Robert,
As Geo3 said, there really isn't any Zip-specific Apple II program to format
the disks.
With the RamFAST SCSI utilities there is a low-level SCSI format option,
which would need to be followed by partitioning. You would then do the
normal ProDOS format on it with Copy II+, ProSel, AppleWorks, etc...
There probably are the equivalent capabilities with the Apple SCSI Card
utilities, which is what I gather you're using.
The best utility (in my opinion) for re-formatting troublesome Zip disks is
the Zip Tools under Mac OS 9, which works on both ATAPI Zips and SCSI Zips.
IIRC, there you have 'Long Erase', which is aware of the Z-track and resets
the pool of available spare blocks. The Zip Tools also displays (2) indicia
of disk condition - (i) Disk Life Remaining, and (ii) Format Life Remaining.
When 'Format Life' gets low, you do a 'Short Erase'. When 'Disk Life' gets
low, you do a 'Long Erase'.
(I'm working from memory - forgive me if I didn't get that exactly right,
but I'm sure I'm pretty close).
Unfortunately, these 'tools' were never updated for OS X > 10.2, so you have
to go back to a Mac capable of booting OS 9 in order to use them, unless you
still have a 10.2 setup running with a SCSI Zip.
The PC version of the Zip Tools probably offers these same features, but I
have no knowledge of it, unfortunately.
Finally, I might offer another suggestion -- I've used Zip Drives and Disks
daily on my Apple IIGS' since about 1997. While the 'Click' is indeed
sometimes caused by a bad Zip Disk and/or a bad Zip Drive, I've also had it
happen when the wall wart power supply begins to weaken and becomes unable
to keep its voltage regulated within specs. You'll see this problem
discussed on the internet, too.
In those cases, once I replaced the power supply, the 'click' went away. The
last Zip Drive power supply I had with that problem was replaced with a
generic one from Mouser. I just had to replace the plug with a cut-off right
angle style plug from the failed power supply. I don't recall the voltage
and amperage at this minute, but I could look it up for you if you'd like.
This voltage issue might not be the problem at all, but if you have a spare
power supply, try swapping first and seeing if you still have the 'click'.
Regards,
Hugh Hood
Post by Geo3Post by Robert BoucherI need someone with a better memory than mine on a Zip drive problem. On
a daily basis I use a IIe with a Zip drive (actually 2) for backup.
Recently one of the drives began clicking. I vaguely remembered the
click of death and so looked this up on the internet. There I found info
on the disks, "Z-track", etc.
I have always used Copy II+ to format my Zip disks. Was there a special
Zip utility for formatting disks when used with the Apple II?
If so, does anyone have a copy?
I do not think there was any special utility for the zip disks on an Apple II.
Maybe the SCSI partitioning for 3- 32meg partitions. But once partitions you
could format with Prodos.