Using an Amiga CDROM on another machine.


Q. Will I be able to use my CU Amiga CDROM on a PC?

A. Yes, sort of. You will be able to access data on it, and
this means you will be able to view any pictures or read any
text which is stored on it in plain or cross-platform
formats. A perfect example is HTML files: using a Web
browser such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer you
can read any HTML documents on the CU Amiga disk. This
includes reading the text, viewing the pictures and using
the links.

Q. Can I use the programs though?

A. No, you can't. Amiga programs run on Amigas, and won't
run on PC's or Apple Mac's.



Q. Can't I get an Amiga emulator for the PC and run the
programs that way? After all, I can emulate a PC and an
Apple Mac on my Amiga?

A. Well, yes, there is UAE. It's not very fast though, and
to be frank it's more an A500 emulator even on an P120.
Although technically impressive, it's not an ideal solution.
Is there a hardware based Amiga emulator? No, I don't think
so, and I don't think there will be either. At the moment
the best piece of hardware for running Amiga programs is an
Amiga.


Q. I don't have a CDROM drive on my Amiga, but I have one on
my PC at work. Will I be able to copy the files across?

A. In theory yes, as the same standard is used to record
data on PC and Amiga CDROMs. However, you may have some
problems, such as the fact that the Amiga can cope with long
filenames and the PC sometimes can't.

Windows95 (or NT) solves the first problem, as it can cope
at last cope with filenames other than those of the MSDOS
format. However, you still can't copy those directly to
floppy disk: floppies are still in MSDOS format. One way to
procede is to use an archiving utility such as PKZIP which
will pack up all the files on the PC, move the archive to
the Amiga and un-ZIP it. The result is that the filenames
are preserved.

Q. How can I move the files from the PC to the Amiga?

A. To move the file, you have two options: use a removable
disk which both systems can read, or link the two platforms
together. Using the Amiga's built in CrossDos device (PC0:)
it can read floppy disks formatted by the PC -- but only
double density, not high density (unless you have an A4000
or special floppy drive). It's also possible to make use of
Syquest or ZIP drives if you have the necessary hardware. 

The best way is to network the machines using Ethernet, but
this is overkill for file transfer, not to mention virtually
impossible on the A1200 (go on, prove me wrong -- please).
Send best way is to connect the PC and Amiga together using
a Null Modem cable, run a terminal program and use ZModem to
transfer files.

Q. How can I install files stored on the CDROM when I can't
read it directly?

Q.