Super Validate 64/128 can help you troubleshoot and repair disks that have been infected with errors. Super Validate 64/128 can locate the corrupt files so that they can be removed. It can be used as a tool for making repairs to valuable data files that have been damaged so that they can be at least partially salvaged.
When a disk is repaired using Super Validate 64/128, you are given the necessary information to make repairs to the disk. A track and sector editor is recommended to get the maximum use from this application.
When using Super Validate 64/128, first copy it to a GEOS-formatted workdisk using either Menu 64 or Menu 128.
As with any GEOS program, it must be converted to GEOS format after copying. To convert it, run the Convert program (which is automatically copied along with Super Validate) to convert the file to a GEOS-executable file. To use Super Validate 64/128, boot GEOS, place the work disk in the drive and double click on the SV Icon.
You will be presented with the Super Validate 64/128 Control Panel, which has the following controls:
1. Open--Begins the Super Validation on the currently opened disk
2. Disk--Opens up a new disk.
3. Drive--Changes to the next drive.
4. Quit--Returns control to the Desk Top
At the top of the control panel is information used in the validation process:
DRIVE--Drive letter (A, B or C) and drive type
DISK NAME--Name of the disk to be checked
TOTAL FILES--Total number of files on the disk
CURRENT FILE -- Number of the file currently being checked
FILE NAME--Name of each file as it is checked
FILE TYPE--Type of file being checked
STRUCTURE--Structure of file being checked
This information updates as the files are being checked. This process will continue until all files have been validated or until an error is found. To inform you of any errors encountered in the validation process, there is also a Status box.
If the process completes without an error, the new BAM will be written to the disk. You must then hit a key to return to the start of the process.
When an error is found while validating the disk, the process stops and a complete error report is given in the Status Box. There are seven basic errors that can occur:
1. DISK CANNOT BE OPENED. The disk drive cannot read in the information from the BAM and Directory header. Usually an irreparable error.
2. BORDER DIRECTORY PAGE IS BAD. If you had files on the deskTop border, they are most likely lost at this point. This error will have to be repaired before the disk can be used again. To repair it, you must use a track and sector editor to read in the directory header, located at track 18 sector 0 on a 1541, or track 40, sector 0 on a 1581.
The GEOS ID string ("GEOS format V1.2", which is located at positions 171-189 in the directory header) must be overwritten with zeroes. After clearing out the ID string, return to the deskTop and then convert it back to a GEOS disk.
3. ERROR READING DIRECTORY PAGE #. This is a major problem, because any files on the directory page that had gone bad, and any directory pages after the bad page are now lost. To make the disk usable again make a note of the "Prev Track and Prev Sector" supplied by Super Validate 64/128. With a track and sector editor go to the track and sector you just made note of and change the first two bytes of the block to $00,$ff. This will end the directory at this page, allowing you to save all files before the bad page.
4. FILES HEADER BLOCK IS BAD. If the file that had this error is an application or desk accessory, and you have other copies of that file, just delete the file from the disk and run it through Super Validate again.
If it is an important data file that must be saved, you can save it by using a header block from another data file of the same type. Example: If you had a GeoCalc file that had a bad header block, you could create an empty file and then link up the header block from the empty file to the one with the bad header block.
5. FILES INDEX REC IS BAD. When this error occurs to a VLIR file, the file is lost. Delete it and run the disk through the Super Validate process again.
6. FILES VLIR REC IS BAD. If this error occurs on a non-data file, such as an application, the file is lost. Delete it and use Super Validate 64/128 on the disk again. If it occurs on a data file, the file can be partially recovered. Make a note of the "Prev Track and Prev Sector" from the status box when the error was detected. Go to this block and change the the first 2 bytes to $00 $ff. This will cut off the error and allow you to save the remaining data.
Note that if no previous track and sector was given, then the entire VLIR record was bad. You will need to go the the Index block and look for a record that starts at the track and sector given in the Status block at the time of the error. Set this record pointer to $00 $ff.
7. THIS FILE IS CORRUPT. This error occurs when a sequential file has an error. If it is a data file, it can be partially saved by making a note of the information displayed in the Prev Track and Prev Sector boxes and going to that block and setting the first 2 bytes to $00 and $ff. This will eliminate the error off and you can now save the remainder of the file
The exception to these rules are when the error is a bad BAM. You should then copy the file that had the error to another disk, delete it from the first disk and then Super Validate the disk again. Then check the file you just copied to see if it had been corrupted. You can then copy the file back to the original disk if you wish.
