Amiga Explorer

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WinUAE Amiga emulator

WinUAE is the best Amiga emulator we have seen so far, for playing Amiga games on a Windows PC.

  • Amiga Forever includes Windows-only content, such as the one-click launcher, the Amiga Explorer networking software, and Software Director for easy and privacy conscious emulation news and updates. All content runs on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and equivalent Windows Server editions. Both x86 and x64 versions are supported.
  • As the name suggests, Amiga Explorer is a tool designed to help you access Amiga systems from your Windows computer. Consequentially, you can run the Amiga and Windows on the same PC and copy.
  • As the name suggests, Amiga Explorer is a tool designed to help you access Amiga systems from your Windows computer. Consequentially, you can run the Amiga and Windows on the same PC and copy.
  • Amiga Explorer The Amiga Explorer networking software makes it possible to access the resources of an Amiga computer from one or more Windows systems. Configuration is extremely simple and by default requires only a few mouse clicks on the Windows side.
  • Latest version 4.4.0 (1 July 2020)
  • Works on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista and XP (32/64 bits)
  • Emulates Amiga 500(+)/600/1000/1200/2000/3000/4000, depends on the used ROM file
  • Supports .adf, .adz, .dms, .fdi, ipf disk image files, .rom files
  • Comments: WinUAE is a complete emulator. It requires some configuration, but you'll be served with a great Amiga experience.
  • Project websitehttp://www.winuae.net

Amiga Kickstart ROM

The Amiga PCB Explorer is a browser application that was designed to assist people in various aspects of Amiga mainboard repairs.

To get your emulated Amiga running, you will need a so called Kickstart ROM. This is a file with the .rom extension. The Kickstart ROM provides basic operating system functionality. There are several versions of the ROM available, but we will use V1.3 for the Amiga 500/1000/2000. These ROMs are copyrighted, so you won't find them on this website. However, there are three ways to get the Kickstart ROM(s):

  1. Copy them from your Amiga, instructions here
  2. Buy the Amiga Forever package from Cloanto
  3. Search google for 'download kickstart rom amiga'

Install and configure WinUAE

Install WinUAE

  • Download the WinUAE zip package or the installer
  • Zip package: copy the contents of the WinUAE zip file to an empty folder of choice, for example d:WinUAE
  • Installer: open the installer and install WinUAE to an empty folder of choice, for example d:WinUAE, default location is c:Program Files (x86)WinUAE

Install the Kickstart ROM(s)

  • Create a folder called 'Roms' in your WinUAE folder, in this example you'll end up with d:WinUAERoms
  • Download the Amiga Rom files from a location indicated above
  • Copy them to the Roms folder, in this example you'll end up with d:WinUAERoms*.rom
  • In this example we'll use the Kickstart v1.3 rev 34.5 rom for the Amiga 500/1000/2000

Start WinUAE and configure WinUAE, including controls

  • Start WinUAE by double clicking the winuae.exe file in the d:WinUAE folder
  • Click on Paths in the Settings menu to check if the System ROMs folder is correct, in this example d:WinUAERoms.
  • Click on Floppy disks in the Hardware menu to check if Floppy drive 0 is enabled
  • Click on Game ports in the Host menu and set port 1 to Windows mouse and port 2 to a keyboard layout that you find most convenient

Play Amiga games with WinUAE on Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7

So, what to do to play Amiga games such as International Karate Plus (IK+) with WinUAE?

  • Create a folder called 'Games' in your WinUAE folder, in this example d:WinUAEGames
  • Download an Amiga game disk, like International Karate Plus (IK+)
  • Copy the downloaded zip file to the Games folder, in this example d:WinUAEGamesIK+.zip. You don't need to extract it, as long as the zip file contains 1 bootable disk image
  • If the downloaded zip file contains more than 1 image, copy the contents of the zip file to your WinUAE games folder, in this example d:WinUAEGames
  • Start WinUAE if it's not already started
  • Click on Quickstart in the Settings menu
  • In the Emulated Hardware box, choose Model A500 and most common configuration
  • In the Emulated Drives box, click on the Select image file button, select the IK+.zip file in the d:WinUAEGames folder and choose Open
  • Click on the Start button in the right bottom corner to start the game, please note that loading takes some time
  • To start a new game when playing one, press F12
  • Click on Quickstart in the Settings menu
  • In the Emulated Drives box, click on the Select image file button, select the IK+.zip file in the d:WinUAEGames folder and choose Open
  • Click on the Reset button in the left bottom corner to reset your emulated Amiga and load the game

Playing games with multiple disk files

Some Amiga games came on more than one floppy disk, like Defender of the Crown or Shadow of the Beast. When you download these games, they'll consist of several files (1 file for each disk). So what to do with those?

  • Start the game as described above (start with attaching disk 1 to floppy drive 0 (DF0))
  • When the game asks for another disk, press F12 to enter the configuration window
  • Click on Quickstart if this is not already selected
  • At the Emulated drives part, click on the Select image file button
  • Select the appropriate disk file, click on Open and after that on Ok
  • When the emulator doesn't start loading automatically, follow the instructions presented by the game (usually it says to press the fire button, which by default is the 5 on the numeric keypad of your keyboard)

Amiga Workbench

To get the ultimate Amiga feeling, you might want to search for the Workbench disks. This is the desktop/file manager of the Amiga. However, as you already know, you do not need the Workbench to play Amiga games! This guide also does not explain how to use the Workbench. Then again; if you would like to use the Workbench, you probably already know how to use it. Workbench disk images can be found here or here. The images can be started the same way as games. To be able to install (parts of) the Workbench or other software, you'll also need to setup a virtual harddisk (Settings - Hardware - CD & Hard drives).

Lets say you don’t have a GoTek drive or Compact Flash card, how on Earth do you transfer data between your Amiga and a PC?

In the days before the GoTek there was another go-to tool for transferring data between an Amiga and PC: Amiga Explorer by Cloanto. Using this application it was possible to transfer not only data between the systems but also create Amiga Disk Format (ADF) images from Amiga floppies, apply ADF images to Amiga floppies, and even copy the Amiga Kickstart ROM.

In this article I’ll run you through how to install and use Amiga Explorer with a standard Amiga 500 (512MB of RAM) connected to a Windows 10 PC using a null-modem cable over the serial ports of each system.

Section 1: Installing Amiga Explorer on Windows

1. Download the Amiga Explorer installation file from the Cloanto website (https://www.amigaforever.com/ae/).

NOTE: Amiga Explorer is Shareware and Cloanto provides it at no cost. If you wish to help support them it’s recommended that you purchase it, or purchase an Amiga Forever Plus or Premium Edition which include the Amiga Explorer application.

2. Double-click on the Amiga Explorer installation file.

3. On the Amiga Explorer Setup Wizard window, click on the Next > button.

4. Accept the license agreement by choosing the “I accept the terms in the license agreement” option and click on the Next > button.

5. Fill in the customer information and license key (if you have one) and click on the Next > button.

6. Choose whether you wish to perform a Complete or Custom installation. For this example a Complete installation will be performed. Then click on the Next > button.

Amiga explorer

7. Choose the destination folder to install the Amiga Explorer application and then click on the Next > button.

8. Finally the installation is ready to start. Click on the Install button.

9. The installation will then start. You may be prompted by Windows UAC to allow the installation to start.

10. Once the installation is completed, click on the Finish button and this will close the Setup Wizard.

On the Windows desktop will be an Amiga Explorer icon.

Section 2: Serial Null-Modem Cable

A serial null-modem cable is required to connect the Amiga to the PC. If you choose to purchase a null-modem cable it’s critically important that the cable is wired for “full handshaking”.

Alternatively you can choose to make your own cable. Cloanto has done a great job at documenting the pin-out of the serial null-modem cable on their website (https://www.amigaforever.com/kb/13-105) which is required to connect the Amiga to the PC. Below are the pin-outs for the serial null-modem cable shown on the Cloanto website.

DB-9 to DB25

DB-9 to DB-9

DB-25 to DB-25

For this document, a DB-9 (female) to DB-25 (female) cable was constructed.

NOTE: Many modern PC’s don’t have serial ports anymore. USB serial port adapters will work just fine. For this document, a Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port adapter, similar to the one shown below, was used.

Amiga Explorer Linux

Section 3: Installing Amiga Explorer on an Amiga over a Serial Port

1. Connect the serial ports of the Amiga and PC together using the null-modem cable.

WARNING! BE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTING THE SERIAL PORTS TOGETHER! ACCIDENTALLY CONNECTING TO A PARALLEL PORT MAY DAMAGE ONE OR BOTH COMPUTERS.

2. Open the Windows Device Manager to find out what COM# your PC’s serial port is.

In this example COM4 is the PC’s serial port.

3. Turn on the Amiga and boot Workbench. Workbench version 1.2 or higher is needed.

4. Once Workbench is up and running, right-click on the Amiga Explorer icon on your Windows PC and choose the Setup option from the pop-up menu.

5. Click on the OK button of the Amiga Explorer Setup dialog.

6. On the Workbench version confirmation dialog, click on Yes button if the Amiga is running Workbench 2.0 or higher, or click on the No button if the Amiga is running Workbench 1.2 or 1.3.

In this example the Amiga is running Workbench 1.3, so No was clicked.

7. The next window will describe the serial port preferences required for the Amiga.

On the Amiga, open the Serial Preferences application and ensure the settings are set to:

Baud Rate: 19200

Buffer Size: 4096

Read Bits: 8

Cloanto Amiga

Write Bits: 8

Stop Bits: 1

Parity: None

Handshaking: RTS/CTS

Once the Amiga Serial Preferences are set, on your Windows PC click on the OK button of the Amiga Explorer Setup dialog.

8. Follow the instructions described on the Amiga Explorer Setup dialog. On the Amiga, open a Shell and type the command “Type SER: to RAM:Setup” and press Enter.

Amiga explorer adf

9. Then on the Windows PC, click on the OK button of the Amiga Explorer Setup dialog and wait while the Setup program for Amiga Explorer is copied to the Amiga’s RAM: drive.

10. Once the copy is complete, as described in the Amiga Explorer Setup dialog, press Ctrl-C on the Amiga. Nothing will appear to happen, that is normal. Once you’re pressed Ctrl-C on the Amiga then click OK on the Amiga Explorer Setup dialog of the Windows PC. The word “**BREAK” should appear in the Amiga Shell.

11. As instructed, in the Amiga Shell type “RAM:Setup” and press Return.

Then click on the OK button of the Amiga Explorer Setup dialog on the Windows PC.

This will start copying the Amiga Explorer application to the RAM Disk of the Amiga.

Error

12. Once the copy of the Amiga Explorer application to the Amiga’s RAM Disk is complete, click OK on the Amiga Explorer Setup dialog on the Windows PC.

That’s it! The Amiga Explorer application is now located in the Amiga’s RAM DISK. Feel free to either leave it there if you’re only using it temporarily, or copy to a floppy if you need a more convenient way to start it in the future.

Section 4: Using Amiga Explorer over a Serial Port

1. To start or stop the Amiga Explorer application on the Amiga, open the RAM DISK (or wherever you’ve copied the Amiga Explorer application to) and double-click on the AEplorer icon.

When you launch the Amiga Explorer application on the Amiga, an AExplorer window will appear showing the connection information. This windows will appear for only a few seconds and then it will disappear.

To close the Amiga Explorer application on the Amiga, double-click on the AExplore icon again. When you close the Amiga Explorer Application on the Amiga another AExplore window will appear indicating that it’s stopped.

2. Once the Amiga Explorer application is running on the Amiga, launch the Amiga Explorer application on Windows.

3. Below is what the main Amiga Explorer window looks like.

The application is pretty intuitive, but here is a short list of some of the key functions you can use:

  • Navigate the RAM DISK, hard disks, and any floppies inserted into the drives by double clicking their symbol. The example to the right shows me navigating the Workbench 1.3.3 floppy.
  • Copy Amiga Disk Format (ADF) images to a floppy inserted in the Amiga’s drive by dragging and dropping the ADF file from your Windows PC to the Amiga floppy symbol.
  • In a similar but reverse fashion, create Amiga Disk Format (ADF) images for floppies that are inserted in the Amiga’s drives by dragging the ADF file symbol to somewhere on your Windows PC.
  • Format floppies that are inserted in the Amiga’s drives by right-clicking on disk symbol and selecting format from the pop-up menu. (NOTE: This function requires Workbench 2.0 or higher).
  • Copy the Kickstart ROM from your Amiga to your Windows PC by dragging the Kickstart ROM symbol to somewhere on your Windows PC.

Amiga Game Emulator

There are probably a bunch of other functions part of Amiga Explorer, but those will probably be the main ones most will use.

Amiga Explorer Game

I hope this article is helpful.