Overview

You may need to transfer files between a computer where the emulation is run and a real Amiga. There are several options to choose from, each with pros and cons. In either case, you ought to read the documentation for the programs that you use for the transfer.

Serial Cable

If you are using a null modem cable, you will need a terminal program on your Windows machine and your Amiga. 68000 equipped Amigas are only able to reach approximately 3000cps through the null modem cable. This speed is achieved with the standard serial.device or the new baudbandit.device There are some tools available which can speed up the connection speed up to 5500cps. For more help on how to set up a serial transfer see ADF Sender Terminal FAQ and WarTrans. The Aminet is a great source for such tools such as TwinExpress and AmiTrans.

All you need is the following:

  • Terminal software for Amiga and PC, preferably ones than can do Binary Transfers using common protocols such as Kermit and X/Y/ZModem. Amiga term programs include NComm, JRComm, and Term. PC term programs include Terminal and Terminus.
  • A commonly used program called Twin Express can be used instead or PC2Ami or AmigaTrans or Amiga Explorer from Cloanto.
  • A serial cable with 9pin end for PC and 25 pin end for Amiga. It has to be a null-modem cable which means that lines 2 and 3 have to cross over to receive/transmit between peers and line 7 for control signals. See RS232 cable information for a null modem cable specification.

Then, do the following:

  • Connect the computers with serial lead and load up the software on each end.
  • Start binary receive on one end using one of the protocols common to both programs.
  • Start binary transmit on the other and load the file to be transmitted, it should then transfer to the other end in seconds/minutes depending on size.
  • Further details of networking can be found at Amiga Emulation FAQ

Floppy Disks

If you have an Amiga with OS 2.0 or later, you may use CrossDOS. It is a part of the AmigaOS and enables you to read and write DOS formatted floppies on your Amiga. MessyDOS or MSH is a freeware program with the same functionality. It can be found on Aminet. If you do not have a high density floppy drive in your Amiga, you will have to use 720kB formatted disks. Compress the disk image with - for example - LHA and copy the compressed file on the floppy. Copy the file to your Windows machine and decompress it.

Compact Flash Card

If your PC or Mac has a Compact Flash reader installed and have a real Amiga, you can install EasyADF which includes a CF card reader which allows you to easily create, read and transfer ADF or other files between the Amiga and your Mac or PC to run on your Emulator.

Direct Copy

If you have a PC with 2 floppy drives then you can use Disk2FDI which will allow you to read an Amiga disk in A: and read and transfer the contents to the B: drive. The FDI files can then be directly read with WinUAE.

Network

If your Amiga has a network card, this is probably the fastest and most convenient way of exchanging data with the rest of the world. You may use Cloanto's Amiga Explorer program to set up a PC to Amiga link and use a friendly front end program to transfer programs to and from your PC and your Amiga.
You can also use AmigaToPC, which is a professional network software setup, and can be found at our links page in the tools section.

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