Re: Disk reading problem

[tturner@ecn.ab.ca ()]

Frank Townsend (ftownsen@nospam.net) wrote:
: I have two 5-1/4" Apple II disks that will not (apparently) read or catalog.

: One is a BASF FlexyDisk "1x hardsectored 10 sector holes"
: The other is a Wabash "SoftSector Single Side/Single Density" with
: "48TPI35/40 Tracks"

: The drive light illuminates then goes on to the next drive when I try to
: catalog using the catalog utility from ShrinkIt.  Even BlockWarden (ProSel8)
: won't read the disk.

: Is there anything I can do to retrieve the data or browse what is there?
[snip]

--> There is the possibility that the diskettes have gone bad.
    That does (unfortunately) happen.  I have a bunch of old
    (well, for that matter - they're _ALL_ old, eh?) CP/M
    diskettes that mostly cannot be read on any of my Apples.
    They could, at one point - but now seem to be beyond hope.

    There is also the possibility of adjusting the drive speed.
    EDD v4.x had the capability to show you the speed on screen
    so one could adjust the drive speed back to optimum.  I'm
    sure there's other software tools that can do the same thing,
    but EDD is the one I used and still recall.  However, if
    other diskettes read just fine - then back to my original
    supposition.  I also recall Locksmith v6.x could read and 
    then write back to, the same diskette, often times clarifying
    the data (recovering it, in a sense).  That could be another
    thing to try - if the disk is `toast' then it couldn't hurt.
    Good luck, either way . . .


--
E.A.G.L.E Librarian   A3 BBS:403/481-3133   email:tturner@ecn.ab.ca