Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!think!ephraim
From: ephraim@think.COM (ephraim vishniac)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Problem copying files to hard disk
Keywords: crash, mac II, 150MB disk
Message-ID: <27609@think.UUCP>
Date: 12 Sep 88 12:40:14 GMT
References: <2373@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu>
Sender: news@think.UUCP
Reply-To: ephraim@vidar.think.com.UUCP (ephraim vishniac)
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 53

In article <2373@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> bmartin@uhccux.UUCP (Brian K. Martin, M.D.) writes:
>HELP!

>My system now crashes whenever I try to copy a new program from a floppy to
>the hard disk. The system just freezes in the middle of a copy operation,
>and I have to hit the re-boot switch. The problem is temporarily solved by
>archiving a few programs to floppy then rebuilding the desktop. I've heard
>that there's some sort of limit to the number of files that can be stored on
>a hard disk. I hope not, since I was planning to upgrade to a 620MB disk in
>the near future.

>Configuration:
>	Mac II
>	5MB RAM
>	Jasmine Direct Drive 160 (150MB)
>		135MB in use, about 3600 files on the hard disk
>	8-bit apple color monitor
>	System 6.0
>	ImageWriter II

>This problem occurs under both system 4.2 and system 4.3, straight off the
>distribution floppy with no mods. Any ideas?

My ideas:

Yes, there is a (very large) limit to the number of files you can put
on one volume, but it's much greater than 3600.  There's a
significantly smaller limit imposed indirectly by the number of
resources that can occupy one resource file.  What matters in this
case is the number of files with bundles (descriptions of how to
associate file types with icons).  But, I doubt you're hitting either
of these limits.

Two other problems are more likely:

1.  You've got a bad spot on your disk.  Try using something like
FEdit to scan the whole disk.  The easiest way is to open the volume
and search for a string you're unlikely to find.  FEdit will report
any I/O errors it gets.  Or, the search will hang, and you'll notice
that... 

2.  You've got some files with bogus bundles that screw the finder.
Old finders were sitting ducks for this; newer ones are better but far
from perfect.  To check for this, get a copy of my program "DeskCheck"
(might already be in the PD stuff on your Jasmine) and use it to
survey your disk.  DeskCheck is available via anonymous ftp in the
info-mac directory on sumex-aim among other places.  Write me if you
can't ftp or can't find it.

Ephraim Vishniac					  ephraim@think.com
Thinking Machines Corporation / 245 First Street / Cambridge, MA 02142-1214

     On two occasions I have been asked, "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put
     into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?"