Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!aplcen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!cmhgate!f412.n107.z1.FIDONET.ORG!Jim.Sandoz From: Jim.Sandoz@f412.n107.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Jim Sandoz) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: FDHD Problems? Message-ID: <54769.26636269@cmhgate.FIDONET.ORG> Date: 28 May 90 20:27:39 GMT Sender: ufgate@cmhgate.FIDONET.ORG (newsout1.26) Organization: FidoNet node 1:107/412 - Castle Tabby, Bradley Beach NJ Lines: 56 Folks: As it would seem many people, including myself, are having problems with the FDHD, does anyone care to try to charactarize the problem? --> I have a Sept '89 purchased Mac SE/20 1MB FDHD that chokes on 1.4's only occasionally; however, since my main use of the floppy drive is backing up 16 megs of data, this is a big problem. The last time I went to back up, HFS Backup 2.02 told me my first two backup disks (of 13) were bad. Attempts to format them under HFS Backup or the finder invariably ended with an "Initialization Failed" dialog. Aside1: In Early 1990 Apple released the "Apple 800k Eject INIT" for pre- 6.0.4 systems, and incorporated the drive head positioning code in releases 6.0.4 and .5. Since a majority of "new" Macs (compacts & fx, not to mention the SE/30) have FDHD's, could 800k INIT be interfering with the operation of the FDHD driver ? How many of you having problems use the INIT OR are using systems >= 6.0.4 ? Aside2: Since HD disks have been around for quite a while, it would appear that they are probably not to blame. (Are any IBM-heads screaming about losing data ?) Bad batches? The fact that it happens with all brands (I've read on the Net about Sony, Maxell, TDK, and 3M) so the odds are against the bad run of disks theory. ( Although an EMP would do it! ) Aside3: Could this be the 1st non-benign Mac Virus? Escaping detection from Disinfectant 1.7/1.8 would be clever, but certainly not impossible. My guess would be that the system file itself is infected, since most applications call its routines for formatting diskettes. Anyone tried a total rebuild from original LOCKED disks ? I haven't, because I can't trust my backup set. Those of you with a net & a big fileserver...(no, this a bad idea, as the server could be infected). The virus may ride apps, jumping out just to infect the system, unknown to gatekeeper or vaccine. Has anyone running the Gatekeeper/GateKeeper Aid combo or SAM had these problems with the FDHD? Please attempt to reply direct to me (of course I'll summarize for the Net), as my Mail feed thru Fido is shaky. If not put it out for the rest of the world (incl Apple) to see and comment. Jim Sandoz -- Jim Sandoz via cmhGate - Net 226 fido<=>uucp gateway Col, OH UUCP: ...!osu-cis!n8emr!cmhgate!107!412!Jim.Sandoz INET: Jim.Sandoz@f412.n107.z1.FIDONET.ORG