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------------ ************ Topic 2 Tue Jan 13, 1987 TIGLON.G [*SysOp*] at 19:40 EST Sub: SFD 1001 IEEE Disk Drive Commodore's very own IEEE disk drive! It is still widely used!! 24 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 1 Tue Jan 13, 1987 TIGLON.G [*SysOp*] at 19:41 EST The SFD 1001 is an IEEE drive from CBM! Post your messages, questions, hints and tricks in this topic and let's make the most of our drives! For easier reference, here is a list of the Files in our Software Library that pertain to the SFD Drive! The ARCHIVE files are old message threads that we have uploaded. 949 COPY ALL 3.0 3148 SFD 1001 DRIVE ARCHIVE 2213 SFD 1001 REFERENCE 1510 SFD ALPHA SORT 535 SFD DIR SQUEEZE 1511 SFD DISK DOCTOR 967 SFD SPEEDUP 869 SFD TO SFD-128 1191 SUPER XFER 8.4 ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 7 Sat Feb 21, 1987 ML-BUG at 10:51 EST I recently purchased a sfd and I'm having a ball trying to figure out its ram and rom. I wanted a fast reliable copy routine for it, and just finished writing it. I have uploaded it to library 4 it is called filecpy.arc. It is in machine language, source code, (LADS), and text is included. It transfers bytes at about .5 seconds each, and is very reliable. Leave me feedback and if you do make changes I'd like to hear about them. If your not into ml I sent up the object code also so you can just make copies. ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 8 Fri Apr 17, 1987 T.MENEGATOS [Tom] at 14:58 EDT Will the SFD work with CP/M on the 128? (I know it would not be able to read other formats but it would be nice to have a meg per disk in CP/M) Thanks ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 9 Fri Apr 17, 1987 MAYSMITCHELL [SounDesign] at 16:21 EDT eh if hte sfd is one of the many disk compatible with the 1541 and 1571 it will work but if you have to have special hardware and whatever else hooked up to it you may need to do a little bit problem-solving. it will work, but may need help in doing so. ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 10 Fri Apr 17, 1987 MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 20:00 EDT There shouldnt be a problem using the SFD in CP/M, if your IEEE interface is transparent enough. Skyles Electric Works <shudder> sells a special 'piggy- back' board for use with their QuickSilver interface for the SFD, and I've heard it does work well. A much better choice though, would be to purchase a 1750 RAM expander. Our CP/M system is already set up to handle the expanders as drive M:, giving you a large amount of storage and super-quick access to those files without messing around with interfaces and such. CP/M and the RAM units were a match made in heaven. <Thanx, Von!> ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 11 Sat Apr 18, 1987 DEB [*SysOp*] at 17:58 EDT With the QuickSilver, piggybacked and all, Mike, I was under the impression its EITHER IEEE *or* CP/M...! Because of the different disk structure of the SFD, I don't believe that CP/M would know HOW to take advantage of the 1 Meg disk. So, even if you COULD get to the SFD, don't you have to choose what kind of disk to format/use under CP/M?! <<No CP/M wiz here...>> ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 12 Sat Apr 18, 1987 MAYSMITCHELL [SounDesign] at 18:06 EDT IN THE ASPECTOF TO WHAT WAS JUST SAID....INORDER FOR THE SFD TO SAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD HAVETO HACE (HAVE)TO FORMATIT INTHE 1541 OR1571 MODE (WHIC HAS I KNOW ARE UNCOMPATIBLE). THE SFD1001 WILL WORK BUT YOU NEED A SFD1001 DRIVER WHICH WILL AT YOUR DISK FOR YUOAND ALSO INTERFACE DRIVE ACTIVITIESFOR YOU. - WAS THAT SIMPLE ENOUGH?- SORRY..SPACE BAR (SPACEBAR) IS STICKING ON THE VT100. ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 13 Sat Apr 18, 1987 MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 19:15 EDT If and when I ever get my SFD back (never let anyone borrow drives from you!) I'd be better prepared to answer. What is Skyles pigyback board for, if not to be able to use the SFD in CP/M mode? I'm not sure there would be that much of a difference between using a 1541, 1571, 1750, Hard Drive, or SFD, except storage capacities and ability to read foreign formats. [Guess it's time to re- gain ownership of my SFD] ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 14 Sun Apr 19, 1987 DEB [*SysOp*] at 01:32 EDT Mike: the piggyback board comes with a SWITCH. With the Skyles ROM in place for the QuickSilver, CP/M is USELESS...NO WORKEE. That's why they had to make a piggyback board. It switches in the OLD original ROM for you. Well, there would be a difference...how would CP/M know how to format the drive, or what tracks and sectors to write to? Even tho you are using a CP/M front end, formatting the 1541 is STILL a function of N0:etc,##. AND, writing to all CBM formats is STILL a function of block writes...block reads. With a totally different disk format, CP/M *might* be able to get the SFD newed, but it would not know how to read past the limits of a 1541 drive, I suspect. The SFD would not respond to 1571 b/w b/r, either. So...even if you used a slow interface like the ELINK, you might be able to utilize your SFD to get you the storage of a 1541. Then again, teach me something...perhaps you CP/M wizards are able to go in and write your own T&S maps for formatting and using different formats...?! *I* don't know that one. ** ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 16 Sun Apr 26, 1987 MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 16:20 EDT Do you guarantee your work, Roy? I noticed that you said 'attempt to repair it'. If you cannot, do you still charge for the service? Also, are you an authorized CBM dealer? ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 17 Sun Apr 26, 1987 RAY.CLARK at 16:26 MDT Do you own an SFD 1001 disk drive? Are you experiencing problems writing files and formatting the disk (it flat wont)? Well if you are having these problems Comm-Net has come to your rescue. For 49.95 +parts Comm-Net will attempt to repair your drive. We own 12 of them so maintenance of the SFD is our business. Ship it to us in the original container (the best) with the cardboard head protector in the drive and we will attempt repair and return it to you via UPS COD. Comm-Net Service Dept. 676 So. Quentin St. Aurora, Co 80012 Voice #(303) 341-4266 Modem #(303) 340-2473 366-2341 366-3898 366-7177 ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 19 Wed Jun 03, 1987 KILO at 04:28 EDT Does anyone know how to get the SFD to work with Microsoft Multiplan (HES)??? I didn't think it would be a problem since it seems to work fine with everythin g else, including my BBS. Len ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 20 Thu Sep 17, 1987 ECHOBEACH at 03:19 EDT Well maybe no-one knows how to write an IEEE drive for MultiPlan, but otherwise I think the scarcity of messages testifies to the quality of the SFD. After 9 months of BBS usage I can say this drive is what CBM should have pushed instead of the 1541. The trick is to find a good IEEE interface, preferably a BusCard II. Avoid Skyles Flash units like the plague! They are your last resort. If you insist on buying a hi-capacity drive for your CBM, the SFD is a good choice at todays low prices. ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 21 Thu Sep 17, 1987 DEB at 05:14 EDT With the demise of Batteries, tho, EchoBeach, BusCard II is nearly an extinct animal. Does anyone know where they are still selling any?! *deb!* ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 22 Sat Sep 26, 1987 S.LEWIS at 14:22 MDT Avoid the Skyles units like the plague???? Oh - here's a topic that I can groan about for hours... First, I *used* to be a fan of the BussCard, but I am NOT anymore because: They Overheat They Suck +5 and Burn Out Power Supplies Certain Lower Level Kernal Routines Do Not Work After Extended Use (6-18 Months) They Fail I prefer the Skyles Quicksilver 64 because: It Doesn't Overheat It Doesn't Overload the +5 Power Supply All Kernal Routines Work Fine Seldom Do I Hear Of A Broken QS... Another added plus is that Skyles is still in business and can fix one for a flat $25 should one fail... Notice that I said QUICKSILVER and NOT IEEE-FLASH. The Flash and QS use the exact same hardware, but the respective replacement Kernal routines are NOT the same - the QS is very transparent while the Flash has problems under certain circumstances. I've also been using the QS128 - nice work, still uses the exact same board/ hardware but you have to change out your old Kernal chip with Skyles' own to make it work. You lose CP/M in the process (big deal) and probably also compatibility with the new 128 ROMS, but that seems a small enough price to pay... Skyles may have an upgraded QS128 Kernal for the new ROM chips available by now... Steve ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 23 Sun Sep 27, 1987 MIKEM [- Mike -] at 21:56 PDT I agree with Steve about QS-64 being superb (thanx to Mr. Nesbitt). Too bad Mr. Skyles didnt have the same magic touch with Flash. Also, I think most people might want to ask others opinions before having Skyles repair anything. It has been my experience (and misfortune) that they are 1) SLOW 2) UN- SUPPORTIVE 3) SLOW. <Standard Disclaimer goes here: > ------------ Category 17, Topic 2 Message 24 Mon Sep 28, 1987 DEB at 04:56 EDT Well, Steve, one can extend the life of their buscard and the computer it lives on with several tricks: 1: Get a heavy duty power supply <Hello, Jameco!> 2: Run a FAN over the buscard. 3: Get a heavy duty power supply... I've blown *2* buscards and innumerable power supplies...but the interesting this is that the buscards did not blow up until AFTER we switched to a 1670 modem...and I lost about 3 times as many power supplies as previously when the 1670 AND the Buscard were connected. <<I learned my lesson too late about power supplies...the last blow took the computer, too>>. The PHOENIX power supply, from Jameco, is probably the very best one you can get for a 64. The buscard is a HEAVY power drain on a 64. The 1670, too, is a good sized power drain on a 64. Together, tho, they were murder on the BBS. In retrospect, we should have stuck with the Hayes Clone, and I should never have kept believing that "ACME Power Supply is just as good as a mail order one..."...or whichever power supply I was buying that month! <grin> *deb!* ------------ ************ Topic 5 Tue Jan 13, 1987 TIGLON.G [*SysOp*] at 21:29 EST Sub: CBM IEEE Hard Drives: 9090 and 9060 Some of Commodore's hard drive entries for the marketplace! 35 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 1 Tue Jan 13, 1987 TIGLON.G [*SysOp*] at 21:30 EST The 9060 series of hard drives from CBM is a popular drive for use on BBS's and so forth. We have archived the past bulletin board messages into one file in Software Library #1 for easier access: 3154 9090 IEEE DRIVE SPECS 2273 CBM HARD DRIVES FOLLOWUP Please use this topic to continue all messages and thoughts! ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 2 Sun Feb 01, 1987 GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 19:20 EST Okay all you D90?0 wizards....have there been any reports of problems, bugs, warnings,etc on REL files with the D9090? I'm running a D9090 on a BBS and have a REAL strange problem popping up. From time to time, when reading from a REL file, (just reading...not writing), a read will end up with garbage data. The drive aborts with a READ ERROR, and the board stops since it never receives an end to the string it is reading. The file is intact, and 99 times out of 100 it reads fine. Is this another "undocumented" DOS "feature"? Or have I got (shudder) a bum controller or drive? \\GFX// ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 3 Mon Feb 02, 1987 S.LEWIS at 00:45 MST SOUNDS LIKE 1) You are using an IEEE Flash (new or old) 2) You are using a very old BusCard II 3) You are experiencing a typical IEEE timing problem that occassionally affects the system (not the drive itself) 4) You recently moved your 9090 and didn't format it If any of those are true... 1) Replace the FLASH ROM (inside the cartridge) with a Quicksilver 64 ROM 2) Beg Batteries included to give you at little or no cost a 2.12 ROM upgrade (you can determine the version by typing SYS61000 and reading the 4.0 enable message) 3) Live with it or modify the BBS code 4) Reformat Please let me know which (if any) of these things could be the culprit. You could be experiencing up to three of those things all at once. The 9090 is fairly reliable and if less than a year in service should give you dependable service. There is ONE relative file bug which is common in ALL Commodore DOSes... Whenever a relative file record is written to, position the record pointer BEFORE the PRINT# statement, then reposition to the SAME record again after the PRINT# statement. Certain record lengths in conjunction with a certain record number in conjuntion with the full moon and dew on the lawn will cause relative file corruption. This fix for this, straight from Commodore, is that as outlined above. Steve ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 4 Tue Feb 03, 1987 GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 18:06 EST Thanks Steve.. I'm using a (cringe) CSI 400a IEEE->serial adapter. (Has the toggle switch on it to select IEEE Only, Both, Serial Only). I've used this with the SFD for over a year with no troubles like this. No movement of the drive's location at all. The files are not corrupt, and the places where it dies, varies every time it happens. I know about the positioning bug, and have corrected that long ago. Any other guesses? (grin) \\GFX// ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 5 Tue Feb 03, 1987 S.LEWIS at 21:41 MST My first suggestion would be to try a different interface if all else has remained the same (software, etc.). Next suggestion (GASP!) would be to reformat. I just had to reformat my 9060 because of random read errors (always a 22) that never really occurred the same place twice. Since formatting, no problems whatsoever. As with all fine Commodore products, I don't think the 90x0 series was ever perfected. As a last ditch effort before formatting, if you can avoid moving the drive to perform a voltage check of the power supplies it might be wise. Commodore apparently wanted to run the 5 volt regulator hot enough to fry eggs on, and at last poke into the service manual I calculated that the regulator has to dissipate something like 35 watts - the 12 volt source about half of that. That is a ridiculous amount of power, and I've gotten the same stories from several techs on the 90x0... check to make sure the drive's supplies are within a quarter of a volt of 5.0 and 12.0 respectively. If you have to tote the drive into a shop or around your house much to check voltages, then you may as well plan to reformat. If you want to go directly to the formatting then you may as well check voltages. Sort of a circular problem. At this point, if your drive needs service I won't recommend anybody. The 9090 I had was sent to Rex Service in Chicago who didn't completely get the bugs out, and after it was sold a second time failed again and was sent back to Rex. Unfortunately the drive was dropped by UPS and at least one board was cracked. Rex dilli-dallied before opening the shipment, the insurance expired on it, and Rex won't foot the bill for repair of the damaged parts. I hate to pass info along like this, but it's best to know ahead of time. Commodore will refer you to Rex among several places authorized to service the 90x0's. Steve ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 6 Wed Feb 04, 1987 GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 21:46 EST Well, my TOP suspect is the interface. The CSI 400 series of interfaces have always been know to have quirks. (Like you can't open the directory as a $ program file and read it with GET# commands. It goes thru the first block, and just stays there, reading the same block over and over again!) As I JUST finished reformatting (sigh, the UNknown Validate bug), I think I can rule that out. And the PS is well within specs. So I'm gonna beg-borrow-steal an interface (a REAL one ::grin::) and run'er thru on that. Thanks muchly! \\GFX// ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 7 Sun May 17, 1987 JRWOLF at 01:28 EDT Howdy, I just came along on a 9060 hard drive. It seems to be in perfect condition (VERY little dust inside!) but it has one serious problem. It is a Euro model with a 220 transformer and fan. Now for the big question: what is the current draw on the taps that supply 5 and 12 volts? My meter can't handle better than 10 amps and I'm not in the mood to replace parts in the meter if current draw is better than 10A. I know that it puts out 16v center tapped (for 5 volt supply, center tap ground) and another 16v for the 12v supply. By the way, I did hook it up to 220 to test it, the LEDs did the flashidy flash- flash and there was no ozone smell, I jast havn't had a chance to hook it up to the 64 yet. (I haven't bought an interface for my 128 yet, which one is best?) Since I paid $100 for it (tee hee! the guy had no idea what it was) I don't want to go overboard on new parts. I would be happy to just get a couple of 8- 10 amp 12v centertap xformers and get it over with. Any better ideas? Da Woofman ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 8 Sun May 17, 1987 GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 17:48 EDT I simply got a 110 -> 220 StepUP transformer from an electric supply house near me. It was a cheap, quick fix and worked well (I've since eliminated the transformer and put a 220 line to my computer room.) If you find a suitable replacement transformer (internal) be sure to leave everyone a note....I know of more tan a few people that would be interested in that one! \\GFX// ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 9 Mon May 18, 1987 JRWOLF at 00:16 EDT Well, I am pretty sure I can find a transformer (or two) that will work, the problem is, I am going to a surplus store to get them. So I may be able to get it to work, but trying to find a part number that I can give to everyone is going to be a problem. I think I will try two 8amp 12.5 volt centertapped transformers first. If the voltage drops too much, I will just have to up the current on the one that drops. There is also the matter of the fan, but a 3 inch fan is no problem to get. I had the same idea of running 220 to the computer room, but there is one thing to watch for: IMPORTANT!!! if run 220 from your electric panel, the voltage may be greater than 220. The problem with this is the capacitors that filter the 5 and 12volts are not over rated, In other words pushing 240 into the transformer gives an unregulated DC output of 25.1 or so and 12.5 or so. The capacitors are rated at 25v and 10v respectively. I suggest that you rewire the transformer and swapo the red and black leads of the transformer. This will drop the output voltage to a resonable level. ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 11 Wed May 20, 1987 S.LEWIS at 23:25 MDT Ah - a hardware hacker to the rescue... I have the service manual (more like a step-by-step list of things to check before sending board or unit back to Commodore which is no longer a solution) which includes specs and such. I will quote from that: Electrical Specifications ------------------------- 5 volts +/- 5% at 6 amperes, 5 amperes typical 12 volts +/- 10% at 2 amperes, 5 amperes surge for 10 seconds Unquote If you can find a heffer transformer that will put out a good 6-7 amps at 18 volts CENTER TAPPED, you'll end up in the ballpark. That same transformer needs to be good for another 5-6 amps at 12-15 volts. This doesn't need to be a center-tapped winding. If you have nothing better to do, disconnect all boards as to unload the power supply, then measure the voltages coming out of the transformer. If you call Commodore and sweet-talk somebody, they may be able to find the proper replacement. *** But I like my solution best - a $35 110 > 220 volt transformer that you'll find at your favorite hardware hacker store. Get one rated at a good 300 watts or better. Steve ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 12 Tue May 26, 1987 JRWOLF at 04:26 EDT I like my solution even better than that. Break the end off the transformer windings and find the center of the primary winding, break it and make two 120 volt windings, parallel them and wha-lha! 120! The only problem, the transformer is dumping about 19v into the 5 volt regulator (Ooops, 10v it's center tapped.) Not nice. How hot is that thing spoze to run anyway? Right now I think it will melt solder on the top of the transistor. ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 13 Tue May 26, 1987 GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 11:36 EDT They run REAL hot! Be sure to *ALWAYS* run it with the cover on, since this allows the fan to create an "air tunnel" to properly cool things. Reports have it that you can sizzle yer innerds operating without the cover on. \\GFX// ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 14 Thu Aug 06, 1987 T.DAVIS at 23:27 CDT Ok folks, I have question: Where can one find service or information on the 9060 drive? I have one here that I have been asked to fix, but from what I have looked at so far, the SASI board has a dead short in it, and I have NO desire(or time) to find it.. So, can another board be found, if so, where, and how much? I would appreciate a reply by GEnie mail, if possible.. Thanks, Tom Davis ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 15 Sun Aug 09, 1987 S.LEWIS at 16:01 MDT The gent that was selling the 220V 9060's may still have some boards. Your other alternative is to find somebody in your area willing to service - except for the top-most board, I believe all other boards are somewhat generic. A friend had the drive mechanism and several boards changed out of his 9090. I have all of the documentation for service on the 9060/90 drives, so if anybody wants to sent me, oh, $7, I'll copy them up and mail them back to you. The info includes all schematics and rudimentary troubleshooting techniques. My address is: Steve Lewis PO Box 30441 Phoenix, AZ 85046 Steve ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 16 Wed Nov 11, 1987 SPORTSBOARD at 23:57 EST Help!!! I think I just shot my 9090 in the butt. My disk was in the middle of VALIDATING when I had a power failure! So, I turned the power switch on the drive off, and waited for the juice to come back on. When it did I powered up, and the directory was gone. So was the disk header (Disk name & ID) for that matter. If I send a UJ to it, it responds ok. But the thing refuses to format. I tried this several times: OPEN 15,10,15,"n:diskname,01":close15 The damn thing just sits there and looks at me. The LED stays green, no red indicator goes on, but it just seems to sit there. So I figured, well, this little bugger will take a while to format 153 tracks (29,000 blocks), so I waited a solid 45 mins and it was still just sitting there humming along doing seemingly nothing. I have the drive wired as device #10, and it is the ONLY IEEE device I have connected to a QUicksilver. What do you think? Is it shot? Am I history? or what should I do??? I am freaking out over this as my BBS (which logs a good 50 calls a day) is DEAD until I get this drive problem resolved. Do you think the media is shot? or what?? HHHEEEELLLLPPPP!!!!!!!! ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 17 Fri Nov 13, 1987 SPORTSBOARD at 15:30 EST Well, it finally formatted. I guess I just wasn't waiting long enough. I issued the format command, turned off the monitor and went to bed. When I got up yesterday morning, the thing had finished! just how long does it TAKE to format one of these buggers? Here's another theory to ponder. Does anyone think it would be possible to yank the 7.5 meg Winchester disk out of the 9090 and drop, say a 10 meg seagate or tandon in there? ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 18 Fri Nov 13, 1987 DEB at 20:47 EST I formatted a 9090 ONCE when I was at Commodore, and it took, well, over *3* hours. ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 19 Fri Nov 13, 1987 GRAFIX.M [GFX *SysOp*] at 21:43 EST I can attest to the 3 hours! I had to format mine a couple of times due to various problems. One thing I've learned...NEVER, NEVER, NEVER validate the D9090!! It will ALWAYS end up causing problems. I've seen file blocks become UNlinked and RElinked to other files. Unless you are very familiar with all the files that are stored there and ALWAYS know the proper size, you will end up with dozens of files that you *think* are fine but are actually bits and pieces of several files. An old message (S.LEWIS if I recall correctly) stated you can pull the old 7.5 Meg drive and replace it with a 10 Meg. directly. The DOS will support the 10 Meg just fine. Anything over that will die tho. \\GFX// ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 20 Sat Nov 14, 1987 SPORTSBOARD at 01:13 EST Yeah? You mean I can just buy one of those seagate drives that they are always pushing for the IBM PC and drop it right in? I mean, I would hate to waste all kinds of money buying one just to find out it won't work. I have heard the same thing about validating the 9090. But just what do you do if you wind up with a splat file on the thing? ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 21 Sat Nov 14, 1987 DEB at 03:02 EST Sportsboard: Preventive medicine, midear, NEVER get a splat file...! ::grin:: ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 22 Thu Nov 19, 1987 SPORTSBOARD at 01:20 EST Well, that's not very helpful. Seriously, if you get a splat on a 9090 how are you supposed to get rid of it if you're suggesting NEVER validating the drive. Fortunately I also use a RAMdisk with a 1750 ram card on my C64 for my BBS (the tale about the 1700 & 1750 working with the 128 ONLY is not true) so most of my constantly volatile files are in there and saved back to the 9090 daily. ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 23 Thu Nov 19, 1987 DEB at 13:23 EST Yes, those of us who have scrambled full 9090's before will do more than suggest to never validate the drive...we'll tell ya, NEVER VALIDATE it! Since you are in control, just make sure that the program NEVER leaves an unclosed file. Aside from a power failure in the middle of a file write, or a system crash from some error which locks up your machine, I can see no other reason for any author ever allowing software to leave a SPLAT file. *deb!* ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 24 Thu Nov 19, 1987 SPORTSBOARD at 15:02 EST Well, I wouldn't go as far as to make a blanket statement like that. First of all, I am a professional programmer/analyst that makes his living programming in BASIC on DEC VAX/VMS systems. I write, deal with, modify and enhance DOZENS of programs every day, and I make mistakes all the time. So does everyone. A simple syntax error in a large basic program written on a C64 could EASILY cause the program to go down and even hang the computer. As a result, you could just as easily be left with a splat file or several splat files if you had files open and had to power off the computer in order to regain control of it. As far as Commodore itself is concerned, many things they have done in the past are plainly and simply unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. Never validate the 9090. That is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard, don't you agree? I mean when the problem first showed up on SOME 9090's when they were released, (not ALL 9090's have the problem incidentally), it should have been FIXED, and for those poor saps that bought the bad drives, a chip or something should have been made available to them at no charge, and immediately. Not to mention the fact that Commodore has a horrendous reputation supporting their own products. Just try and get CBM to repair ANY IEEE device they made. But you know what? IBM will fix a PC Jr., and DEC will fix a PDP-11/44 that hasn't been made in years. In any case, making SURE that you never leave a file open is in itself an impossibility. The best laid plans of mice and men .... ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 25 Sat Nov 21, 1987 SPARROW.J [Fred] at 02:20 EST I think you are jumping to conclusions. The folks I know at West Chester would at least take a shot with the old equipment (tho most of them were not at CBM when the real old stuff was being sold). There is a difference between not knowing how to fix something and not being willing to. --Sparrow James ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 26 Tue Nov 24, 1987 DEB at 14:59 EST There are truly a LOT of things I don't like about having to live and learn with Commodore equipt. thru the years, too...but many of them have taught me to just have to take a real practical viewpoint...! If there is no way of fixing or replacing a ROM in a smart device, the simplest thing I know of is to protect your data on the disk religiously! I would NEVER use a BBS on ANY drive of any kind which EVER left an open file. Program development and testing is another matter, and of course, errors happen. Aside from a very few circumstances, tho, an unclosed file is purely a SOFTWARE ERROR, and is easy to fix. We don't have real WINTERS here in Fresno, but we do get a FOGGY season... this is not just FOG, this is *FOG*, a hugging the ground tule/swamp like fog which makes visibility so poor I could not see the tree in front of my yard one morning recently. We have learned to live with it. Rather than moving <which is just not feasible>, and rather than trying to get God to take away the fog for us, we start schools a couple hours later in the day, and people avoid driving during those bad hours just after dawn and sunrise. We live with it. Some people live with Snow. Others have to live with Commodores 9090 drives. Bad stuff happens. I *do* try to avoid situations that I KNOW will result in disaster, tho. Many folks would not put up with a piece of software which KNOWINGLY scrambled a disk-and leaving a SPLAT file on a disk is not very far from doing exactly that. Why SHOULD we, consumers, put up with situations which should have been corrected?! That is all I was trying to say. I know that files get left open during testing and development, by error. They are JUST as easy to close then, too. <grin> I have done it myself, lots of times. You can bet your booties I never tested software that was not 100% bullet-proof on a full SFD disk of irreplaceable data...! I would not ever chance that, and when I did use a 9090, I never took chances with that, either. I suppose the safe solution to a splat file is to copy all important things off the drive to floppies and test a VALIDATE, then determine if your files are all still OK. If they are not, its formatting time, and your data is still all intact. I see nothing wrong with demanding excellence in software after THIS many years of C-64 software, tho...<smile>. *deb!* ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 27 Sat Nov 28, 1987 GRAFIX.M [GFX *SysOp*] at 23:04 EST There are 2 ways I deal with SPLATs on my D9090. One is to just ignore it! I reseave the file with a different filename and keep on chugging. Eventually it will eat up some disk space and when that happens, I set asside a Saturday (a *whole* Saturday) to dump the disk to floppies and reformat. There really isn't much else that can be done other than deb's advice on demanding excellence in application software. Most all of my earlier SPLATs were caused by some kind of failure on the BBS. Power failure during a write, programming failure (me) during a test of a new routine, or idiot failure when I did something stupid. I never encountered a problem with just ignoring SPLATs. As for dropping in a Segate...I think you'll need to find an old Tandon drive. I haven't the slightest idea what the model is, but you should be able to get a clue from the current 7.5Meg drive that is in your 9090. \\GFX// ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 28 Sat Feb 06, 1988 SPORTSBOARD at 12:58 EST Does anyone know of a directory sort program for the 9060/9090. Wish me luck guys, I have about 15,000 blocks of my 9090 in use and I just validated it! I hope to God everything is ok. Now I'd like to sort the directory. ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 29 Sun Feb 07, 1988 DEB [*SysOp*] at 13:56 EST Glen: I would not reccomend trying to sort the directory, even if you DO find a program...! ::gulp:: I used to use a naming convention when I ran a 9090 which would allow me to easily use wildcards to find stuff I wanted to find. txt/name <--- for my SEQ files to be edited or from captures doc/name <--- documentation for programs upl/name <--- stuff needing to be uploaded ter/name <--- telecommunications programs gfx/name <--- graphics stuff mus/name <--- music Etc.... It took a lot of work the first time around, when I realized that I had more files than I could ever possibly read in one directory command, but it was worth it. The other option you might want to try is to output your directory listing into a SEQ file and sort THAT. *deb!* ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 30 Fri Feb 12, 1988 SPORTSBOARD at 14:06 EST Well, I was really looking for a way to sort the entire directory in alphabetical order. I have an SFD-1001 now, so I can back the 9090 up on 7 floppies, so I'm not too concerned about losing any files. There's gotta be a program to do that out there somewhere! ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 31 Tue Feb 16, 1988 DEB [*SysOp*] at 20:02 EST Glen: check with Steve Lewis: S.LEWIS ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 32 Wed Jul 06, 1988 S.MCCULLAR3 at 21:43 PDT There IS a program that will allow you to back up the entire hard disk, on multiple floppies. When the floppy fills up, it will simply ask you to insert another floppy disk, and press return. The program is called 'Uni-Copy', and was supplied on the 1581 support disk (the one that came WITH the drive.) If it's legal, (I don't think it's copyrighted) I'll upload it here. Shawn s ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 33 Thu Jul 07, 1988 COLOR64BBS [Greg Pfountz] at 20:04 EDT Uni Copy is on ALL the demo disks for all Commodore 1541/1571 disk drives One problem it will not address is files that are too large to fit on one disk - it would only backup files smaller than 664 blocks, for example. ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 34 Sun Aug 28, 1988 SPORTSBOARD [Glen] at 17:20 EDT For Sale: Commodore D9090 hard drive. Works with a C64 or 128 with an IEEE interface such as an E-Link, Buscard, Quicksilver or IEEE-FLash! 7.5mb storage (29,000 free blocks!). Includes power supply and manual. $400. Send mail to SPORTSBOARD or Call SportsBoard at 201-403-9757. Excellent for a BBS and faster than an SFD! ------------ Category 17, Topic 5 Message 35 Sat Oct 01, 1988 SPORTSBOARD [Glen] at 14:57 EDT For Sale: If you have a D9060 or 9090 and wondered where you could get it fixed, don't wonder anymore! FIX IT YOURSELF! I have a set of *BRAND NEW* replacement boards for the 9060 or 9090 complete with ribbon cables and a reference manual. These boards are damn near IMPOSSIBLE to get, and could be a lifesaver for a 9060 or 9090 owner. Set consists of two board, upper and lower and have the revision 'C' roms. Simple to install too. Just unscrew the old boards and screw in the new ones. NO SOLDERING. Even if your 9060/9090 is working fine, this just might be the BEST insurance policy you could buy! Price : $100 for the set. Specify if you have a 9060 or 9090 and I'll set the required jumper for you. You can contact me via GEnie Mail (My ID is SPORTSBOARD), or call my BBS at 201-403-9757. I doubt they'll be around long so get ahold of me quickly if you're interested! Glen IX.M [GFX *SysOp*] at 23:04 EST There are 2 ways I deal with SPLATs on my D9090.