Re: Any way to run .DSK images -directly- on Apple // ?

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

jeremym wrote:
> Here's my scenario:
>
> My basement is overrun with Apple // floppies.
>
> I recently purchased and successfully tested the USB -> 5.25 adapter
> (FC2025) from deviceside.com.
>
> As suspected.. Some disks make great DSK files, others totally fail.
>
> Let's assume I get 60% made into .DSK files.
>
> Is it possible for me to chuck those .DSK files into the trash heap at
> that point?

Theoretically, a disk can be apparently copyable, yet the copy/capture
can fail to capture some critical parameter of the original disk that
the program will test--and fail to run.  This is particularly true of
disks that use "nibble counts" or "nibble signatures" to cause a casual
copy to fail, while apparently succeeding.

If you know that the disks you have successfully captured are free of
such copy protection, they you are pretty safe in assuming that you
have captured a usable copy.

In the cases where a copy protection *was* used, but not captured,
it is still possible to remove the copy protection from the captured
image, creating a newly "deprotected" image.  Unfortunately, this
process is not mechanical, but requires effort and creativity--so much
so that defeating a game's copy protection was much more fulfilling for
many users than playing the game!  ;-)

Most copy-protected disks will not be able to be successfully captured
using the FC5025 and its software, so these will be among the 40% that
didn't work.

> I want to:
>
> () Run these .DSK files on my real Apple 2.. without having to convert
> to REAL FLOPPY AGAIN
> and
> () Run these .DSK files (as images) on AppleWin on the PC.
>
> I have plenty of "Cardflash / HD" storage on the Apple 2.. so, any
> idea of there's a way to:
>
> () Transfer these .DSK files over to the Flashcard "as is"
> then
> () When on the Apple // have some 'booter program' that will let me
> pick a .DSK file and .. BOOT it ! :-)
>
> That's my goal.

I think you'll find that there are programs that do what you are
trying to accomplish.

The bigger issue (on the assumption that 40% of "overrun" is still
unacceptable) is how to deal with the remaining 40% of disks.

It is likely that a good fraction of these are copy-protected disks,
as noted above.  These disks must, in general, be deprotected to
run correctly.

The remainder of the failing disks may be either recoverable or
irrecoverable.  In my experience, the vast majority of "failing"
disks are recoverable unless they are manifestly physically damaged.

One thing to try immediately is cleaning your disk drive--some of
the disks you have attempted to capture may have deposited oxide and
other debris on the drive head, interfering with its ability to read
some disks.

The next thing to try is a different disk drive.  Subtle differences
in speed control and alignment may permit many "failing" disks to be
captured.

Yet another fairly easy fix that is applicable to quite a few older
diskettes is to relieve any "binding" between the media and the sleeve.
A gentle attempt to rotate the disk inside the sleeve will often reveal
considerable friction, usually due to the sleeve becoming flattened and
pressing against the disk.  This pressure can be relieved by holding the
diskette perpendicular to the edge of a desktop, and sliding the edges
of the sleeve across the edge while pressing gently but firmly, being
careful to avoid any cutouts or places where cutouts come close to the
edge.  This will gently deform the edges so that they hold the jacket
out very slightly away from the disk inside.  Re-reading the disk will
now often be successful.

Since the process of recovery is somewhat demanding and frequently
requires effort, you must decide how valuable the diskettes are to you,
or whether you'd like to make them available to others to recover.
Of course, since "40% of overrun" is still a large number (and a
lot of recovery effort), prioritization (either yours or other's)
will necessarily be involved...

-michael

NadaNet 3.0 for Apple II parallel computing!
Home page:  http://home.comcast.net/~mjmahon/

"The wastebasket is our most important design
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