might have used the apple2e-5.uf2

So, from my humble experience:

apple2_800x600_400MHZ.uf2 -> is pre-flashed on the Neo6502 at delivery, but does not support USB flash drive access

apple2e-5.uf2 -> works with Total Replay

apple2e.uf2 -> works with ProDOS_2_4_3.po

I know this is confusing, I assume it has something to do with the way these uf2 files are compiled. The apple2e.uf2 should be included in the zip file I linked.
If you're in for the fun of it, there's a bunch more apple2 uf2 to try out:

https://ftp.olimex.com/Neo6502/old-uf2/

Cheers

[stingrayce1982@gmail.com]

Thanks Ralf- yes, that sorted it out for me.  I'm now booting into PRODOS with no problems.

[stingrayce1982@gmail.com]

Now that I have access from PRODOS 8 like my Apple of olde, it's starting to feel very legitimate.  I bought two NEO6502 boards and I'm thinking of transplanting one into an empty Apple IIc case.  Thanks to everyone who helped me get here.\

[Ralf]

That's a cool idea. Let us know how it goes. :-)