Network Access Disk 7.5 to a Floppy in OS X

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Level 2

440 points

Network Access Disk 7.5 to a Floppy in OS X

Hi all,

For the past evening or two, I have been trying to get the Network Access Disk 7.5 files from my OS 10.4 Mac onto a floppy disk (via usb) so that I can boot my old PowerBook 140.

The problem is, the files won't fit on a floppy - I'm only a few KB short. After trying both Mac OS Standard and Extended, I've tried:

* Formatting the floppy as an MS-DOS disk - still too small

* Disk Utility's restore feature (OS 10.4) - still too small

* Disk Copy 6.3.3 via Classic - still too small

* Disk Copy 4.2 via Classic - the program will not run

Thanks in advance for your help,

newmsubob

Posted on Nov 1, 2005 9:22 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Level 10

741,911 points

Nov 1, 2005 11:02 PM in response to newmsubob

Have you tried using the Make a Floppy command from Disk Copy 6.33? Dragging the .img file onto the floppy through the Finder won't work because the floppy isn't large enough to store the files on the image in addition to the directory structure on the image and the floppy's own directory structure. Choosing the Make a Floppy command replaces the directory structure on the floppy with that from the disk image, and therefore saves enough space to complete the copy.

(9359)

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Answer 2

newmsubob Author

Level 2

440 points

Nov 2, 2005 11:47 AM in response to newmsubob

Niel,

Thanks for the reply. The Make a Floppy command is grayed out, even after I mount the NAD 7.5 image. in DC 6.3.3. I've tried the Convert Image command, with no success.

Any Ideas on how I can gain access to the Make a Floppy command?

Best Regards,

Robert (newmsubob)

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Answer 3

newmsubob Author

Level 2

440 points

Nov 2, 2005 12:14 PM in response to newmsubob

Hi,

I just tried holding the OPTION key while dragging the disk image into DC - this is supposed to execute the Make a Floppy command. I get an error message saying that my current hardware configuration is unsupported. My floppy drive is plugged directly into my computer via USB (no hub); I don't know what the problem is. I've just installed the latest OS 9 driver for my USB floppy drive, and it doesn't seem to help. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Robert (newmsubob)

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Answer 4

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,235 points

Nov 2, 2005 3:25 PM in response to newmsubob

Robert,

If the steps in KB article # 58560 do not help, and if you have access to a PC, it is possible to use the latter to create sector-copied floppies directly from certain Mac disk images (such as the Network Access disk and the British System 7.0.1 download). Please post back for details if of interest.

Jan

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Answer 5

newmsubob Author

Level 2

440 points

Nov 3, 2005 10:01 PM in response to newmsubob

Jan et al,

Thanks for the advice. After trying another brand of USB floppy drive as well as studying and implementing the KB article, I finally gave up and used a Windows PC to get the boot-image onto a floppy... Problem solved.

Regards,

Robert (newmsubob)

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Answer 6

Dec 15, 2005 10:09 AM in response to newmsubob

I had a similar issue and discovered an interesting work arround: Disk Copy 4.2.2 !

Like you, Disk Copy 6 wouldn't recognize the USB floppy drive as being a valid target to "Make a Floppy", but Disk Copy 4 did! I just opened the image in DC4 and clicked "Duplicate". DC4 would then recognize a floppy when it was inserted into the drive (don't mount it beforehand).

Most disk images could be opened with Disk Copy 4... if they couldn't, I opened them with Disk Copy 6 and did a "Convert Image" and saved it as a Disk Copy 4 image.

I was successfully able to convert Network Access, Disk Tools and the "7.5 Super Booter" disk images. Super Booter is a non-Finder boot disk (in order to save floppy disk space).

Note: I used these applications booted under OS 9, but I think my work around should run in Classic. I'll give it a test later.

I'm looking forward to getting my old LC III back in usable condition.

Dual G4 MDD Mac OS X (10.4.3)

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Answer 7

Dec 16, 2005 12:23 PM in response to Martin Walser

Hi Martin
I never used DC 6 for copying the named files to disk,only DC 4,OS 9 and OS 7(works perfect with that old files for me).
Downloading the files on a PC-disk unexpanded also works for all old MAC's with PC FE,and even with old AFE on system 7.
Did copy your advice to my bookings of such advice ,mainly from Jan Hedlund/Denis Eddy so far-hope Jan will post again ,too-missing since change to NEW discussions!
Thanks a lot-sorry,can't give more then +++
Rainer

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