Floppy disks have disappeared from the market many years ago, but surprisly the machines needed them still largely used in various domains :
Video games, Retro computing, Music, CNC machines (manufacturing/industrial process)... An alternative to the floppy disks is needed for these machines to solve the availabilty and reliabity issues brought by this old support.
I personnally started this project in 2006 to revive my Atari ST and Amiga machines and to make them easier to use in the incoming world without floppy disks and floppy drives.
The project have grown with the various support requests received during all these years. It now supports hundreds of machines and floppy formats. See the showroom to have a preview of the currently supported machines.
The HxC Floppy Emulator project main idea is to completely replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device.
This electronic device emulate the floppy disk drive behavior and functionnalities.
The HxC Floppy emulators are designed to be very versatile and to support a large variety of computers / keyboards / samplers / CNC machines at a reasonable price.
The HxC Floppy Emulators support most existing floppy formats.
Today the HxC Floppy Emulator is a well established floppy disk drive replacement solution present into the retro-computing, Music and industrial domains. With several tens of thousands of units installed, the HxC Floppy Emulator is now a de facto reference !
Visit the showroom pages
to see HxC emulators usages examples :
The HxC project currently offers different floppy emulators and software solutions :
In the table below, you can find a preview list of supported machines and floppy file images.
For a more complete list, please visit the HxC Floppy Emulators compatibility table.
Note : Some computers/hardwares are probably missing in these lists.
If you have successfully tested the HxC Floppy Emulator with another hardware or if you want a new file/hardware support, don't hesitate to contact us.
Note : Since the above table is becoming too long, the full compatibility table has now its own page :
HxC Floppy Emulators supported machines / compatibility table.
To download the software please go to the software section.
HFE is a new MFM/FM or GCR encoded floppy file image format. The HFE format keeps intact all the informations present on the floppy disks tracks: sectors metadata and data, error detection codes (CRC) and so on. Unlike the older raw data images like IMG, this file format is designed to support most of the existing floppy formats and keep intact all the floppy format metadata. No more guessing or configuration needed to be able to read the images!
From a safety and data integrity point of view, the HFE keep intact and doesn't bypass the original disk controller data integrity checking mechanisms to be able to check that the data loaded from the flash memory media (USB, SDCard...) is valid.
About the older raw data images IMG, please note that no emulator nor software is able to detect a corruption from a raw data image IMG file in a reliable way ! These images don't have any data integrity protection mechanism, and there is no way to properly detect if a sector contains valid data or not. With these kinds of formats, the floppy emulator/software can only encode them on the fly and potentially send the corrupted sector(s) to the machine as "good data". The machine can't detect the error(s) since error detection codes (CRC) are recalculated on the fly by the emulator and this generally leads to undefined behavior and may generate potential serious damage in sensitive applications.
For these reasons, we generally discourage the use of IMG formats without data integrity checking mechanism for industrials and medicals systems and we recommend to use the HFE format or something similar instead.
And even for music and video games applications, it is unfortunately easy to find corrupted images, stated as "good" today, due to, for example, a past flash issue, a copy/write issue to the sdcard/usb stick and so on...
Slim SD HxC Floppy Emulator click here for pictures and videos click here for pictures and videos
The SD HxC Floppy Emulator can be bought on the Lotharek online shop page.
You can find details about these floppy emulators in this pdf :
SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator Product Brief
Rev C/F user manual: SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator User Manual
Slim Rev A user manual: Slim SD HxC Floppy Emulator User Manual
Hardware/software specifications
- 40Mhz PIC18F4620 based. (Rev B, C & 3"1/2 rev F)
- 64Mhz PIC18F46K22 based. (3"1/2 Slim version)
Floppy interface: HE10 34 pins floppy connector
- Shugart compatible mode supported.
- PC compatible mode supported.
- Two floppy disk drives emulation. (Two floppy disk drive emulator in one !)
Power supply
- 5V +/- 10% standard power floppy connector input.
- 500mA max. (80mA in standby).
- Two floppy disk drives emulation. (Two floppy disk drive emulator in one !)
User Interface
- 3 LEDs ("Power LED","Floppy access LED"," SD Card access LED ").
- 3 buttons ("Next","Select/Eject","Previous").
- 1 audio transducer.
- 2*16 chars Alphanumerical LCD.
(Note : LCD and buttons can be put on an external front panel)
- File selector software for Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and Amiga Computers
SD Card support
- SD Card up to 2GB.
- SDHC Card supported up to 32GB.
SD Card Filesystem
- FAT12/FAT16 & FAT32 supported. Subdirectory and long name file supported.
- Multi-Volumes/Images support:
-> More than 8000 HD (1.44MB) Floppy Images on a 32GB SD Card !
-> More than 16000 DD (720KB) Floppy Images on a 32GB SD Card !
Read / Write support
- Track mode based floppy emulator. (Full track pre-encoded in the HFE image file)
- Read support : Most of existing formats supported. (FM/MFM/GCR/Amiga/E-mu track...)
- Custom tracks supported.
- Write support : ISO MFM/DD 128/256/512/1024/2048/4096/8192Bytes sector write supported.
- Write support : ISO FM /SD 128/256/512/1024/2048/4096Bytes sector write supported.
- Any data mark supported : 0xFB, 0xF8, 0xF9, 0xFA
- Amiga Write support.
- E-mu (Emulator I / II / SP1200) Write support.
- Low level format support :
The host machine can format the image with the right disk setup exactly as with a real floppy disk ! No need to already have an image with the right format, just make it by formatting it !
Supported Floppy bitrate
- 125/150/250Kbits/s (FM/SD floppies)
- 250/300Kbits/s (MFM/DD floppies)
- 500Kbits/s (HD floppies)
- (others special bitrates support available)
(Note : Variable bitrate not supported by this hardware. Protected floppy disk image (IPF and STX file format) support is only partial !
If you are looking for a device supporting IPF / STX please a have a look to the USB HxC Floppy Emulator device)
RPM
- 300 RPM, 360 RPM supported.
- (others special RPM available/supported).
Tracks / Side
- Up to 255 tracks per floppy.
- 1 or 2 sides.
Additionnal features
- Firmware update via the SD Card.
- Last Loaded Floppy Image autostart at power up.
- Fast floppy image loading (<<1second), no conversion time.
- Floppy Emulator ready at power up! Boot sequence possible right after the power up !
- SD Card Direct Access mode : Direct Floppy to SD Card bridging.
- Host control : The host machine can send commands to the emulator to change the current selected image.
- File image renaming embedded function.
- Supersized DOS Floppy emulation! : Up to 5 MB free per floppy image file !
- Data integrity/safety of the original system respected ! :
The original CRC/checksum fields are present into the HFE images. No direct usage of not secured IMG/IMA/”ISO” images or direct flash media bridging without CRC in floppy emulation mode !
Please visit our showroom pages
to see some HxC emulators usages :
SD HxC Floppy Emulator Mechanical drawing (Rev B/C):
Firmware :
Please go to the download section to get the latest version.
Host control/File selector tool (Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Amiga) :
With the HxC File selector the host computer can directly access to the SD Card to select files images and change the SD Card HxC Floppy Emulator settings.
The LCD screen and the buttons are then becoming optional / useless. You can even remove the LCD screen to put the SD HxC Floppy Emulator inside the Amiga/Atari/CPC computer without case modification.
Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and Amiga versions of this tool are currently available.
Note : Please go to the download section to get the latest version.
Videos-demo of the HxC File Selector :
- Read only Floppy emulator (SD,DD,HD & ED mode)
( No Write Support ! Have a look to the SD Card version for the write support!)
- USB 1.1 device interface (based on the FTDI FT245.).
- MFM, FM and GCR compatible (can handle custom encoding).
- Bitrate between 63Kbits/s and 1MBits/s.(250 differents bitrates by step of 62.5ns).
- Variable bitrate, flakey bits and long tracks, custom tracks support (emulation of copy protected floppies).
- Can emulate floppies up to 128 tracks.
- "jumper free" design : Device configuration done by software.
- Flexible floppy interface: Shugart, IBM PC and Amiga compatible.
To see the list of computer tested with it, please go to this List
All necessary informations to build your own USB HxC Floppy Emulator are available here.
The main part of the USB HxC Floppy Emulator is a MAX EPM7128S CPLD from Altera with 128 Macrocell.
This chip is connected to a 32KB SRAM memory buffer and a FT245 from FTDI for the USB communication.
Warning : Do not disconnect the floppy ribbon while the USB is connected ! This may damage the emulator and your equipements.
Always disconnect the USB cable before connect/disconnect the floppy ribbon.
The bitstream to use to program the CPLD is available here.
To program this chip you can use Quartus II and an Altera compatible JTAG probe (The ByteBlaster for example).
The CPLD programming software can be downloaded from the Altera/Intel website.
Note : The EPM7128S CPLD can also be remplaced with the Atmel ATF1508AS.
the CPLD pinout assignation :
There are four LEDs on the board:
D1 : Power LED.
D2 : Select LED : Is on when the target computer acccess the floppy disk.
D3 : Step LED : Is on when the target computer is stepping/changing track.
D4 : Link LED : This is the USB link status: Is on when dialoging the host PC.
The VHDL sources are available here : VHDL USB HxC Floppy Emulator sources
There are two differents USB HxC Floppy Emulator PCBs :
- An "homebrew" version (Rev B). This is a one layer "Do It Yourself" PCB.
- A "Production" version (Rev C). This is a two layers PCB. I recommend this version since it have a better layout.
Regarding the features of the board there are no differences between these two boards.
You can downlead the Schematic / PCB Layout / BOM of the revision B & C board here !
If you don't want build it, this board is also available to purchase. Have a look to the sale points section.
This software act as the floppy server with the USB HxC Floppy Emulator.
This program also allows you to convert floppy file images for the SD Card based HxC Floppy Emulator.
Supports many input floppy image file formats: List of the supported floppy image formats.
Notes:
- Supported operating systems :
-> Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / Seven / 10.
-> Mac OS X.
-> Linux.
- The USB HxC Floppy Emulator support is based on the FTDI D2XX Direct Drivers.
If you have the USB HxC Floppy Emulator you must install this driver.
The lastest software sources codes can be donwloaded on the GitHub project page :
HxCFloppyEmulator Github page
Note : Please go to the download section to get the latest software version.
Here you can find the up-to-date softwares, firmwares and documentations :
Last update : February 10, 2025New!
Devices list :
[画像:SD Card HxC Floppy Emulator][画像:Slim SD HxC]
> SD HxCFloppyEmulator firmware upgrade v1.8.7.1 (please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> SD HxCFloppyEmulator beta firmware upgrade (Beta version!)
> Slim SD HxCFloppyEmulator firmware upgrade v2.1.2.40 (please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> Slim SD HxCFloppyEmulator beta firmware (Beta version!)
> HxCFloppyEmulator software v2.16.10.2 New! (please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> HxCFloppyEmulator software beta/SNAPSHOT version (updated regularly)New!
> HxC Floppy Emulator DOS Disk Browser : A new DOS image type browser solution Please have a look to the README file for more details !
> Online / in-browser HxCFloppyEmulator software (experimental)New!
> VFD - Virtual Floppy Drive for Windows with DOS/FAT HFE files images support !
> ADF Opus - An Amiga floppy image browser with HFE files images support !
> Arburg COPYLOG Diskstation Emulator : A software solution to completely replace the Arburg COPYLOG Diskstation ! (Video demo !)
> HxC Floppy Emulator Manager/File selector (for Atari ST,Amstrad CPC and Amiga)
> HxCMount: https://hxcmount.atomas.com/
> Quick Install Disk Images : Some prepared SD Card images
> Softwares and Libraries sources can be found on GitHub:
> General specifications : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator
> General specifications : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator (Japanese)
> User Manual : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator User Manual (English)
> Manuel utilisateur : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator User Manual (French) (Français)
> User Manual (Slim version) : Slim SD HxC Floppy Emulator User Manual (English)
> Software Step by Step guide : HxC Floppy Emulator Software User Manual (English)
> HFE File format specifications : HxC Floppy Emulator HFE file format
> HXCSDFE.CFG config file specification : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator HXCSDFE.CFG file
> SD HxC Floppy Emulator mounting kit documentation.
USB Stick STM32 HxC Floppy Emulator (aka HxC Firmware for Gotek !)
idocico.gifHxC Firmware for Gotek documentation and main page.
The following elements allow you to program the low cost Gotek USB Floppy Emulator with the HxC bootloader & Firmwares.
To purchase the firmware : Store !Buy!
> USB HxCFloppyEmulator firmware upgrade v5.1.2.1a (HFE + HFEv3 + ADF + ST + IMG + (E)DSK file and many others format support) New!
Please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes New!
> Online bootloader programmer (Instructions inside the zip file)
idocico.gifHxC Firmware for Gotek Usage guide / documentation.
> HxCFloppyEmulator software v2.16.10.2 New! (please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> HxCFloppyEmulator software beta/SNAPSHOT version (updated regularly)New!
> HxC Floppy Emulator DOS Disk Browser : A new DOS image type browser solution Please have a look to the README file for more details !
> Online / in-browser HxCFloppyEmulator software (experimental)New!
> VFD - Virtual Floppy Drive for Windows with DOS/FAT HFE files images support !
> ADF Opus - An Amiga floppy image browser with HFE files images support !
> Arburg COPYLOG Diskstation Emulator : A software solution to completely replace the Arburg COPYLOG Diskstation ! (Video demo !)
> HxC Floppy Emulator Manager/File selector (for Atari ST,Amstrad CPC and Amiga)
> HxCMount: https://hxcmount.atomas.com/
> Quick Install Disk Images : Some prepared SD Card images
> Softwares and Libraries sources can be found on GitHub:
> HxCFloppyEmulator software v2.16.10.2 New! (please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> HxCFloppyEmulator software beta/SNAPSHOT version (updated regularly)New!
> Online / in-browser HxCFloppyEmulator software (experimental)New!
> Quick Install Disk Images : Some prepared SD Card images
> Softwares and Libraries sources can be found on GitHub:
> CPLD VHDL source code and bitstream
> Schematic & PCBs of the USB HxC Floppy Emulator
You can find into the following archives all the hardware informations to build / repair an HxC Floppy Emulator :
> USB HxC Floppy Emulator (2007) Hardware files (Schematic, PCB GERBER, BOM...)
> SD HxC Floppy Emulator Rev C (2010) Hardware files (Schematic, PCB GERBER, BOM...)
> Slim SD HxC Floppy Emulator Rev A (2012) Hardware files (Schematic, PCB GERBER, BOM...)
The USB HxC Floppy emulator and SD HxC Floppy Emulator are produced and sold by Lotharek.
Lotharek online shop:
https://lotharek.pl/
WinImage (shareware) : a Windows program to create/modify dos/fat12 files images.
https://www.winimage.com/
ImageDisk : A DOS software to read/write floppy disk.
http://dunfield.classiccmp.org/img/
OmniFlop : a Windows program to read almost any kind of non standard floppy disk.
http://www.shlock.co.uk
VFD - Virtual Floppy Drive : a Windows Floppy disk drive emulator : This software is able to mount an .IMG file as a floppy disk drive under windows.
http://vfd.sourceforge.net/
All pictures / videos of the project can be found on this page!
Click here for pictures and videos of the project
And thanks to all others project contributors !: Bugs reports, new ideas submiters, code contributors, spreading the word about the project !
