Re: Backing up Math Blaster Plus

[Doug_M <doug.mccomber@fakepart.gmail.com>]

mdj wrote:
> Doug_M wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I've got an original copy of Math Blaster Plus on 3.5inch floppy.  I
>> want to make a backup of this disk so I have a working copy to use.
>> Locksmith (at least the copy I have) doesn't work with the 3.5inch drive
>> so I've been trying to make a copy with Copy }{ Plus (v9.1).
>>
>> There is no parameter entry in Copy }{ Plus for Math Blaster Plus so
>> I've tried the manual bit copy and manual sector copy with no luck.
>> Does anyone know what parameters to use?
> 
> Math Blaster plus was an 8-bit title wasn't it? I have a couple of
> suggestions:
> 
> 1. See if the title can be 'copied' with a standard copier. I realise
> it won't work, but it gives clues as to the protection method employed
> 
> 2. Hack it. The first track at least should be readable using Copy ][+.
> You can usually disassemble the code fairly easily and determine the
> nasty spot.
> 
> I say this because generally speaking, 8 bit titles on 3.5" disks
> didn't employ very sophisticated protection schemes as the
> controller/disk combo you were likely to get on an 8bit Apple II can
> vary quite a bit, therefore titles rely only on SmartPort calls to
> communicate with the device.
> 
> IIgs software on the other hand could pretty much assume that everybody
> had an Apple 3.5" drive connected to the disk port, and as a result
> could use all sorts of trickery just like 5.25" disks.
> 
> Sometime not long after the introduction of the IIgs Apple stopped
> distributing documentation for the 3.5" drive. Company policy at the
> time was the copy protection was bad news and everyone should use the
> standard Apple II operating systems. It didn't stop programmers from
> disassembling the SmartPort code in the IIgs ROM and figuring it out
> anyway though :-)
> 
> If you can copy it with the standard utilities and have means to create
> a disk image, send it to me and I'll have a go cracking it - it's been
> years since I've scratch cracked an Apple II title :-)
> 
> Matt
> 
Does SST do 3.5inch disks? Or is there a Mac app I can use (non-os x)?