Profile formatting

[Patrick Schaefer <pa.schaefer@fz-juelich.de>]

David Empson wrote:

> If this reports an I/O error, then there could be a cable problem, or
> the drive may need a low-level format, which requires an Apple III with
> ProFile controller, special hardware (a CPU/PROM replacement in the
> drive) and special software.

Does anybody exactly know what software and which replacement EPROM you
need? I have read many strange theories about formatting profiles but
nobody had a detailed description.

A few of the Profile Dealer Diagnostics disks should have survived and
someone may have an image file of the firmware eprom. This could be
uploaded to cabi.net. Perhaps a retired Apple technician is reading
this...
The eprom plugs into a Z8-HD piggyback, doesn't it? 

We thought about repairing Profiles by swapping the ST506 mechanism or
using the magnetic disks from a ST225 (class 100 cleanroom available,
dust is no problem). But this would require a complete low level
formatting, because all sync information has to be rewritten.

Patrick