Software for DSK dump

I don't even know where to start with the Carnivore2. The instructions just make my head swim. Looks like I need to set aside about a full week to have any hopes of getting through all of those steps. I don't even think I was able to accomplish the first step last time. I really think I should have just bought the MegaFlashROM instead.

I need to step away from this for a bit. I can only work on something for so long getting nowhere before I get frustrated.

We've already gone through every computer here at the office looking for ones with good floppy drives. Finally got one and tried Disk Manager in windows but it hits a bad sector on the Ultima IV disc which I'm told is a result of copy-protection. (I'm trying to copy Ultima IV first before I put in the rare Ultima III)

I was recommended using a program in DOS called Imagedisk and we managed to get a computer booted into DOS and loaded up that program but didn't have any luck with it either.

I thought that the Sony MSX floppy drives had something special which allows them to bypass copy-protection? That's what was said earlier in the thread. If I was to replace the drive with a standard PC drive, isn't it possible that it won't do what I need?

Which instructions were you following?
Does your C2 have the firmware already flashed in? (It was flashed in my case, I got one of the Maxiol batch.)
If it is, like it was in mine, it is really very easy. It works out of the box. You just need to put in a CF-card, call _FDISK in MSX-BASIC and format the CF-card. Then you can put the necessary Nextor files on it and all is done to run stuff.

As I explained in the other thread, it's not the Sony MSX floppy drives, but the WD2793 Floppy Drive Controller which is able to do low level read operations. This is done by programs like DMK Creator and it will therewith allow you do make a low level floppy dump, including copy protection. Most MSX machines (except Panasonic) use a WD2793 compatible FDC, but some have the FDC registers mapped differently into memory. You need an MSX which has it mapped in a way supported by DMK Creator, and Sony machines have that.
So, when you replace the Sony disk drive (which is probably very easy, see the other thread), you should really be able to read the disk

Which version number is that DMK.COM by the way? And are there any special requirements around RAM, MSX generation, MSX-DOS version, or FD controller type? Should it work for copying from a diskette in a Sony drive to a file on a FAT16 micro SD card when using Nextor? My Sony drive's controller is detected as Western Digital, does that seem correct?

Also my diskette preservation will apparently have to wait, my Sony drive now says it is "offline" from BASIC no matter what disk is in it, and this despite trying to spin the drive. I was in the process of trying to copy a known-good floppy (with no protection) just to ensure the software worked but the process hung after a small part was read and now the drive won't work. Does anyone know how it detects offline? I hope maybe it's just dust on a sensor or something, but I am very ignorant about this hardware and software and how they are supposed to work together

Another Sony drive stopped working partway through the stack of disks. Is there anything strange this program is doing, or anything I should do to repair or prolong the life of the old drives? Does anyone know what parts fail to make a drive say "offline" even though the motor spins?