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Floppy Emulation from disk images

Last modified: 14 August 2024

The HxC Floppy emulator firmware for Gotek support floppy emulation from disk images. You have just to copy your floppy disk images files to the usb stick.

Note
If you are using a Gotek without any OLED/LCD/OSD screen in indexed mode you probably also need to rename the file images using the "DSKAXXXX" naming convention. See the usage page for more details.

Supported disk image file formats

Here are the disk image formats directly supported by the HxC firmware :

Table 1. Table HxC Floppy Emulator disk image file format direct support

         Machine         

Disk image file format

Access

Universal support : All machines are supported by the native HxC Floppy Emulator (HFE) file format

*.HFE

Read / Write

Copy protected HFE images (HFEv3 converted from ipf & stream files)

*.HFE (v3)

Read

PC and compatibles (Computers, Synth and CNC machines…)

*.IMG

Read / Write

PC and compatibles (Computers, Synth and CNC machines…)

*.IMA

Read / Write

Amiga

*.ADF

Read / Write

Atari ST

*.ST

Read / Write

Microbee

*.DSK

Read / Write

MSX

*.DSK

Read / Write

MSX

*.IMG

Read / Write

Amstrad CPC/ZX Spectrum/Tatung Einstein

*.DSK (Normal)

Read / Write

Amstrad CPC/ZX Spectrum/Tatung Einstein

*.DSK (Extended)

Read / Write

Acorn

*.ADL

Read / Write

Acorn

*.ADM

Read / Write

Acorn

*.SSD

Read / Write

Acorn

*.DSD

Read / Write

Acorn

*.ADF

Read / Write

Apple II

*.dsk

Read / Write

Apple II

*.do

Read / Write

Apple II

*.po

Read / Write

Camputer Lynx

*.LDF

Read / Write

Commodore C64

*.D81

Read / Write

Thomson machines (MO5, TO7…)

*.FD

Read / Write

TI99/4A

*.DSK

Read / Write

TI99/4A

*.V9T9

Read / Write

Sam Coupé

*.SAD

Read / Write

Sam Coupé

*.MGT

Read / Write

ZX Spectrum

*.TRD

Read / Write

ZX Spectrum

*.SDD

Read / Write

ZX Spectrum

*.DSK

Read / Write

ZX Spectrum Opus Discovery

*.OPD

Read / Write

Akai (S900 / S950 / S01 / S20 / MPC…)

*.IMG

Read / Write

Akai (S900 / S950 / S01 / S20 / MPC…)

*.AKAI

Read / Write

Casio

*.FZ1

Read / Write

Emax

*.IMG

Read / Write

E-mu EOS / ESI

*.IMG

Read / Write

Ensoniq

*.IMG

Read / Write

General Music

*.IMG

Read / Write

Korg

*.IMG

Read / Write

Roland

*.OUT

Read / Write

Roland

*.W30

Read / Write

Roland

*.S50

Read / Write

Roland

*.S33

Read / Write

Roland

*.S55

Read / Write

Robox RC9400

*.IMG

Read / Write

Robox RC9400

*.DSK

Read / Write

Kawai

*.IMG

Read / Write

Kawai

*.DSK

Read / Write

Yamaha QX3

*.IMG

Read / Write

User defined file image. See the custom firmware build page

.

Read / Write

Beside of that the HFE files can be generated from almost any types of files images with the HxC Floppy Emulator software:

This software is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.

You can use it to convert all these file disk images format to the HFE format.

Table 2. HxC Floppy Emulator file disk images support
MODULE ID DESCRIPTION Extension

KRYOFLUXSTREAM

KryoFlux Stream Loader

*.raw

AMIGA_DMS

AMIGA DMS Loader

*.dms

AMIGA_ADZ

AMIGA ADZ Loader

*.adz

AMIGA_EXTADF

AMIGA EXTENDED ADF Loader

*.adf

AMIGA_OLDEXTADF

AMIGA OLD EXTENDED ADF Loader

*.adf

ZXSPECTRUM_FDI

ZX SPECTRUM FDI Loader

*.fdi

NEC_FDI

NEC FDI Loader

*.fdi

AMIGA_ADF

AMIGA ADF Loader

*.adf

BBC_ADL

BBC ADL floppy image loader

*.adl

ACORN_ADF

ACORN ADF Loader

*.adf

AMSTRADCPC_DSK

Amstrad CPC DSK Loader

*.dsk

ATARIST_DIM

ATARI ST DIM Loader

*.dim

ATARIST_STX

Atari ST STX/Pasti Loader

*.stx

ATARIST_STT

ATARI ST STT Loader

*.stt

COPYQM

COPYQM IMG Loader

*.dsk

TELEDISK_TD0

TELEDISK TD0 Loader

*.td0

ATARIST_MSA

ATARI ST MSA Loader

*.msa

ATARIST_STW

STW Loader

*.stw

RAW_IMZ

IBM PC IMZ Loader

*.imz

HXCMFM_IMG

HXC MFM IMG Loader

*.mfm

ORIC_DSK

ORIC DSK Loader

*.dsk

ATARIST_ST

ATARI ST ST Loader

*.st

ROLAND_W30

Roland W30 file Loader

*.w30

SPS_IPF

SPS IPF Loader

*.ipf

TI994A_V9T9

TI99 4A V9T9 Loader

*.v9t9

AMIGA_FS

AMIGA FS Loader

*.amigados

PROPHET2000

PROPHET 2000 Loader

*.img

RAW_IMG

IBM PC IMG Loader

*.img

FLP_IMG

FLP PC Magazine image Loader

*.flp

MSX_DSK

MSX DSK Loader

*.dsk

FAT12FLOPPY

FAT12/MS DOS Loader

*.fat

HXC_HFE

SD Card HxCFE HFE file Loader

*.hfe

HXC_HFEV3

SD Card HxCFE HFE V3 file Loader

*.hfe

HXC_EXTHFE

SD Card HxCFE EXTENDED HFE file Loader

*.hfe

HXC_HDDD_A2_HFE

SD Card HxCFE HFE file Loader (HDDD A2 Support)

*.hfe

HXC_STREAMHFE

Stream HFE file Loader

*.hfe

VTR_IMG

VTR IMG Loader

*.vtr

IMD_IMG

ImageDisk IMD file Loader

*.imd

SDU_IMG

SAB Diskette Utility Loader

*.sdu

HXC_AFI

HxC AFI file loader

*.afi

C64_D64

C64 D64 file image loader

*.d64

C64_D81

C64 D81 Loader

*.d81

ZXSPECTRUM_TRD

Zx Spectrum TRD Loader

*.trd

ZXSPECTRUM_SCL

ZX SPECTRUM SCL Loader

*.scl

THOMSONTO8D_SAP

THOMSON TO8D SAP Loader

*.sap

TRS80_JV1

TRS80 JV1 Loader

*.jv1

TRS80_JV3

TRS80 JV3 Loader

*.jv3

TRS80_JVC

TRS80 JVC Loader

*.jvc

SVD

SVD Loader

*.svd

NEC_D88

NEC D88 Loader

*.d88

X68000_HDM

X68000 HDM file Loader

*.hdm

RAW_LOADER

RAW Sector loader

*.img

SNES_SMC

Super famicom SMC / Game Doctor Loader

*.smc

VEGAS6809

VEGAS6809 image Loader

*.veg

TRS80_DMK

TRS80 DMK Loader

*.dmk

TI994A_PC99

TI99 4A PC99 Loader

*.pc99

APRIDISK

APRIDISK Loader

*.dsk

ENSONIQ_EDE

ENSONIQ EDE Loader

*.ede

FAT12FLOPPY

FAT12/MS DOS Loader

*.fat

ENSONIQ_GKH

ENSONIQ GKH Loader

*.gkh

THOMSON_FD

THOMSON FD Loader

*.fd

CASIO_FZF

Casio FZF file Loader

*.fzf

DRAGON3264_VDK

DRAGON32 & 64 VDK Loader

*.vdk

OBERHEIM_DPX

Oberheim DPX Loader

*.dpx

ENSONIQ_EDM

Ensoniq mirage EDM Loader

*.edm

EMAX_EM

EMAX EM1 & EM2 Loader

*.em1

SAMCOUPE_MGT

SAM COUPE MGT Loader

*.mgt

SAMCOUPE_SAD

SAM COUPE SAD Loader

*.sad

EMULATORII

E-mu Emulator II / SP1200 dsk Loader

*.emuiifd

EMULATORII_EMUII

E-mu Emulator II *.eii Loader

*.eii

EMULATORI

E-mu Emulator I dsk Loader

*.emufd

CAMPUTERSLYNX

CAMPUTERSLYNX Loader

*.ldf

BBC_SSD_DSD

BBC SSD & DSD floppy image loader

*.dsd

FEI

FEI Loader

*.fei

SYSTEM_24

System 24 loader

*.s24

SCP_FLUX_STREAM

SCP Stream Loader

*.scp

DFI_FLUX_STREAM

DiscFerret DFI Stream Loader

*.dfi

A2R_FLUX_STREAM

A2R Stream Loader

*.a2r

APPLE2_NIB

Apple II NIB Loader

*.nib

APPLE2_DO

Apple II DO Loader

*.do

SPECCYDOS_SDD

Speccy DOS SDD File Loader

*.sdd

BMP_IMAGE

BMP floppy tracks layout image generator

*.bmp

BMP_DISK_IMAGE

BMP floppy layout (disk) image generator

*.bmp

ARBURG

ARBURG RAW Loader

*.arburgfd

GENERIC_XML

Generic XML file Loader

*.xml

ANA_IMG

AnaDisk file Loader

*.ana

ATARI_ATR

Atari ATR Loader

*.atr

NORTHSTAR

Northstar Loader

*.nsi

HEATHKIT

Heathkit Loader

*.h8d

HXC_QD

HXC Quickdisk image Loader

*.qd

HXCSTREAM

HxC Stream Loader

*.hxcstream

ABB_320KB

ABB/Asea 3"5 DD Floppy Disk (ABB IRB2000 S3 - Single sided)

*.xml

ABB_328KB

ABB/Asea 3"5 328KB DD Floppy Disk (ABB IRB)

*.xml

ABB_640KB

ABB/Asea 3"5 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

ACORN_ADFS_160K

Acorn ADFS 160K Floppy Disk

*.xml

ACORN_ADFM_320K

Acorn ADFM 320K Floppy Disk

*.xml

ACORN_ADFL_640K

Acorn ADFL 640K Floppy Disk

*.xml

AED 6200P Disk Layout

AED 6200P Floppy Disk Storage System Disk Layout

*.xml

AKAIS950_HD_1600KB

Akai S950 3"5 HD Floppy Disk

*.xml

AKAIS950_DD_800KB

Akai S900/S950 3"5 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

AKAIS3000_HD

Akai S3000 3"5 HD Floppy Disk

*.xml

AMSTRADCPC_DD

Standard 3" Amstrad CPC Floppy Disk

*.xml

AUTOMATIX_RAIL_DD_400KB

Automatix RAIL DD 400KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

ATARIST_DD_720KB

Atari ST 3"5 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

BUNG_MGD2

Bung Multi Game Doctor 2 / MGD2 1756KB

*.xml

CASIOFZ1_HD_1M25

Casio FZ1 3"5 HD Floppy Disk

*.xml

ROBOX_RC9400

Coat-A-Matic 9400 / Robox RC9400

*.xml

COMX35_SS_70KB

COMX35 SS 70KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

COMX35_DS_140KB

COMX35 DS 140KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

COMX35_SS_140KB

COMX35 SS 140KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

DEC_RX55

Dec RX55 Floppy Disk

*.xml

Didaktik_Spectrum_DD_720KB

Didaktik Spectrum DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

DOS_DD_720KB

Standard 3"5 DOS DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

DOS_HD_1M44

Standard 3"5 DOS HD Floppy Disk

*.xml

DOS_ED_2M88

Standard 3"5 DOS ED Floppy Disk

*.xml

DOS_EXDD_2M5

Special 2.5MB DOS EXHD Floppy Disk

*.xml

DOS_EXHD_4M5

Special 4.5MB DOS EXHD Floppy Disk

*.xml

DOS_EXHD_6M78

Special 6.78MB DOS EXHD Floppy Disk

*.xml

DYNACORD_ADD_ONE

Dynacord Add-One Floppy Disk

*.xml

DYNACORD_HD

Dynacord HD 1.6MB Floppy Disk

*.xml

ENSONIQ_DD_800KB

Ensoniq EPS 3"5 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

ENSONIQ_HD_1600KB

Ensoniq EPS 3"5 HD Floppy Disk

*.xml

ENSONIQ_MIRAGE_440KB

Ensoniq Mirage 3"5 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

EXCELLON_CNC6

Excellon CNC6 Floppy Disk

*.xml

EMAX_DD_800KB

Emax 3"5 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

EMAX_II_DD_800KB

Emax II 3"5 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

FLEX_SSDD_80T_358KB

FLEX SSDD 80 Tracks 358KB

*.xml

FLEX_DSDD_80T_716KB

FLEX DSDD 80 Tracks 716KB

*.xml

FLEX_DSDD_80T_716KB_PADDED

FLEX DSDD 80 Tracks 716KB (cylinder 0 padded image)

*.xml

FLEX_DSDD_40T_356KB

FLEX DSDD 40 Tracks 356KB

*.xml

FLEX_DSDD_40T_356KB_PADDED

FLEX DSDD 40 Tracks 356KB (cylinder 0 padded image)

*.xml

GENERALMUSIC_GEM_S3_1600KB

GeneralMusic Gem S3 HD Floppy Disk

*.xml

GENERALMUSIC_GEM_WX_EXPANDER

GeneralMusic Gem WX Expander HD Floppy Disk

*.xml

GRAVOGRAPH_ISIS_640KB

Gravograph ISIS 3"5 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

KORGDSS1_DD_800KB

KORG DSS1 3"5 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

KORGT3_HD_1M6

KORG T3 3"5 HD Floppy Disk

*.xml

LIF_3_50_264KB

Logical Interchange Format (LIF) 3"1/2 264KB (single side)

*.xml

LIF_3_50_616KB

Logical Interchange Format (LIF) 3"1/2 616KB (double side)

*.xml

LIF_3_5O_1232KB

Logical Interchange Format (LIF) 3"1/2 1232KB (HD)

*.xml

LIF_5_25_264KB

Logical Interchange Format (LIF) 5"1/4 264KB

*.xml

LINNFORAT9K_720KB

Linn/Forat 9000 Floppy Disk

*.xml

MEMOTECH_80T

Memotech Floppy Disk (80 tracks)

*.xml

MEMOTECH_40T

Memotech Floppy Disk (40 tracks)

*.xml

Microtan 65 TANDOS Floppy Disk

Microtan 65 TANDOS Floppy Disk

*.xml

BALZERS_250KB

Oerlikon Balzers 250KB SD Disks

*.xml

OPUS_DISCOVERY

Spectrum Opus Discovery

*.xml

OS9_640KB

OS9 640KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

OS9_1280KB

OS9 1280KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

ORIC_JASMIN_357KB

Oric Jasmin 357K Floppy Disk

*.xml

PUMA_ROBOT_DD_640KB

PUMA Robot arm 560C DD 640KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

QD_TRIUMPH_ADLER

Olivetti TOP 100 / Triumph-Adler typewriter Quickdisk raw image

*.xml

ROLAND_DD_W30_S330_W50_S50_S550

Roland W30/S330/JW-50/W50/S50/S550 DD Floppy Disk

*.xml

SORD_M68_HD_998KB

SORD M68 HD 998KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

TATUNG_EINSTEIN_DD_200KB

Tatung Einstein DD 200KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

TATUNG_EINSTEIN_DD_400KB

Tatung Einstein DD 400KB Floppy Disk

*.xml

TIMEX_FDD3000_80T2S

Timex FDD3000 Floppy Disk (80 Tracks, 2 Sides)

*.xml

TIMEX_FDD3000_40T1S

Timex FDD3000 Floppy Disk (40 Tracks, 1 Side)

*.xml

TRS80_JV1

Standard 3" Amstrad CPC Floppy Disk

*.xml

UKNC MFM 800KB Disk Layout

UKNC MFM 800KB Disk Layout

*.xml

Unitel Videotex Floppy Disk

Unitel Videotex Floppy Disk

*.xml

Note
Beside to these tables, you can also define your own floppy disk format in the HxC Floppy Emulator software and in the HxC firmware, so all existing disk formats should be supported !
Note
HFE images vs raw data images (IMG,DSK,IMA…)

HFE is a new MFM/FM or GCR encoded floppy file image format. The HFE format keeps intact all the informations present on the floppy disks tracks: sectors metadata and data, error detection codes (CRC) and so on. Unlike the older raw data images like IMG, this file format is designed to support most of the existing floppy formats and keep intact all the floppy format metadata. No more guessing or configuration needed to be able to read the images!

From a safety and data integrity point of view, the HFE keep intact and doesn’t bypass the original disk controller data integrity checking mechanisms to be able to check that the data loaded from the flash memory media (USB, SDCard…) is valid.

About the older raw data images IMG, please note that no emulator nor software is able to detect a corruption from a raw data image IMG file in a reliable way ! These images don’t have any data integrity protection mechanism, and there is no way to properly detect if a sector contains valid data or not. With these kinds of formats, the floppy emulator/software can only encode them on the fly and potentially send the corrupted sector(s) to the machine as "good data". The machine can’t detect the error(s) since error detection codes (CRC) are recalculated on the fly by the emulator and this generally leads to undefined behavior and may generate potential serious damage in sensitive applications.

For these reasons, we generally discourage the use of IMG formats without data integrity checking mechanism for industrials and medicals systems and we recommend to use the HFE format or something similar instead.

And even for music and video games applications, it is unfortunately easy to find corrupted images, stated as "good" today, due to, for example, a past flash issue, a copy/write issue to the sdcard/usb stick and so on…

Last modified: 14 August 2024


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