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.

Amiga Explorer is available as a stand-alone package, or as part of Amiga Forever Plus Edition, where it can be installed from the CD.

Main Features

• Copy data to and from the Amiga, and move, rename, delete, format and examine properties of Amiga files, directories and volumes, through the familiar Windows Desktop and Explorer interfaces
• Write and read ADF (floppy disk image) files with a simple drag-and-drop (e.g. download an ADF file from the internet to the PC, then drop it over the Amiga floppy disk icon with Amiga Explorer to write the Amiga disk)
• Access and copy virtual HDF (hard disk images, or hardfiles) and ROM image files from the Amiga to the PC, very useful for archiving and emulation purposes
• View Amiga-specific file attributes, view geometry information for disk partitions, and format disks on the Amiga
• Run the Windows and the Amiga side on the same computer to access the content of ADF and HDF files (requires installation of the Amiga side in an Amiga emulation environment)

Requirements

• The PC and the Amiga must be connected with a null-modem serial cable, or with a Bluetooth serial adapter, or over TCP/IP
• Once installed on the Windows side, Amiga Explorer can self-install to the Amiga over the serial cable without requiring any additional software, but the Amiga must be able to boot first (e.g. with a Workbench disk, at least version 1.2)
• If a null-modem serial cable is used, the cable must conform to official specifications
• If TCP/IP is used, the Amiga side must have a bsdsocket.library-compatible TCP/IP stack (e.g. AmiTCP/IP, Miami, GENESiS, UAE)
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Compatibility

• The Amiga side, including the self-installation part (which can install to RAM, floppy disk, or to an optional hard disk), works with all Amiga computers (Workbench 1.2 or higher), and is compatible with AmigaOS 4.0 and MorphOS
• The Windows side (x86) works on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista
• A special "x64" setup file is available for use on 64-bit (x64) versions of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista

Competitive Advantages

• Compared to Samba, NFS and other complex networking solutions (with which Amiga Explorer can co-exist), Amiga Explorer is very simple to configure,  supports Amiga and emulation-specific features, works with older Amiga computers, and is often faster
• Unlike certain parallel-port based programs, Amiga Explorer is compatible with all versions of Windows (including Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista)

Limitations

• Amiga explorer can access files on any type and size of Amiga partition, however the creation of virtual hardfiles uses 32-bit logic (as in the original Workbench up to version 3.1) which limits the maximum size of HDF disk images that can be created
• Amiga Explorer does not include any Amiga emulation software (if you need both Amiga Explorer and an Amiga emulation and Workbench package you may want to consider Amiga Forever, which costs only a little bit more)
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Trial Version

Amiga Explorer is free to try, so you can make sure that your hardware and cabling work fine and that the software satisfies your needs before purchasing it. The unregistered version of Amiga Explorer never expires, but it cannot transfer files longer than 1 KB.

To install the evaluation software just download it from the link on this page and follow the setup instructions. If you like the software you can register it at any time, entering the license key in the Register tab of the Amiga Explorer properties (right-click the Amiga Explorer icon and select Properties).

Upgrades

The same version of Amiga Explorer that is downloadable from this page for evaluation purposes can also be used to upgrade a previous installation, in which case previous registration and configuration settings are preserved.

Amiga Explorer also includes the optional Software Director component, to allow you to easily check for news and updates.

PC-Amiga Connection Reference

A serial cable connection is a standard and inexpensive method to connect different types of computers and other communications devices. While it is not the fastest type of cabling for networking, it is probably the simplest to implement on the most different systems, and it allows for the initial installation of the Amiga side of Amiga Explorer without requiring additional software to transfer the files from the PC.

If you would like to use Amiga Explorer over a serial connection, the following articles include schematics to assemble the null-modem cable yourself, as well as part numbers and pricing information for standard cables, and for Bluetooth serial adapters:

• 3-105 - Null-Modem Serial Cables
• 3-193 - Bluetooth Serial Adapters

If you prefer to use Amiga Explorer over TCP/IP, which allows for very fast connections over Ethernet, the Amiga Explorer documentation includes a complete tutorial on the installation of Ethernet and TCP/IP in mixed Amiga/PC environments. If you already have a network you only need to enter the Amiga's host name or IP address in the Amiga Explorer settings on Windows. If there is a firewall or router anywhere between the two, make sure that port 356 is not blocked. Change the default connection password on both the Amiga and the Windows side as an additional safety precaution.

If you would like to your Ethernet-enabled Amiga to join a WiFi network (e.g. 802.11b or 802.11g) you can attach a "wireless game adapter" or similar device to the Amiga Ethernet port, and Amiga Explorer will work over that as well.