Re: SuperDrive Controller and FDHD Mechanisms - a Followup

"Ed Eastman" <noone@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:doc23q$3ul$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Warren Ernst wrote:
>> I thought that by using FDHD's, the Apple II could use, well, what I've
>> seen as "PC Floppies."
>
> You absolutely can... so long as it is DOS and not windows extended
> filename format. As soon as you put a long file name on the disk, it will
> no longer read in an A2as a DOS disk. Reformat and recopy the files using
> 8.3 names only.


Well, you're nearly right. Here are some facts:

1) Most utilities apart from MUG! can't handle long Windows filenames, but
that's not a major drama because the 8.3 short names are still present in
the directory. (If you have trouble working out which short name belongs to
which long name, run "dir /x" in a Windows command prompt to show the short
names that were generated by Windows.)

2) If you're not careful, long filenames will confuse some (most!) software
including the MS-DOS FST. (And some of the older Mac software that handles
MS-DOS disks as well!)

The problems are caused because long filenames use directory entries with a
combination of flag bits, including the flag that says the entry is the
volume name. So if older software sees a long name directory entry before it
knows the volume name, it tries to use it as a volume name entry - usually
with "unfortunate" results!

Fortunately, the solution is simple. Any time you format a disk on a PC,
make sure you give it a volume name! As long as there is a "real" volume
name entry before any long name entries, the long name entries will just be
ignored by older software. (If the disk is preformatted, "rename" it on the
PC before copying any files.)
--
Peter Watson
-- Write to MSDOS disks on the Apple IIgs?
-- Impossible! ;-)


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Used Shift+del, with wrong file and need get it back
    ... When you store data on a partition then two things happen: ... An entry is created in a file list. ... "Undelete" programs can search the disk ... diminish rapidly while you allow Windows goes about its ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Disk drive damage continues even in Windows 2003
    ... Windows 2000 on one computer, and connected it via a LAN to an ordinary Japanese Windows 98 computer. ... Windows 2000 wrote all of the files to its local disk, but gave them all garbage filenames. ... If you're calling an API or MFC method that displays controls with text that is supplied by Windows instead of by you, or if you're displaying text that the user wrote, of if you're displaying filenames of the user's files, or if you're displaying the name of the Start Menu which Windows returned to you when you correctly called an API to ask for the name, you must let Windows suggest a font. ...
    (microsoft.public.win32.programmer.tools)
  • RE: Windows auto scandisk every boot up time!
    ... When you type "chkdsk /r" or otherwise initiate check disk another way ... I have 2 possible entry points. ... The actual entry looks like this that is added: (doesn't say chkdsk but it ... > windows to automatically delete hiberfil.sys but it seem not to be the source ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: explorer.exe - case-sensitive filenames
    ... that there's already a file by that name on the disk. ... because Windows is case-insensitive when searching for ... filenames. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • save file search into Excel or text
    ... windows without the ". ... looking for just Filenames.. ... If you want results across your entire disk, ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.general)