{"id":61,"date":"2025-12-08T14:34:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T14:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.168.3.28\/?page_id=61"},"modified":"2026-06-14T21:29:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T21:29:47","slug":"smartdisk","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.r3tr0.net\/index.php\/smartdisk\/","title":{"rendered":"SmartDisk II"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"SmartDisk<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Apple II floppy emulator that even copy protection can\u2019t tell apart.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swap a shelf of aging 5.25\u2033 disks for a single SD card \u2014 without giving up an ounce of authenticity. SmartDisk II reproduces the exact timing and behaviour of a real DISK II and UNIDISK 3.5 drive, so your games load and run exactly as they did back in the day \u2014 protection schemes and all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Buy a prebuilt board<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Build it on GitHub<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Join the Discord<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SmartDisk II is an open-source hardware floppy-disk emulator for the Apple II. It plugs into your machine like a real drive, reads disk images straight from an SD card, and lets you browse and mount them from a built-in OLED menu \u2014 no PC, no cables, no fuss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the hood it\u2019s built on the STM32F411 (\u201cBlackPill\u201d) and emulates the disk hardware at the bit level. That\u2019s the difference between reading a disk image<\/em> and being a disk drive<\/em> \u2014 and it\u2019s why SmartDisk II runs the titles other emulators choke on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browse and boot \u2014 right from the Apple II<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With SmartLoader<\/strong>, you don\u2019t even need the SmartDisk II\u2019s own buttons for everyday loading. It puts a fast green-screen browser on the Apple II itself: SmartLoader reads the disk images on your SD card and lists them right on screen, so you can scroll through your whole collection and boot any title straight from the Apple II \u2014 highlight a disk, press [B]<\/strong> to boot, [R]<\/strong> to refresh the listing, or [S]<\/strong> for settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SmartLoader
SmartLoader browsing the SD card from the Apple II \u2014 pick a disk and boot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why SmartDisk II<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Bit-perfect accuracy.<\/strong> Timing is reproduced down to the microsecond, so the Apple II can\u2019t tell it apart from a mechanical drive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • It beats copy protection.<\/strong> Fake bits, weak bits, half-tracks, SpiraDisc and more \u2014 it passes every scheme we\u2019ve tested.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Your whole collection on one card.<\/strong> Thousands of disks on a single SD card, browsable on the on-board OLED.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Works across the Apple II line.<\/strong> From the II+ to the IIGS, Disk II and SmartPort \u2014 one device covers your fleet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Read and<\/em> write.<\/strong> Save your progress and modify disks, not just load them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Open source, or ready to run.<\/strong> Build it from published files, or order a prebuilt, flashed board and plug in today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Copy protection that actually works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Most emulators fall over the moment a disk uses copy protection. SmartDisk II doesn\u2019t. By reproducing the original drive\u2019s bit-level timing, it satisfies the protection checks that real software relied on \u2014 so your original protected images run untouched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Copy protection<\/th>Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Fat Track<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr>
    Weak Bit<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr>
    Cross-track synchronisation<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr>
    Half Track<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr>
    Data Latch<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr>
    Timing Bits<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr>
    E7<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr>
    Optimal Bit Timing (<4\u00b5s)<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr>
    Various Bit Counter<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr>
    SpiraDisc<\/td>\u2705 Passed<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Compatibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    Apple II model<\/th>Emulation<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    II+<\/td>Disk II<\/td><\/tr>
    II Europlus<\/td>Disk II<\/td><\/tr>
    IIe<\/td>Disk II<\/td><\/tr>
    IIc (ROM 4)<\/td>Disk II + SmartPort<\/td><\/tr>
    IIGS<\/td>Disk II + SmartPort<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    SmartPort emulation is also available on the IIc (ROM 4.x), IIGS, and on the II+\/IIe with a Liron or SoftSP6 card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Supported disk formats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    Format<\/th>Read<\/th>Write<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    WOZ 2.0<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u2705<\/td><\/tr>
    DSK<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u2705<\/td><\/tr>
    PO<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u2705<\/td><\/tr>
    2MG<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u2705<\/td><\/tr>
    WOZ 1.0<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr>
    NIC<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Features at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Three drives in one<\/strong> \u2014 DISK II 5.25\u2033, SmartPort HD, and UNIDISK 3.5 emulation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • On-board navigation<\/strong> \u2014 browse, mount and unmount images from the 0.96\u2033 OLED with four buttons<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Big images, no sweat<\/strong> \u2014 32 MB images and full Total Replay collections run smoothly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Modern software too<\/strong> \u2014 loads GS\/OS on the IIGS; runs titles like Arkanoid from 2MG<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • SmartLoader<\/strong> built in<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Actively developed<\/strong> \u2014 frequent firmware releases with the latest improvements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      See it in action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Total Replay & 32 MB images, running smoothly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n