Pasti

Pasti Imaging Tool for ST Version 0.4 beta
Copyright c 2004, 2005 by Jorge Cwik

http://pasti.fxatari.com


Pasti ST is an imaging tool that produces disk file images of any ST disk, 
including non-standard, exotic formats and copy protections. It runs on any 
ST computer, with the only requirement of one double-sided drive.

Pasti ST needs a standard 8Mhz ST CPU. Any CPU accelerator or cache, if 
present, must be disabled. This includes the built-in one in the Mega STe. 
It doesn't run on TT or Falcon computers.

Pasti images can be used on ST emulators using Pasti.Dll. Pasti.Dll is 
currently supported by latest versions of Steem and Saint.

The built-in defaults are suitable for most cases, and only advanced users 
would want to override them. 

Please Write Protect your original disks. The imaging tool rejects source 
disks that are not write protected. But just in case and as a general rule, 
never ever write to an original disk. Keep them always write protected.

Pasti ST has two different modes of operation, transfer or file mode. 
Transfer mode works in cooperation with a Windows program. It will 
automatically transfer the file image to a PC. File mode leaves a file on 
an ST drive, normally a hard disk.


Transfer mode.

This is the mode that most users will want to use. This mode wholly 
automates the creation and transfer of the image to a PC. No hard disk or 
ram disk is needed at the ST; only a blank floppy is required. The transfer 
is performed in cooperation with a Windows program, PastiTools. A detailed 
description of Transfer Mode is included with PastiTools.


File mode.

This mode is usually for advanced users that have an ST hard disk. In file 
mode the whole image must fit on the destination drive. There is no swap of 
floppies or user intervention. The destination drive will normally be a 
hard disk. But a ram disk, if big enough, can be used instead.

After the file image is created, the user is on its own to transfer the 
image to a PC. This could be done with a null-modem cable, a special 
crossed parallel cable or with floppies.


Preservation

Pasti ST is an imaging tool. Standalone by itself it can't be considered a 
preservation tool. Preservation tools are provided separately, normally to 
preservation teams. The Pasti preservation tools are required to validate 
and verify the integrity of the image.

The separation between imaging and preservation is intentional, and it 
gives the user the maximum flexibility. Any disk can be imaged and used 
immediately. However, if you own an important collection or rare software 
you are encouraged to contact a Pasti preservation team. Contacts for Pasti 
preservation teams are provided in our web site.

Preservation teams mark, and optionally sign, the image. The standard Pasti 
tools inform the user if a Pasti image undergone a verification process by 
a preservation team or not.


Write back Images to physical disk

Pasti ST is read only software. It doesn't write back Pasti images to 
floppies. There are other Pasti tools for writing back images, but they 
require special hardware. The Discovery Cartridge for the ST and the 
Catweasel for the PC are currently supported. Write back on a plain PC or 
ST is not supported.


Beta warning

This is a beta version. All precautions associated with a preliminary 
release should be taken. It is possible that the file format will be 
changed, and beta images might be incompatible with the final (non-beta) 
Pasti release. A converter will be provided in that case.


What is a disk image?

A disk image is a file that contains all the data from a physical disk. 
Most emulators cannot access physical floppies directly. They use disk 
images instead. You can consider a disk image, if you want, as an archive 
of the floppy as you could do with archives/compressor as ARC, ZIP, etc. 
But the disk image contains more detailed data, and at a lower level, than 
a normal archive. Many ST games disks do not have files at all, they have 
just raw data on the disk's sectors.

A disk image also has all the advantages that any other file has. It can be 
easily stored on a hard disk, burned to CD, archived, compressed, sent over 
the Internet, etc. Additionally there are tools to convert from a physical 
disk to a disk image and vice versa.

For many years ST users used a couple of disk images formats. The more 
popular were ST and MSA ones. They are both very similar and describe the 
disk at the standard sector level. So these formats works fine for disks 
that have more data than just the disk's files.

Pasti introduces a new disk image format that describes the disk at an even 
lower level. This way exotic and copy-protected formats can be handled as 
well. 


Legal disclaimer.

Pasti Imaging Tools are Copyright c 2004, 2005 by Jorge Cwik.
All rights reserved.


THE SOFTWARE HERE DESCRIBED IS PROVIDED "AS IS". NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IS 
GIVEN OR IMPLIED.

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