Re: Apple II 3.5" Controller and SuperDrive problems...

[shack@onyx.southwind.net (Randy Shackelford)]

mkelsey@spam.eecs.wsu.edu wrote:

: I solved this problem, finally.  Out of random luck, the first 2 1.44M and
: singular 800K disks I tried failed a format, despite the fact I could read
: *every* single block from the disks before and after a failed format.

: I tried two more 1.44MB disks and they formmatted beautifully.  Apparently
: SuperDrives are quite finicky about formmatting older (used) disks!

That depends on the condition of the drive in question I'd say. An ultra
high mileage drive clogged with dust and the like won't fare as well as
a brand new service part for instance. I have such a drive in my Quadra
and it formats disks great; I use it for all my disk formatting, which
mainly consists of converting DOS disks into HFS disks.

: Format a DD disk 720K with a PC.  Copy the first 64 blocks from an 800K
: ProDOS formmatted disk onto the 720K disk using your Apple II.  I used
: ProBlock for this purpose.  Next, "delete" the disk using Copy II+ and
: behold as exactly 1440 blocks are free for ProDOS use!

On an MFM disk which can't be read on a II without a superdrive card. I
think you oughtta try using a cleaning disk in your drive if it won't
format disks properly. That'll save you from going through such a senseless
rigmarole as this in all likelihood.

: I'm not certain what possibilities this holds, but it looks like with
: careful programming, one might be able to read and write PC 1.44MB and
: 720K disks for file transfers...

Not quite as easy as using HFS for sure, since that FST can write whereas
the DOS FST is read only.
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