******************************************************************************* * * * MEGAFORM 1.9 04.Jan.1988 * * * ******************************************************************************* * * * AUTOR : * * * * Peter Maier, Waldstr. 83, 6085 Nauheim, GERMANY Tel: 06152/62081 * * * ******************************************************************************* This program is useful for formatting,copying and testing disks. In version 1.9 you get the following functions : - Format Disk - Copy Disk - Test Disk - Fastload Format - Scan Disk - Erase Disk - Connect Drive B Format Disk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** ATTENTION *** Use this option only when you're sure that you've inserted the correct disk into your drive, because when you click on START FORMAT the formatting of your disk starts immediately. You can format your disk with different capacitys. It is possible to format 9,10 or 11 sectors, 80 - 83 tracks, single- or double sided and with or without verify. ( This is useful for 11 sector disks, because you need good disks for that format !! ) If you use 83 tracks, 11 sectors and 2 sides you will get about 925 Kb free. So you'll gain about 200 Kb more on every disk !! A file is created on the disk that contains information about the format : MEGAFORM.INF 0 02-10-80 00:00 This shows how many sides(02),sectors(10) and tracks(80) the disk has. Copy Disk ~~~~~~~~~~~ This copy gets all information out of the bootsector of the source disk. So you don't have to worry about the format on disk. All you have to do is to set the drives,the multicopy-option and the convert option( This option converts normal disks into fastloading disks. But this works only with 9 sector disks ). This copy can't copy any protections and also no weird formats on disk. The Tracksnumbers have to count from 0 - 82 and the sectornumbers from 1 to 11. Otherwise you will receive error messages. If there are errors on disk an alert box will occur and you have the following options : - Read again Try to read this sector again. - Next Track Continue reading on the next track, sector 1. - Continue Continue reading on the next sector, same track. The destination disk must not be formatted. If there are write errors an alert box occurs also with these options : - Write again Try to write this sector again - Format formats the track and then writes the sector - Cancel Abort writing If you know that your destination disk is not formatted you can also set the FORMAT Destination button to YES. So you won't have to click on format in the alert box if you get write errors 'cause the disk is not formatted. If you've set the MULTICOPY option, you can choose the destination drive, and if you've finished writing to the destination disks you have to click STOP. Then reading continues (if there was not enough memory to read the complete disk into the ST) or you turn back to the copy dialog. You can also turn off the BOOTSECTOR INFO, so that you can make your own settings. ( Maybe you have a disk that contains information on both sides but in the bootsector it is set to single sided ) Test Disk ~~~~~~~~~~~ You can test, how many tracks could be formatted on your drive without receiving an error. Please use a new or empty disk for that, cause all information on the last ( 80 - 83 ) tracks will be erased. Fastload Format ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This formats a disks with 9 sectors in a special way, so that you'll gain double speed on loading and saving on this disk. If you copy a fastload disk without CONVERT set to YES, you'll lose the fastload format. There's also a file created : FASTDISK.MEG 0 01-09-83 00:00 This has the same meaning as above. Scan Disk ~~~~~~~~~~~ This scans disks and looks for errors on them. If the program detects errors you'll get a message, and a description of the error. Mostly you'll get these two errors : - Sector not found This sector is not on disk. - CRC Data error The sector is on disk, but the data is corrupted. Erase Disk ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** ATTENTION *** This feature erases your complete disk. BE SURE that you've inserted the correct disk into the drive, because all data, also the format of the disk will be erased. There will be nothing on the disk after having erased it. ( The disk is not formatted !!! ) Connect Drive B ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This happens always to me : you switch on drive A an your computer and sometime later you need drive B. But this drive wasn't switched on during booting ( what a pity !! ). What you'll get is the nice dialog window ' Please insert disk B into drive ...... '. ( ... Shit ... ) Now you can connect drive B at any time . But don't forget to turn the power on and don't connect drive B if you don't have one. OK !?! Have fun working with MEGAFORM Peter Maier P.S. : I would be happy hearing from you..... The next version will include : Harddisk Scan / Backup Copy from side 1/2 to 1/2 Disk Info Directory 10/11 Sector fastload formatting MS-Dos Copy and Format