Re: stopping floppy drive seeks & what is happening

[obsbedia2@aol.com (Obsbedia2)]

<< << > John writes ...
> >
> > On a IIgs when certain programs start the loading process pauses while
> > the IIgs seeks (drives make that loud "ratcheting buzz") on a pair of
> > 5.25" drives (about 3 cycles).
> >
> >   It happens with several programs. I think all of these are Prodos
> > programs (not GSOS). >>

Use -Hook and eliminate the problem with software commands that unhook and
rehook up the drives.
JaY >>


I'm getting a lot of emails asking me about HOOK, so here's the scoop for one
and all:

Hook is a little ProDOS command that let's you unhook and hookup drives with
software commands.  It is found on the 8-bit SoftDisk magazine programs, issue
98.  I picked up the SoftDisk Supreme CD Rom from Sheppy last Summer at KFest,
so if you don't want to dig out your SD disks, contact him.   The instructions
on how to use hook are on the disk, including both BASIC commands from inside
BASIC and inside a BASIC program.  BASICally, the command tells the computer to
ignore whatever is hooked up to whatever drive, 1 or 2, at any slot without
having to physically disconnect the drive or slotcard.  Reversing the command
tells the Apple ][ that it should pay attention to that/those slots and drives
again.

If you've ever run an Apple II on just a hard drive, you know how fast ProDOS
can let you zip around without having to check the slower disk drives. 
BASICally, the ][ feels just like a modern computer, despite having many
partitions--they don't slow things down;  it's the slower drives that do. 

I have Hook tell the ][ to ignore slot 5, drive 1 and drives 1 and 2 in slot 6.
 Slot 5, drive 2 is still available to the hard drive.  The instructions to
connect and disconnect are launched from a program launcher with a click of the
mouse or a keypress.

JaY