Mounting disk images for Mini vMac

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2011, July 10 - 1:49am

jack cambrian

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Joined: 2009 Aug 23

Mounting disk images for Mini vMac

Hey guys, I set this emulator up a couple of years ago on a laptop which has since died and I've just set it up on my new desktop: a 2006 Mac Mini 1,1. It's working fine, I'm having a lot of problems working out how to mount software on disk images and in particular, exactly how ImportFL works. If I recall, when I last set up Mini vMac, I had to also set up Basilisk and use a program on that to make disk images for the vMac. It was really fiddly and time consuming. Now the Mini vMac page suggest using ImportFL and ExportFL which I don't think I 'get' how to use.

Any clarification or tips out there?

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2011, July 10 - 5:02am

MikeTomTom

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Joined: 2009 Dec 7

Hi Jack. I've never (needed to) use ImportFL or ExportFL in Mini vMac so can't advise on this software. To date I only need to drag an image file onto an active Mini vMac window for it to mount as a disk - or choose File and Open Disk Image from Mini vMac's menu to do the same. I find Mini vMac is happy enough loading .dsk, .img, .hfv, & .image file types as is this way.

A couple of links that may be useful, disk images in Mini vMac and this page for ImportFL, particularly the chapter beginning "warning:".

2011, July 10 - 7:25am

jack cambrian

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Joined: 2009 Aug 23

But how do I get the disk images in the first place? This site, for example, allows you to download the original software, but you have to mount it to a disk image somehow to get Mini vMac to recognise it. I've gotten a couple of games and apps that were already mounted to a disk image and they work fine. What's the easiest way to get the software onto a disk image?

I'm having basically the same problem as this guy: http://macintoshgarden.org/forum/help-new-mac-user-cannot-use-mini-vmac

2011, July 10 - 8:09am

IIGS_User

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Joined: 2009 Apr 8

This is why I prefer to upload "Disk imaged" stuff, instead of particular floating files.

2011, July 10 - 8:47am

jack cambrian

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Joined: 2009 Aug 23

Yes, I agree IIGS. Although coincidentally, the last couple of games I downloaded were mounted on an image already (Creepy Castles, Enchanted Sceptres). That said, I think I've solved my problem. I've installed FuseHFS and I am now able to directly copy software onto .dmg files and then rename them .dsk and drag them onto Mini vMac.

That said, Dark Castle doesn't seem to be showing up no matter what I do. (But I did get Sid Meier's Pirates! mounted on a disk image and up and running, so I should be occupied for a while...)

2011, July 10 - 4:45pm

IIGS_User

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Joined: 2009 Apr 8

I think I should also install FuseHFS.

The file extension should not matter, as I mount .img images (created on Mac OS 9 at its time) and .dmg images just fine. But, if created on Mac OS X, probably they'll need to be formatted in Mini vMac first, before using as transport medium between emulator and host mac.

2011, July 10 - 11:34pm

bicostp

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Joined: 2009 Aug 17

ImportFl and ExportFl are for getting files into and out of the emulated environment, not for mounting disk images. To mount images with Mini vMac, just drag them onto its window at any time ImportFl and Exportfl are not running.

If all you need are small disk images (up to 25 MB), download the Blanks archive off the Mini vMac site. Unzip the images you want and drag them onto Mini vMac.
http://minivmac.sourceforge.net/extras/blanks.html

For making disk images of arbitrary size, I like to use this utility:
http://www.mynikko.com/dummy/

Just punch in a size and tell it where to save the file. (Say, for example, C:\machd.dsk) Boot up Mini vMac using a disk image with a working OS, then drag your new disk image onto its window. The emulated Mac will complain that the disk needs to be initialized, but that's okay because there is no file system in the image yet. Let it initialize and the disk image is ready to use!

Bear in mind that Mac emulator images take up their entire amount of space on your real hard drive no matter how much stuff you have in them. (A 500 meg disk image will take up 500 megs of space, even if it's completely empty.) So don't go too crazy if you plan on working off a USB thumb drive.