Re: !-> Bad blocks: need advice

[handel@lars.acc.stolaf.edu (Peter F Handel)]

In article <1994Oct13.164530.1598@pro-freedom.van.wa.us> johns@pro-freedom.van.wa.us (John Sparkman) writes:
>In <1994Oct11.193346.74635@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
>skohns@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Steve) writes:
>
>>Hi-
>>(bad blocks & other probs -- hard drive)
>>Lately, I've been having some trouble with the HD.  Just about a week ago,
>>when I first bought the computer, I started noticing some problems.
>>The errors said that there were errors on on of my paritions, and "please
>> move data from this drive."  I'm familiar with how to solve drive problems
>> on a PC, but am admittedly lost here.
>>For background, I have an Apple //gs, System 6.0, boots to finder, and an AE
>>Vulcan 40MB harddrive.
>>What should I do at this point?  There don't seem to be errors on the other 
>>partitions.  Should I move the AE1 data (on the bad block partition) to one
>>of the others?  Will this create more problems?

["hint: 70 columns, not 79" -NM] :)

I also have a Vulcan 40MB, and have experienced this problem before.
It has occurred randomly, but I have _never_ had a bad block on my
Vulcan.  It just seems to appear about once a year.  After a reeboot,
everything works well.

><stuff deleted>
>
>Run Mr. Fixit on the vulcan drive and if you find "block in use, file
>skipped", you are destined to reformat.  

Don't reformat unless you have a perfect backup!  If you use 
ProSel 8's Mr. Fixit, _every_ file with a resource fork returns 
this error, because ProDOS 8 cannot handle resources.  NEVER 
use an 8-bit application to copy or sort "forked" files.  Get 
ProSel 16 Now!!! :)  It's the best program for the GS IMHO.  
It fixes justabout any problem.

If you get the "block in use, file skipped" error, copy it from
your HD onto a disk, then sort the files directory with Cat Doctor.  
Move the offending (copied) file to the end, and hit <openapple> 
<delete>. This is a little trick for getting rid of "Problem Files".
After you do this, rerun Mr. Fixit and release the "xx blocks marked
as used; free them?".  Then, recopy the offending file from the other
disk back onto your HD.  All should be back to normal! :)

>Also if you re-format the 40, make a
>32meg and an 8meg.  The 8meg will give you enough room to install GSOS and
>make it the boot partition, and leave you room for utils, etc.  Then the
>32meg will be your main file storage.  

Good idea!  If anything goes wrong on the boot volume, your data
will be safe.  Be sure to backup your HD.

To low-level format your Vulcan (if it has bad blocks), type 
"AE" in Part Manager.  It will ask you a few questions, then
lock out all the bad blocks.  ProSel's Mr. Fixit does this also.

I have everything on my Main 32MB partition and my Metal BBS 
software on the 8MB /AE2 drive.  

>I have a vulcan, and it has been a
>pain.  Paid way to much for it just to have an internal, and could have
>bought several scsi drives for what I paid for it.  Oh well, live and learn.

I also have a Vulcan 40MB, and am VERY pleased with it.  I was 
able to pick it up for $589 a few years ago, and imagine how 
those people feel who purchased a 5MB HD for >$1000 :)  I
am convinced that I have gotten my moneys worth.  Prices will
keep falling (just heard about a 2.1Gig drive for $799 and a
4.1Gig drive for $1399).

>John
>
>----
>johns@pro-freedom.van.wa.us   -==-   Pro-Freedom BBS - (206) 694-3276

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