[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

2097.0. "virtual floppies" by CIMNET::KYZIVAT (Paul Kyzivat) Mon Jan 09 1989 22:04

    Question for hard drive owners:

    I have seen several mentions of creating small hard drive partitions to
    hold a single floppy.  This sounds like a great idea for all those
    times when you want to build or take apart a floppy.

    What I would want to be able to do is DiskCopy the entire floppy to the
    partition.  But I don't see how to do this unless the cylinder sizes
    are the same on the floppy and hard disk.  Am I missing something?

    I don't see any value in the partition if I can only move the data
    file-by-file with the copy command.

	Paul
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
2097.126 cylinders for ST506COMET::MCGEETue Jan 10 1989 04:1917
    Paul,  If you have a copy of the 1.3 version, on pate A-3 it provides
    guide lines for setting up an 880K partition on a 20MB ST506 as
    follows:
    
    BytesPerCyl	= BlocksPerTrack x Surfaces x 512
    
    BytesPerFloppy = 880 x 1024 = 901120
    
    CylsToHoldFloppy = BytesPerFloppy/BytesPerCyl   (round up the result)
    
    This works out to 26 cylinders for the ST506 20MB. 
    
    I used this formula and doubled it to be able to put my workbench
    and tools disk both on the initial partition.  It worked ok and
    I had a little room left.
    
    -Jerry
2097.2yes but...CIMNET::KYZIVATPaul KyzivatTue Jan 10 1989 21:1710
    I know how to leave a partition with enough blocks.  But it appears
    that DiskCopy copies by track or cylinder.  If tracks and cylinders are
    of different size on the hard disk than the floppy, then what does
    DiskCopy do?  Even if the copy is block by block, the partition will be
    at least a little big (by a roundoff factor), so won't copying TO the
    floppy get an error? 

    I guess I should just try it.

	Paul
2097.3SDB works for meDPDMAI::ANDERSONASat Jan 14 1989 01:058
    I use the program SDB.  Just rename the hard disk partition to
    Backup_1:  then type "SDB -i df0: Backup_1:"  After it is finished
    rename the hard disk partition to whatever you want.  SDB will copy
    all files and directories the -i switch tusrcompression off.  You
    will end up with a copy of your floppy on the hard disk.
    
    Alan
    
2097.4How to do it.CHEOPE::ZABOTMarco Zabot-Adv.Tech.mgr-Turin ACTTue Jan 17 1989 10:0510
    Diskcopy won't work UNLESS the devices are the same ( you're right
    Paul!)
    The solution is simple, even if not elegant. Suppose your partition
    is named HD-FOO , then
    
    > Copy DFx: HD-FOO: all 
    
    does the trick. Is that what you're looking for ? ( it also recompat
    the files )
    
2097.5I want an image copy of the floppyCIMNET::KYZIVATPaul KyzivatWed Jan 18 1989 11:5412
    My hope was to be able to do an image copy of the floppy, on the
    assumption that this is MUCH faster.  Speed is the only reason I have
    for doing it at all, such as when incrementally taking apart or
    building a floppy.  If I have to copy the floppy one file at a time I
    might as well leave the data on the floppy.

    Isn't it true that if I can find a way to copy the floppy block for
    block (instead of track for track), then the old file system should
    work on the copy in the partition?  If so, all I need to do is write a
    new copy utility.

	Paul