Firmware updates for the STM32/Gotek HxC floppy emulators !

[Jeff]

Ok the bug source cause was found, and i have applied a fix :

https://hxc2001.com/vrac/HxCUSBFE_TEST_v3_0_28_6.UPD

In fact the bug may affect IMG and HFE, that's why you have some issues with img too.

Note : i can't test this firmware right now, so if it doesn't work you will wait 9/10 hours for more progresses

[Jeff]

Night autotest launched. Result tomorrow. Look promising
If you want try it :
https://hxc2001.com/vrac/HxCUSBFE_TEST_v3_0_28_7.UPD

[Jeff]

Night autotest launched. Result tomorrow. Look promising
If you want try it :
https://hxc2001.com/vrac/HxCUSBFE_TEST_v3_0_28_7.UPD

More than 9 hours of continuous writing to an HD HFE file without any single error ! I think that the issue is solved !

[Jeff]

Important write support fix released. Update highly recommended ! :

30 September 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.29.1a

- Write pipeline issue fixed.

- Fix : IMG/IMA/DSK and ST files are now visible in normal/direct browsing mode.

- Rotary support added. Connections points : Clock -> J7 pin 2,Direction -> J7 pin 1.

This version passed the 10 Hours intensive Read/Write tests successfully.
(R/W HD Density @ 500Kbits/s on HFE & IMG files).

https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip

[Coolkeys]

v3.0.29.1a
Hi Jeff,
This is the result of my testing, hfe images are working much much better, however I am finding some intermittent read write issues on both img + hfe images.

EX7 Test Results
On a failed read or write I just re-saved/re-loaded files to/from the image
wx = write, rx = read, x attempt number
hfe1 w1 ok, r1 ok, r2 ok
hfe2 w1 ok, r1 ok, r2 ok
hfe3 w1 ok, r1 ok, r2 ok
hfe4 w1 ok, r1 fail,r2 ok
hfe5 w1 ok, r1 Ok, r2 fail

img1 w1 ok, r1 ok
img2 w1 ok, r1 fail, r2 ok
img3 w1 ok, r1 ok
img4 w1 ok, r1 ok
img5 w1 fail, w2 ok, r1 ok

Selection of test images
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0By14l ... 01vRlZnM3M

[Jeff]

Thanks ! Seems to be an hardware issue. Have you tried on DD images (if possible ?). How long is the floppy ribbon ?
Another usb stick tried ?

when you got an read error you just retry to read to make it work ?

[Coolkeys]

I have not changed my hardware configuration, the floppy cable is the original/standard yamaha, what I would say is Read from img + hfe images seems less reliable although write to hfe is working much much better, write to image files seems less reliable although normal mode directory directory access with img files instead of indexed images is very nice to have.

On Load/save bad disk errors, I just repeated the save or load operation and it worked.

[Jeff]

I would say is Read from img + hfe images seems less reliable although write to hfe is working much much better, write to image files seems less reliable although normal mode directory directory access with img files instead of indexed images is very nice to have.

Read Less reliable than the previous firmware version ?

[Coolkeys]

Original testing
With San disk Fit
w = write, r = read
hfe1 w ok, r1 ok, r2 ok
hfe2 w ok, r1 ok, r2 ok
hfe3 w ok, r1 ok, r2 ok
hfe4 w ok, r1 fail,r2 ok
hfe5 w ok, r1 Ok, r2 fail

img1 w1 ok, r1 ok
img2 w1 ok, r1 fail, r2 ok
img3 w1 ok, r1 ok
img4 w1 ok, r1 ok
img5 w1 fail, w2 ok, r1 ok
/********************************************/
New testing
With San Disk Ultra
720k Images
Note - Only tested with small voice files
hfe1 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe2 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe3 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe4 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe5 w1 ok, r1 ok

Can't save to 720k Img s at all Bad disk error

1440k Images
Testing with Large Test file all
Bad disk error loading initial test file From from HFE!
hfe1 w1 Fail
No more testing done.

As for concerns about hardware issues, read write was a 100% with the Original Gotek firmware with all usb sticks, I don't think the hardware has been damaged or degraded.
I believe Read/write to/from img + read from hfe was very reliable in V3.0.27.1a.

[Jeff]

Thanks !

the San Disk Ultra was working correctly with 27.1 ?

I have disabled some code part added since the 27.1 (rotary support...) :

Let me know if this help or not :

https://hxc2001.com/vrac/HxCUSBFE.UPD

[Coolkeys]

Hi Jeff,
3.0.29.2al

1440k
Testing with Large File
hfe1 w1 ok r1 ok
hfe2 w1 ok r1 Fail, r2 ok
hfe3 w1 ok r1 ok
hfe4 w1 ok r1 ok
hfe5 w1 ok r1 ok

img1 w1 bad disk
img2 w1 bad disk
img3 w1 bad disk
img4 w1 bad disk
img5 w1 bad disk

720k
Testing with Voice file
hfe1 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe2 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe3 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe4 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe5 w1 Fail, w2 ok, r1 ok

img1 w1 bad disk
img2 w1 bad disk
img3 w1 bad disk
img4 w1 bad disk
img5 w1 bad disk

[Coolkeys]

Hi Jeff,
I have just done some testing on the older V3.0.27.1a to try to get actual figures on it's reliability instead of making assumptions or relying on my memory.

V3.0.27.1a Test
With San Disk Fit
Indexed mode testing
1440k Images
w = write, r = read
hfe0 w1 error,
hfe1 w1 error,
hfe2 w1 error,
hfe3 w1 error,
hfe4 w1 error,
Write to hfe files not working in this older version

img0 w1 ok, r1 ok
img1 w1 ok, r1 ok
img2 w1 ok, r1 ok
img3 w1 ok, r1 ok
img4 w1 ok, r1 ok
No Errors here

720k Images
Tested with small voice files
hfe0 w1 ok, r1 error, r2 error,
hfe1 w1 ok, r1 error, r2 error
hfe2 w1 ok, r1 error, r2 error
hfe3 bad disk
hfe4 w1 ok, r1 error, r2 error
Write to hfe files not working in this older version

img0 w1 ok, r1 ok
img1 w1 ok, r1 ok
img2 w1 ok, r1 ok
img3 w1 ok, r1 ok
img4 w1 error, w2 ok, r1 ok
Only one write error no read errors

I also loaded 2 PC1440 hfe images created with Floppy emulator 5 times without error.

[Jeff]

Hi Jeff,
I have just done some testing on the older V3.0.27.1a to try to get actual figures on it's reliability instead of making assumptions or relying on my memory.

V3.0.27.1a Test
With San Disk Fit
Indexed mode testing
1440k Images
w = write, r = read
hfe0 w1 error,
hfe1 w1 error,
hfe2 w1 error,
hfe3 w1 error,
hfe4 w1 error,
Write to hfe files not working in this older version

img0 w1 ok, r1 ok
img1 w1 ok, r1 ok
img2 w1 ok, r1 ok
img3 w1 ok, r1 ok
img4 w1 ok, r1 ok
No Errors here

720k Images
Tested with small voice files
hfe0 w1 ok, r1 error, r2 error,
hfe1 w1 ok, r1 error, r2 error
hfe2 w1 ok, r1 error, r2 error
hfe3 bad disk
hfe4 w1 ok, r1 error, r2 error
Write to hfe files not working in this older version

img0 w1 ok, r1 ok
img1 w1 ok, r1 ok
img2 w1 ok, r1 ok
img3 w1 ok, r1 ok
img4 w1 error, w2 ok, r1 ok
Only one write error no read errors

I also loaded 2 PC1440 hfe images created with Floppy emulator 5 times without error.

Yes these results are "ok" regarding the issue i found in the 27.1a

[Jeff]

Hi Jeff,
3.0.29.2al

1440k
Testing with Large File
hfe1 w1 ok r1 ok
hfe2 w1 ok r1 Fail, r2 ok
hfe3 w1 ok r1 ok
hfe4 w1 ok r1 ok
hfe5 w1 ok r1 ok

img1 w1 bad disk
img2 w1 bad disk
img3 w1 bad disk
img4 w1 bad disk
img5 w1 bad disk

720k
Testing with Voice file
hfe1 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe2 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe3 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe4 w1 ok, r1 ok
hfe5 w1 Fail, w2 ok, r1 ok

img1 w1 bad disk
img2 w1 bad disk
img3 w1 bad disk
img4 w1 bad disk
img5 w1 bad disk

I don't understand why you got all these errors with the img files while the same tests was working with the 29.1a
Are the img files valid ? You are using the same usb stick ?
i will check this this evening.

[Jeff]

This is the 27.1 equivalent with write fix + img filter fix :

https://hxc2001.com/vrac/HxCUSBFE29_3.UPD

So img read can't fail ! if so there is something else...