Going Gotek - FlashFloppy How To
Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 4:05 pm
Please note this section is now locked. This has been done to keep it purely as a "how to" and not an open channel for all Gotek questions.
Since people are going to want to ask questions, a new section has been created for that express purpose here:
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 228#p40228
So if you can't find a post you may have made, please check in the new section, as all existing Gotek questions and chat from this section have been moved to the new section.
Thanks
R_J
Its come to my attention that people arrive at this post, read the first part and assume it only discusses using a TTL serial adapter for flashing a Gotek.
It doesn't, it covers the TTL serial adapter and USB A to A cable method of flashing with FlashFloppy, installation of an OLED display, and some basic instruction on how to use the software.
In order to help you find what you need, and get the most from this "how to" here is a basic index to get you to relevant parts:
1. Continue reading after this index for details of how to flash using a USB TTL serial adapter.
2. Follow this link if you want to flash using a USB A to A cable:
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 3940#p4036.
3. Follow this link for details of how to install an OLED display.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 3940#p4087
4. Follow this link for details of how to use the software:
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... t=10#p4174
Otherwise, if you want to read on and get the whole story of both methods, then carry on, and thanks for reading
Remember, all of the software tools are on this thread, so you don't need to go anywhere else to get everything you need.
Enjoy!
Having received a Gotek on Friday, I sat down this weekend to install FlashFloppy firmware and test on one of my STs.
Having done so successfully, what else would I need to do. Of course! I need to share my experience with you all
The model I bought is marked SFRC922C on the PCB, and according to the eBay listing was a 1.44Mb device. This shouldn't matter, since we are reflashing it anyway. I previously had a gotek that came with a donated STFM, which had the HxC firmware installed & is marked SFRC922.
I've done the process on both drives and everything works absolutely fine I'm pleased to say. Obviously, this is an 'At your own risk' post, because it is possible to brick your Gotek, so be sure you want to do this before pressing on.
You'll need the following items to do this little project:
1. A Gotek drive. Kinda obvious really!
2. A PL2303HX USB To RS232 TTL Auto Converter Adapter Module (search for this on eBay). There may be issues with Win10 drivers due to variances in these USB devices, if so, use the older 3.2 drivers I've attached. I wasted hours because of driver issues, hopefully you won't!
3. STM flashing software, which I've attached to this post.
4. FlashFloppy hex file, which you can download from here: https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy, and I've also attached to this post, but you shold always check for the latest version on GitHub.
First things first, disassemble your Gotek, there are 3 screws on the top, and remove the PCB and display assembly. This will give you a little more room for manouvere with the connections to the header for flashing.
Next, Install the flashing software, and make sure that it can be seen by the software. If the PL2303HX USB To RS232 TTL Auto Converter Adapter Module has an exclamation mark against it in Windows device manager, try the attached drivers, they worked for me.
Once you've disassembled, locate the header, which is right in front of the power plug on the Gotek. There is a row of 2 or 3 pins, with a row of 5 pins right behind it as in this photo:
You may find, as I did, that the headers aren't actually present on the board, just the holes in the PCB. If this is the case, you'll need to get some header strips and solder them in. It's a 5 minute job, so not really a problem.
You'll need to connect your PL2303HX USB To RS232 TTL Auto Converter Adapter Module as per the following diagram, making sure the flash enable pins are jumpered. You MUST connect the TX line of the PL2303HX to the RX line of the Gotek, and the TX line of the Gotek to the RX line of the PL2303HX, or it simply wont work.
Now we're ready to start the fun part
Start the flashing software:
Click next to move on to the check to see if the device is readable. If not, click the 'Remove Protection' button to fix this, and you'll move on to the next part. If you get a message from the software asking you to reset the device, briefly short the 2 pins at the end of the header block, marked in green on the diagram above. That should get things going.
Click next.
Click next. On this screen, click the 'Download to device' radio button, then click the square button with 3 dots to browse to your FlashFloppy hex file, and select it. Please note that the file browser doesn't default to hex files, so you'll need to select it from the file type browser.
The screen will change as below. Click next.
Flashing will commence, you'll see the next screen when it's done.
Your Gotek is now running FlashFloppy!!
The next thing to do is remove all of the programming cables from the Gotek, and make sure the jumpers are as follows:
Jumper S0 selects drive 0 for Ataris usage. You can see that the 'Flash Enable' jumper has been removed and installed on a single pin for storage.
Screw it all back together, and that's it, you're good to go. Personally I have Autoboot.HFE in the root of my USB stick, which allows you to select 000 on the Gotek display, and boot to the config program, and select what images are in which slot of the Gotek, so you can change image using the Gotek up/down buttons.
I've attached the Autoboot.HFE software too, you can also download here: http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emu ... anager.zip
For more documentation on using FlashFloppy without Autoboot.HFE, you'll need to see the FlashFloppy documentation.
I am getting anothe Gotek soon, and I'll do this process on it when it comes. I'll update when I've done that.
Incidentally, if you are struggling with the drive because it won't see your USB stick, try reformatting, and if it still fails, try a different USB stick. It could simply be an incompatibility with your device.
Good luck with your Goteks!!
Since people are going to want to ask questions, a new section has been created for that express purpose here:
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 228#p40228
So if you can't find a post you may have made, please check in the new section, as all existing Gotek questions and chat from this section have been moved to the new section.
Thanks
R_J
Its come to my attention that people arrive at this post, read the first part and assume it only discusses using a TTL serial adapter for flashing a Gotek.
It doesn't, it covers the TTL serial adapter and USB A to A cable method of flashing with FlashFloppy, installation of an OLED display, and some basic instruction on how to use the software.
In order to help you find what you need, and get the most from this "how to" here is a basic index to get you to relevant parts:
1. Continue reading after this index for details of how to flash using a USB TTL serial adapter.
2. Follow this link if you want to flash using a USB A to A cable:
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 3940#p4036.
3. Follow this link for details of how to install an OLED display.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 3940#p4087
4. Follow this link for details of how to use the software:
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... t=10#p4174
Otherwise, if you want to read on and get the whole story of both methods, then carry on, and thanks for reading
Remember, all of the software tools are on this thread, so you don't need to go anywhere else to get everything you need.
Enjoy!
Having received a Gotek on Friday, I sat down this weekend to install FlashFloppy firmware and test on one of my STs.
Having done so successfully, what else would I need to do. Of course! I need to share my experience with you all
The model I bought is marked SFRC922C on the PCB, and according to the eBay listing was a 1.44Mb device. This shouldn't matter, since we are reflashing it anyway. I previously had a gotek that came with a donated STFM, which had the HxC firmware installed & is marked SFRC922.
I've done the process on both drives and everything works absolutely fine I'm pleased to say. Obviously, this is an 'At your own risk' post, because it is possible to brick your Gotek, so be sure you want to do this before pressing on.
You'll need the following items to do this little project:
1. A Gotek drive. Kinda obvious really!
2. A PL2303HX USB To RS232 TTL Auto Converter Adapter Module (search for this on eBay). There may be issues with Win10 drivers due to variances in these USB devices, if so, use the older 3.2 drivers I've attached. I wasted hours because of driver issues, hopefully you won't!
3. STM flashing software, which I've attached to this post.
4. FlashFloppy hex file, which you can download from here: https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy, and I've also attached to this post, but you shold always check for the latest version on GitHub.
First things first, disassemble your Gotek, there are 3 screws on the top, and remove the PCB and display assembly. This will give you a little more room for manouvere with the connections to the header for flashing.
Next, Install the flashing software, and make sure that it can be seen by the software. If the PL2303HX USB To RS232 TTL Auto Converter Adapter Module has an exclamation mark against it in Windows device manager, try the attached drivers, they worked for me.
Once you've disassembled, locate the header, which is right in front of the power plug on the Gotek. There is a row of 2 or 3 pins, with a row of 5 pins right behind it as in this photo:
You may find, as I did, that the headers aren't actually present on the board, just the holes in the PCB. If this is the case, you'll need to get some header strips and solder them in. It's a 5 minute job, so not really a problem.
You'll need to connect your PL2303HX USB To RS232 TTL Auto Converter Adapter Module as per the following diagram, making sure the flash enable pins are jumpered. You MUST connect the TX line of the PL2303HX to the RX line of the Gotek, and the TX line of the Gotek to the RX line of the PL2303HX, or it simply wont work.
Now we're ready to start the fun part
Start the flashing software:
Click next to move on to the check to see if the device is readable. If not, click the 'Remove Protection' button to fix this, and you'll move on to the next part. If you get a message from the software asking you to reset the device, briefly short the 2 pins at the end of the header block, marked in green on the diagram above. That should get things going.
Click next.
Click next. On this screen, click the 'Download to device' radio button, then click the square button with 3 dots to browse to your FlashFloppy hex file, and select it. Please note that the file browser doesn't default to hex files, so you'll need to select it from the file type browser.
The screen will change as below. Click next.
Flashing will commence, you'll see the next screen when it's done.
Your Gotek is now running FlashFloppy!!
The next thing to do is remove all of the programming cables from the Gotek, and make sure the jumpers are as follows:
Jumper S0 selects drive 0 for Ataris usage. You can see that the 'Flash Enable' jumper has been removed and installed on a single pin for storage.
Screw it all back together, and that's it, you're good to go. Personally I have Autoboot.HFE in the root of my USB stick, which allows you to select 000 on the Gotek display, and boot to the config program, and select what images are in which slot of the Gotek, so you can change image using the Gotek up/down buttons.
I've attached the Autoboot.HFE software too, you can also download here: http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emu ... anager.zip
For more documentation on using FlashFloppy without Autoboot.HFE, you'll need to see the FlashFloppy documentation.
I am getting anothe Gotek soon, and I'll do this process on it when it comes. I'll update when I've done that.
Incidentally, if you are struggling with the drive because it won't see your USB stick, try reformatting, and if it still fails, try a different USB stick. It could simply be an incompatibility with your device.
Good luck with your Goteks!!