
Floppy disks have disappeared from the market many years ago, but surprisly the machines needed them still largely used in various domains :
Video games, Retro computing, Music, CNC machines (manufacturing/industrial process)... An alternative to the floppy disks is needed for these machines to solve the availabilty and reliabity issues brought by this old support.
I personnally started this project in 2006 to revive my Atari ST and Amiga machines and to make them easier to use in the incoming world without floppy disks and floppy drives.
The project have grown with the various support requests received during all these years. It now supports hundreds of machines and floppy formats. See the showroom to have a preview of the currently supported machines.
The HxC Floppy Emulator project main idea is to completely replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device.
This electronic device emulate the floppy disk drive behavior and functionnalities.
The HxC Floppy emulators are designed to be very versatile and to support a large variety of computers / keyboards / samplers / CNC machines at a reasonable price.
The HxC Floppy Emulators support most existing floppy formats.
Today the HxC Floppy Emulator is a well established floppy disk drive replacement solution present into the retro-computing, Music and industrial domains. With several tens of thousands of units installed, the HxC Floppy Emulator is now a de facto reference !
Visit the showroom pages
to see HxC emulators usages examples :
The HxC project currently offers different floppy emulators and software solutions :
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- A SD Card version emulating floppy disks from files images stored on a SD Card. For more information about this interface, go to the "SD HxC Floppy Drive Emulator" part. |
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- A USB version which allows to connect the machine floppy disk drive interface to a PC with a USB cable. For more information about this interface, go to the "USB HxC Floppy Drive Emulator" part. |
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- An advanced firmware for the Gotek floppy emulators. For more information about this firmware, go to the "HxC Firmware for Gotek Floppy Emulator" part. |
In the early 2000s, Hollywood rarely offered leading roles to South Asian actors without relying heavily on ethnic stereotypes. Rai aggressively challenged this systemic barrier.
Aishwarya's return to the big screen with Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: I and II is perhaps her most significant recent move. Playing the complex and manipulative antagonist Nandini, she received critical acclaim, proving her longevity and acting maturity.
Aishwarya Rai was born on November 2, 1975, in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. She began her career as a model and won the Miss India International title in 1994. She went on to represent India at the Miss World pageant, where she was crowned the winner in 1994.
Ultimately, Aishwarya Rai’s career move into diverse entertainment sectors—from regional Tamil cinema to high-budget Hollywood and global brand ambassadorship—has created a blueprint. She proved that an Indian entertainer could be a global household name without losing their cultural identity.
: Her annual appearances on the Cannes Red Carpet turned into a massive media event, dictating global fashion trends for over two decades.
Aishwarya’s entry into cinema wasn't through a traditional Bollywood musical, but rather a critically acclaimed Tamil political drama, Iruvar . Under the direction of auteur Mani Ratnam, she proved she was serious about acting. This bold move—starting in regional cinema with a complex role—set the tone for her career. 2. The Commercial Breakthroughs
From Bollywood to Cannes: How Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Redefined Global Entertainment and Popular Media
No analysis of Aishwarya Rai’s media presence is complete without addressing the Bachchan family — a dynasty that is itself a . Her marriage to Abhishek Bachchan, her role as daughter-in-law to Amitabh Bachchan, and her fiercely guarded daughter Aaradhya have all been woven into the fabric of popular media. Paparazzi culture in India exploded during the 2010s, and Rai became the reluctant queen of the airport photo — often blurry, always elegant.
Aishwarya Rai made her Bollywood debut in 1996 with the film "Iruvar," directed by Mani Ratnam. However, it was her role in the 1999 film "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!" that brought her widespread recognition and acclaim. She has since appeared in numerous successful films, including:
She became the first Indian actress to serve on the prestigious Cannes jury, shifting her status from a visual icon to an industry decision-maker.
Aishwarya Rai’s impact on entertainment content extends far beyond celluoid. She transformed how Indian celebrities interact with global consumer brands and international media outlets.
To ask how Aishwarya Rai moves entertainment content and popular media is to ask how the tide moves the ocean. She is a force of nature that requires no propulsion. From the dusty projectors of single-screen cinemas in Lucknow to the 4K HDR streams in Los Angeles, her face remains the most stable currency in the volatile market of show business.
Some of Aishwarya Rai's notable films include:
Rai did not confine herself to glamorous roles. She sought out complex, female-centric narratives in independent and regional cinema. In Rituparno Ghosh’s Bengali films Chokher Bali (2003) and Raincoat (2004), she stripped away her glamorous persona to play nuanced, grief-stricken, and intellectually complex characters. These choices altered editorial content in film journalism, forcing critics to evaluate her artistic merit over her physical appearance. 3. The Global Crossover and Western Media Representation
Aishwarya Rai's entry into cinema followed her widely publicized win as Miss World in 1994. She first appeared on screen with a dual role in the Tamil political drama Iruvar (1997) before making her Bollywood debut with the romance Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya the same year. Her breakthrough came in 1998 with the Tamil film Jeans , which was submitted as India's official entry to the Academy Awards, establishing her as a bankable lead.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a renowned Indian actress, model, and former Miss World winner. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of the most successful and popular actresses in Indian cinema. In recent years, Aishwarya has expanded her horizons, venturing into various forms of entertainment content and popular media. This guide will explore her journey and notable projects in this space.
In the early 2000s, Hollywood rarely offered leading roles to South Asian actors without relying heavily on ethnic stereotypes. Rai aggressively challenged this systemic barrier.
Aishwarya's return to the big screen with Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: I and II is perhaps her most significant recent move. Playing the complex and manipulative antagonist Nandini, she received critical acclaim, proving her longevity and acting maturity.
Aishwarya Rai was born on November 2, 1975, in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. She began her career as a model and won the Miss India International title in 1994. She went on to represent India at the Miss World pageant, where she was crowned the winner in 1994.
Ultimately, Aishwarya Rai’s career move into diverse entertainment sectors—from regional Tamil cinema to high-budget Hollywood and global brand ambassadorship—has created a blueprint. She proved that an Indian entertainer could be a global household name without losing their cultural identity.
: Her annual appearances on the Cannes Red Carpet turned into a massive media event, dictating global fashion trends for over two decades. aishwarya rai xxx move
Aishwarya’s entry into cinema wasn't through a traditional Bollywood musical, but rather a critically acclaimed Tamil political drama, Iruvar . Under the direction of auteur Mani Ratnam, she proved she was serious about acting. This bold move—starting in regional cinema with a complex role—set the tone for her career. 2. The Commercial Breakthroughs
From Bollywood to Cannes: How Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Redefined Global Entertainment and Popular Media
No analysis of Aishwarya Rai’s media presence is complete without addressing the Bachchan family — a dynasty that is itself a . Her marriage to Abhishek Bachchan, her role as daughter-in-law to Amitabh Bachchan, and her fiercely guarded daughter Aaradhya have all been woven into the fabric of popular media. Paparazzi culture in India exploded during the 2010s, and Rai became the reluctant queen of the airport photo — often blurry, always elegant.
Aishwarya Rai made her Bollywood debut in 1996 with the film "Iruvar," directed by Mani Ratnam. However, it was her role in the 1999 film "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!" that brought her widespread recognition and acclaim. She has since appeared in numerous successful films, including: In the early 2000s, Hollywood rarely offered leading
She became the first Indian actress to serve on the prestigious Cannes jury, shifting her status from a visual icon to an industry decision-maker.
Aishwarya Rai’s impact on entertainment content extends far beyond celluoid. She transformed how Indian celebrities interact with global consumer brands and international media outlets.
To ask how Aishwarya Rai moves entertainment content and popular media is to ask how the tide moves the ocean. She is a force of nature that requires no propulsion. From the dusty projectors of single-screen cinemas in Lucknow to the 4K HDR streams in Los Angeles, her face remains the most stable currency in the volatile market of show business.
Some of Aishwarya Rai's notable films include: Playing the complex and manipulative antagonist Nandini, she
Rai did not confine herself to glamorous roles. She sought out complex, female-centric narratives in independent and regional cinema. In Rituparno Ghosh’s Bengali films Chokher Bali (2003) and Raincoat (2004), she stripped away her glamorous persona to play nuanced, grief-stricken, and intellectually complex characters. These choices altered editorial content in film journalism, forcing critics to evaluate her artistic merit over her physical appearance. 3. The Global Crossover and Western Media Representation
Aishwarya Rai's entry into cinema followed her widely publicized win as Miss World in 1994. She first appeared on screen with a dual role in the Tamil political drama Iruvar (1997) before making her Bollywood debut with the romance Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya the same year. Her breakthrough came in 1998 with the Tamil film Jeans , which was submitted as India's official entry to the Academy Awards, establishing her as a bankable lead.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a renowned Indian actress, model, and former Miss World winner. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of the most successful and popular actresses in Indian cinema. In recent years, Aishwarya has expanded her horizons, venturing into various forms of entertainment content and popular media. This guide will explore her journey and notable projects in this space.
- Read only Floppy emulator (SD,DD,HD & ED mode)
( No Write Support ! Have a look to the SD Card version for the write support!)
- USB 1.1 device interface (based on the FTDI FT245.).
- MFM, FM and GCR compatible (can handle custom encoding).
- Bitrate between 63Kbits/s and 1MBits/s.(250 differents bitrates by step of 62.5ns).
- Variable bitrate, flakey bits and long tracks, custom tracks support (emulation of copy protected floppies).
- Can emulate floppies up to 128 tracks.
- "jumper free" design : Device configuration done by software.
- Flexible floppy interface: Shugart, IBM PC and Amiga compatible.
To see the list of computer tested with it, please go to this List
All necessary informations to build your own USB HxC Floppy Emulator are available here.
The main part of the USB HxC Floppy Emulator is a MAX EPM7128S CPLD from Altera with 128 Macrocell.
This chip is connected to a 32KB SRAM memory buffer and a FT245 from FTDI for the USB communication.
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Warning : Do not disconnect the floppy ribbon while the USB is connected ! This may damage the emulator and your equipements. Always disconnect the USB cable before connect/disconnect the floppy ribbon. |
The bitstream to use to program the CPLD is available here.
To program this chip you can use Quartus II and an Altera compatible JTAG probe (The ByteBlaster for example).
The CPLD programming software can be downloaded from the Altera/Intel website.
Note : The EPM7128S CPLD can also be remplaced with the Atmel ATF1508AS.
the CPLD pinout assignation :

There are four LEDs on the board:
D1 : Power LED.
D2 : Select LED : Is on when the target computer acccess the floppy disk.
D3 : Step LED : Is on when the target computer is stepping/changing track.
D4 : Link LED : This is the USB link status: Is on when dialoging the host PC.
The VHDL sources are available here : VHDL USB HxC Floppy Emulator sources
There are two differents USB HxC Floppy Emulator PCBs :
- An "homebrew" version (Rev B). This is a one layer "Do It Yourself" PCB.
- A "Production" version (Rev C). This is a two layers PCB. I recommend this version since it have a better layout.
Regarding the features of the board there are no differences between these two boards.
You can downlead the Schematic / PCB Layout / BOM of the revision B & C board here !
If you don't want build it, this board is also available to purchase. Have a look to the sale points section.
This software act as the floppy server with the USB HxC Floppy Emulator.
This program also allows you to convert floppy file images for the SD Card based HxC Floppy Emulator.
Supports many input floppy image file formats: List of the supported floppy image formats.
Notes:
- Supported operating systems :
-> Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / Seven / 10.
-> Mac OS X.
-> Linux.
- The USB HxC Floppy Emulator support is based on the FTDI D2XX Direct Drivers.
If you have the USB HxC Floppy Emulator you must install this driver.
The lastest software sources codes can be donwloaded on the GitHub project page :
HxCFloppyEmulator Github page
Note : Please go to the download section to get the latest software version.
Here you can find the up-to-date softwares, firmwares and documentations :
Last update : February 10, 2025![]()
Devices list :


> SD HxCFloppyEmulator firmware upgrade v1.8.7.1 (please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> SD HxCFloppyEmulator beta firmware upgrade (Beta version!)
> Slim SD HxCFloppyEmulator firmware upgrade v2.1.2.40 (please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> Slim SD HxCFloppyEmulator beta firmware (Beta version!)
> HxCFloppyEmulator software v2.16.10.2
(please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> HxCFloppyEmulator software beta/SNAPSHOT version (updated regularly)![]()
> HxC Floppy Emulator DOS Disk Browser : A new DOS image type browser solution Please have a look to the README file for more details !
> Online / in-browser HxCFloppyEmulator software (experimental)![]()
> VFD - Virtual Floppy Drive for Windows with DOS/FAT HFE files images support !
> ADF Opus - An Amiga floppy image browser with HFE files images support !
> Arburg COPYLOG Diskstation Emulator : A software solution to completely replace the Arburg COPYLOG Diskstation ! (Video demo !)
> HxC Floppy Emulator Manager/File selector (for Atari ST,Amstrad CPC and Amiga)
> HxCMount: https://hxcmount.atomas.com/
> Quick Install Disk Images : Some prepared SD Card images
> Softwares and Libraries sources can be found on GitHub:

> General specifications : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator
> General specifications : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator (Japanese)
> User Manual : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator User Manual (English)
> Manuel utilisateur : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator User Manual (French) (Français)
> User Manual (Slim version) : Slim SD HxC Floppy Emulator User Manual (English)
> Software Step by Step guide : HxC Floppy Emulator Software User Manual (English)
> HFE File format specifications : HxC Floppy Emulator HFE file format
> HXCSDFE.CFG config file specification : SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator HXCSDFE.CFG file
> SD HxC Floppy Emulator mounting kit documentation.
HxC Firmware for Gotek documentation and main page.
The following elements allow you to program the low cost Gotek USB Floppy Emulator with the HxC bootloader & Firmwares.
To purchase the firmware : Store !![]()
> USB HxCFloppyEmulator firmware upgrade v5.1.2.1a (HFE + HFEv3 + ADF + ST + IMG + (E)DSK file and many others format support) ![]()
Please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes ![]()
> Online bootloader programmer (Instructions inside the zip file)
> HxCFloppyEmulator software v2.16.10.2
(please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> HxCFloppyEmulator software beta/SNAPSHOT version (updated regularly)![]()
> HxC Floppy Emulator DOS Disk Browser : A new DOS image type browser solution Please have a look to the README file for more details !
> Online / in-browser HxCFloppyEmulator software (experimental)![]()
> VFD - Virtual Floppy Drive for Windows with DOS/FAT HFE files images support !
> ADF Opus - An Amiga floppy image browser with HFE files images support !
> Arburg COPYLOG Diskstation Emulator : A software solution to completely replace the Arburg COPYLOG Diskstation ! (Video demo !)
> HxC Floppy Emulator Manager/File selector (for Atari ST,Amstrad CPC and Amiga)
> HxCMount: https://hxcmount.atomas.com/
> Quick Install Disk Images : Some prepared SD Card images
> Softwares and Libraries sources can be found on GitHub:


> HxCFloppyEmulator software v2.16.10.2
(please have a look to the release notes for the latest changes)
> HxCFloppyEmulator software beta/SNAPSHOT version (updated regularly)![]()
> Online / in-browser HxCFloppyEmulator software (experimental)![]()
> Quick Install Disk Images : Some prepared SD Card images
> Softwares and Libraries sources can be found on GitHub:

> CPLD VHDL source code and bitstream
> Schematic & PCBs of the USB HxC Floppy Emulator
You can find into the following archives all the hardware informations to build / repair an HxC Floppy Emulator :
> USB HxC Floppy Emulator (2007) Hardware files (Schematic, PCB GERBER, BOM...)
> SD HxC Floppy Emulator Rev C (2010) Hardware files (Schematic, PCB GERBER, BOM...)
> Slim SD HxC Floppy Emulator Rev A (2012) Hardware files (Schematic, PCB GERBER, BOM...)
The USB HxC Floppy emulator and SD HxC Floppy Emulator are produced and sold by Lotharek.
Lotharek online shop:
https://lotharek.pl/

Click on the above picture to visit the software store and get the HxC Firmware for Gotek License ![]()
WinImage (shareware) : a Windows program to create/modify dos/fat12 files images.
https://www.winimage.com/
ImageDisk : A DOS software to read/write floppy disk.
http://dunfield.classiccmp.org/img/
OmniFlop : a Windows program to read almost any kind of non standard floppy disk.
http://www.shlock.co.uk
VFD - Virtual Floppy Drive : a Windows Floppy disk drive emulator : This software is able to mount an .IMG file as a floppy disk drive under windows.
http://vfd.sourceforge.net/
All pictures / videos of the project can be found on this page!
| Jean-François DEL NERO (Jeff) | Project Initiator - Main project developper/maintainer. |
| Gregory ESTRADE (Torlus) | Forum hosting, FAT32 support of the SD HxC Floppy Emulator. |
| Christophe ESC. (Giants) | Manufacturing of the First USB HxC Floppy Emulator batch. |
| Przemyslaw Krawczyk (Lotharek) | Manufacturing and selling facilities. |
| Arnaud STORQ (Norecess) | Amstrad CPC file selector optimization and support. |
| Gustavo E. A. P. A. Batista | TRS-80 JV3 support implementation. |
| David Barr | TRS-80 JV3 write support implementation. |
| Michael Gibs (gibs) | Some incredible promotionals videos ;-) |
| Kris VC (Esynthesist) | Providing a great help for the E-mu Emulator I & II support. (Technical informations and tests). |
| The Software Preservation Society Team | Providing the first E-mu Emulator I & II floppy disk dump and E-mu track format. |
| Joseph REDON (Namida) | NEC PC88 support tests. |
| Alex Mena | x68000 support tests. |
| Petari | Atari ST ST/MSA/STT support tests. |
| Jan Kiefer | E-mu Emulator II tests. |
| Rosefloyd (One MPC Two DJ'S) | E-mu SP1200 tests and some demos videos. |
And thanks to all others project contributors !: Bugs reports, new ideas submiters, code contributors, spreading the word about the project !
| HxC Floppy Emulator project | Legal Mentions | (C)2006-2026 HxC2001 / Jean-François DEL NERO |