Re: IIGS - Mac - ProDos

[sundown@nwrain.net]

On Feb 27, 12:24 am, "biel...@terra.es" <biel...@terra.es> wrote:
> On Feb 25, 2:14 am, sund...@nwrain.net wrote:
>
>
>
> > Thanks for the advice but I should have been more specific.  I am
> > trying to
> > access a CF card from a USB card reader.  The card has IIGS files
> > saved
> > on it and is formatted with ProDos.
>
> > I have read the CF card will mount if I have the files I mentioned
> > installed.
>
> > So even though your advice is good and will work as you say it doesn't
> > solve my problem.  I have heard if I have the files I mentioned then I
> > can mount the CF card using MAC OS 9 and below but not MAC OS X.
> > That will work for me but I need the files to do it.
>
> > thanks again,
> > -=>JB<=-
>
> After reading your post, yesterday, I did a few experiments. I had an
> empty CF to play with, and a G4 with OS9.2.2. There was no way to tell
> the OS that such a device was to be formatted in ProDos. I tried with
> the Finder, Disk Utility, Hard disk Toolkit, LaCie SilverLining,
> Formatter One Pro, etc. I tried it all with the CF card connected to
> the CD's ATA bus, via FW and via USB. I tried both PC exchange v2.2.1
> (Old version, from OS8.1), and with the "File Exchange" control panel
> that comes with OS9.2.2. I think that the OS refuses to format it as a
> Prodos disk because it is a 256 Mb (too big for ProDos) device.
> The standard OS9.2.2 installation deals with ProDos disks ok, though.
> If, for example, you create a disk image of *less than* 32 Mb, it will
> allow you to format it in ProDos, and to mount it as a read/write
> volume. Or if you insert a 3.5 diskette (my usb disk drive does not
> deal with 800/400k formats) you'll be able to create 720, 1440k Prodos
> formatted disks...
> The last thing I tried was to drop into the extensions folder the
> *much older* ProDos filesystem extension that comes as part of the
> Apple IIe LC card software package (*). I then restarted, and voila !
> The Finder asked me I wanted to create a... 256 Mb. ProDos volume !!
> Obviosly, not even a Mac can create a 256 ProDos volume, so in fact it
> didn't work, but, the point is, that maybe, if the card had been
> properly formatted in ProDos at this point, it would have been mounted
> on the destop by this Prodos File extension. Or not. Or hanged.
>
> OTOH, if the card is properly formatted in ProDos, why is it not being
> mounted on the desktop by a standard OS9.2.2 installation ?
>
> My best guesses are :
>
> 1.- The CF does not have recognizable filesystem that the MacOS can
> understand. It tries to match what is in the first blocks of the
> device to one of the filesystems that it understands. Usually a Mac
> style formatted disk or an MSDOS formatted disk. if the ProDos Volume
> started at the very first byte of the CF, (as happens with a CFFA
> formatted CF), there's a big chance that the MacOS recognized it. If
> not, there's no chance at all.
>
> 2.- Less likely, the problem can be that although the CF is formatted
> ok (ok in this case means that there's nothing in the CF before the
> ProDos volume), somehow the OS refuses to admit that a 256Mb device
> could be a ProDos volume. This is what the use of the older "ProDos
> file extension" seems to forget to check..
>
> Jorge.
>
> (*) The software is in <http://www.info.apple.com/support/
> oldersoftwarelist.html>

It sounds like you found a way to do what I wanted.  I have an old
LCIII with
the IIe card and software that I haven't used in years.  I guess I
will have to
dig it out and put a new battery in it so I can get the Prodos file
extension.
Were there any files I need that you know of besides the Prodos
extension?

By the way the CF card is 256MB and has 8 Prodos partitions on it.
They
were formatted on a IIGS while the card was installed in a MicroDrive.

Do you know where I can download the Prodos extension so I don't have
to
dig out my LCIII and get it running?

thanks for the help,
-=>JB<=-