System 7.1: "a disk error occurred"

[aphetica]

I keep getting this error when I try to copy files from a floppy to a folder on my desktop.

My destination system is a PB520c, and the disks were created on a beige PM G3 with OS 9.1

It gets about 3/4 of the way through the transfer before reporting this error.

What could be causing it?

Google gives me nothing on this.

 

[JRL]

Try using different new floppies.

 

[Christopher]

Can't you repair them since floppies are like a mini hard drive?

 

[Patrickool93]

Can't you repair them since floppies are like a mini hard drive?

No, it's probably damaged media.

 

[equill]

If possible, download to a Mac rather than to a PC. Suffix '.hqx' files should be safe, but there is software to ease the transition of Mac resource forks if you are obliged to use a PC to download other file types. Transfer the files to a Mac from a PC using floppies, if you do use floppies and a PC, that have been initialized as PC floppies on a Mac. Last of all, decode (unstuff or whatever) the software and write the floppies for use with the PB on a Mac under System 7 (or 8 at a pinch), using an older version of StuffIt (5.5.1 or older). Alternatively, if the files are not .smi, preferably do not decode them before they arrive on the target PB 520, or use a 68K Mac for the job. This is an ultraconservative protocol, but neither PPC Mac nor PC can then get at (damage or remove) the files' resource forks.

de

 

[Scott Baret]

It sounds to me like your problem is the media itself. I have the problem of transfer disks as well--I do work on a Plus, have to transfer it from 800K to 1.4MB disk on a Classic, and then use the 1.4MB to get the document into the MacBook. (Then I have to reformat it again since it's an ugly RTF file).

It seems a combination of age and use has gotten to these disks. The best suggestion is to just buy yourself a box of floppies.

 

[aphetica]

The best suggestion is to just buy yourself a box of floppies.

This box is probably less than 2 years old, mac formatted Imation floppies... I don't think they have ever been used.

Also, Equill- the only PC I have that is capable of downloading anything right now is... well, incapable. Its hard disk got "prioritized" into one of my Macs. :beige:

Maybe I will try using my 6100 to make the disks instead. I believe it's running 7.6, so that should rule out any OS incompatibilities at least... or... well, maybe not now that I think about it. I suppose it's worth a try though.

...I have to work at 5am. Why am I still here at 12:30am? *leaves*

 

[equill]

I'm writing, as usual, from an iMac 500/1GB under Tiger 10.4.11, fully updated. I use that or the adjacent iMac/500 under Panther for all downloads, without problem. I don't suggest that you must download to a PC, and even marvel that you are not using the iMac. From there you could transfer by ethernet to your second PB 520 if you had an ethernet crossover cable.

Again, break the problem down to its parts. Can the target PB 520 read any floppy disk? If not, can you erase/format a floppy disk in the PB? If you eject and then reinsert that erased floppy, is the floppy disk mounted? Is such a floppy disk readable in any other Mac? If your PB's FDD reads its own floppies, and if those floppies are not read in another Mac, the PB's FDD is out of alignment.

If it reads any floppy shoved at it, but not those that you are trying to feed to it with your newly downloaded software prepared on a Beige G3 (three processor generations later than the PB) under OS 9.1 (all-PPC code), suspect that process. Even go back and read my comments about when and where to decompress and decode the downloaded software. 7.6 (some PPC code) on a 6100 (one processor generation later) is as good as you have available to try to approach the antiquity of your 68LC040 in the PB, unless your other PB 520 is in going condition.

de