FM Towns:Creating Game Backups

CDs

• MPF software along with a compatible plexor drive is the recommended method to make backups.
  MPF will output BIN/CUE, CloneCD SUB/IMG/CUE/CCD, and MDS/MDF formats.
• Other formats such as CloneCD, MDS/MDF and CDI format are also acceptable with any CD drive.

Floppy Disks

DO NOT PUT A FLOPPY DISK WITH WRITE PROTECT DISABLED INTO A WINDOWS PC FLOPPY DRIVE. IT WILL WRITE A FILE SECTOR TO THE DISK EVEN IF YOU DONT TOUCH THE FILES.

There are 3 recommended methods to use for backing up FM Towns floppy disks. You will need a floppy drive, a floppy cable, a way to power the floppy drive and a flux dumper.
Known flux dumpers are listed below and have already been tested.

• Pauline - The archival grade flux dumper that is open source on the software and hardware level.
  Requires a DE10-Nano and an add-on card that is hard to find for sale and also difficult to assemble.
  The best method for archiving but has a large learning curve. Works very well.
• Greaseweazle - An open source software and hardware flux dumper that is generally readily available. Cheapest flux dumper.
  Models are available to buy on ebay and the Greaseweazle Facebook group. For FM Towns and other Japanese computers works very well.
• Kyroflux - A closed source flux dumper between the pricepoint of a greaseweazle and Pauline. Works very well.

Strongly advised to open the floppy shutter and inspect and wipe the disk before putting it into a drive.

Recommended FDD Models to Use

• TEAC 235-HG
• Samsung SFD-312B
• NEC FD1231T
• Some Mitsumi drives. More research required