Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!
From: lphillips@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca (Larry Phillips)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Problems with ejecting disks.
Message-ID: <1114@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca>
Date: 7 Feb 90 22:14:36 GMT
Lines: 47
Return-Path: <lpami!lphillips>
To: van-bc!rnews

In <1990Feb8.150815.18381@lth.se>, f88ho@lo-2.efd.lth.se (Hans Olsson) writes:
>Sometimes I have problems with programs (games and demos) that uses the disk
>(at least the green light is on) all the time, so I don't know how to get the 
>disk out without hurting my amiga.
>I have tried first resetting the amiga and then ejecting the disk but 
>sometimes I end up with a diskdrive that simply can't read anything without
>several C-A-As.
>Do anyone know a better way to get the disk out? 

Press the eject button. Seriously.

The thing is, you will not 'hurt your Amiga' by ejecting a disk, whether the
light is on or not, despite warnings to the contrary. Do not take this to mean
that ejecting the disk while the light is on is A Good Thing, because it
usually isn't. However, what we appear to be talking about here is an unusual
situation. Some program has messed up or was written in a way that doesn't turn
the light off, or perhaps you have a hardware problem.

If the light is on, it means that some code has turned it on.  This will happen
if the disk is being read or written.  If it is being read, the worst that will
happen is that a read error will occur, and you will be asked (sometimes
strongly) to replace it.

If it was being written, the worst that will happen is that you will get a
write error, and the disk will be unreadable later. If you are lucky, you will
be asked to replace the disk, and the write operation will finish. If you are
not so lucky, the diskette will have read problems, but that will be true with
a reset too.

Note that the reset (three fingered or power off/on) will do essentially the
same thing to a disk that is being written to. Program activity stops, and
nothing further has a chance to be written to the disk. At least with the eject
button, you have a chance of having everything turn out OK.

The warnings against ejecting the disk while the light is on are definitely to
be heeded during 'normal' operation.

-larry

--
Gallium Aresnide is the technology of the future;
  always has been, always will be.
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|   //   Larry Phillips                                                 |
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