Re: Copying Disks

[rubywand@swbell.net (Rubywand)]

jditton@vtc.net (Jim) writes ...

> I just bought some Apple II software and have made backup copys of everything
> but Teh Mist, Zaxxon, and PHM Pegasus. I have used Copy II Plus Ver 9 and
> Locksmith and still keep getting errors. Is there anything better out there.
 ....

     Are you using the custom parms? Copy II Plus v9.x claims to have
custom parms for all of the games you list plus alt parms for some of
the games. (If you can't make a good copy using the main custom parms,
try an alt choice.)

     Sometimes, C2P's custom parms do no work because the publisher
used a number of different protection setups and you happen to have
one not covered.

     Other reasons for failing to get a good copy are ...

o- Drive speed is too far off on the Source and/or Target drive.
Sometimes, setting the Target drive's speed a little slow helps
because it's easier to fit in larger than normal tracks.

o- One or both drives have dirty heads.

o- The target diskette is defective or is an HD ("High Density") type.
Most Apple II 5.25" drives work with only DD diskettes.


     Since development continued on C2P longer than it did for
Locksmith or E.D.D., C2P should succeed in making good bit copies more
often than the other popular copiers. (Version 9.0 can be dangerous,
though. It had a bug which could mess up disks when a Sort Catalog
function is used.)

     Sometimes, the best method of copying a game will be described in
an issue of Computist magazine. If you have a good Computist
collection, check there.


     Probably, the easiest way to get a deprotected copy of a game is
to download the game from a site like Asimov or 'Fairway. (For links,
see http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/A2FAQs7GAMESITES.html .)



Rubywand