Data transfer from - Powerbook Duo 2300

>Back on the Duo I began transferring some documents to a blank floppy. I erased to be sure.

First of all, was this a 1.44 MB HD diskette? A DSDD/2DD diskette in the special 800K Mac format would work in the Duo floppy drive as well, but can not be used in a USB floppy drive.

If an HD (1.44 MB) disk, has it been formatted Mac or PC? A Macintosh PowerBook Duo 2300 can handle both. Do you possibly have access to a Windows PC (with a built-in floppy drive, or an external USB drive) that could be used for an alternative simple transfer test on a PC-formatted floppy disk.

Addendum

>I then took one of the floppies that did work as mentioned above over to the Duo. In the Duo it showed the same files that were there when it worked via the SuperDrive. I added a two files to that floppy

Was the total size after adding the files close to the maximum for the floppy disk in question?

Any thoughts from old-schoolers?

That's why I still have my G3 beige. It can handle SCSI, ATA, Firewire, USB, CDs, DVD-ROM, floppies, Zip, etc. *sigh* Those were the days when Apple really made computers maybe no to last but did last.

I don't suppose any kind of networking is possible? I haven't seen a duo in over 15 years so I don't remember the specs. Crossover ethernet???

It is strange that the floppy can be read when it has a certain content, but not when something had been added, and then again OK when going back.

The SuperDisk drive is somewhat special, being able to handle both 120 MB SuperDisks and normal floppies (1.44 MB Mac-formatted HD, 1.44 MB PC-formatted HD, 720K PC-formatted DD). However, this should not affect the ability to read the floppy, and could not explain why it works with one set of files but not with another.

Would it be correct to assume that you formatted the floppy in the external PowerBook Duo drive? Is it at all possible to format a disk in the SuperDisk drive at the MacBook (which Mac OS X system version?), and if so, any change?

No chance of locating another USB floppy drive for the MacBook?

Any other old (pre-1998) Macintosh computer available?

It is per se possible to transfer files via a null-modem link (requires a serial port or a USB-to-serial adapter at another computer), a local modem-to-modem link (using a built-in or external modem with the Duo), or a modem-to-modem link over the phone lines. For this one would use a standard communications program (terminal emulator with file transfer capabilities) on both sides. This could, for instance, be the communications section of ClarisWorks/AppleWorks (Duo), ZTerm (another Mac), HyperTerminal (old PC).

One could also connect the Duo to the Internet (dial-up via an internal or external modem), and transfer files as email attachments.

With a dock with an Ethernet port, there would be other possibilities. Any access to a Duo Dock II, or another dock solution?

>I did find some other old 1.4 disks. Any thoughts perhaps using those? Maybe a different starting point?

To begin with, verify the hard disk by running Disk First Aid on the Duo. Next, restart with the Shift key depressed (Extensions Off). Insert an HD floppy (preferably new and empty) and reformat it (1.44 MB Mac format) via Erase Disk under the Special menu. Drag-copy only a few small files to the floppy. Run Disk First Aid again and verify the floppy. If OK, eject the floppy by dragging it to the Trash, and lock it (write protect). Move to the USB (SuperDisk) drive at the MacBook. Any change?

Please provide some information for clarification:

1) The Powerbook Duo 2300 could also be a Powerbook Duo 230 with a new upgraded motherboard installed. Do you know which one your friend has?

2) The Superdisk with USB is an Imation product; not an external drive with an Apple logo on it. Is this the drive you are referring to?

3) The Powerbook Duo and its docking options never had USB capabilities, so you cannot be using the Imation Superdisk with the Duo.

4) How are you transferring files to a floppy disk from the Duo? I am assuming you do not have access to one of the docking stations Apple manufactured for the Duo, which had an internal floppy drive on its side (and the "II" model had an AAUI-15 ethernet port)

Apple sold its own external floppy for use with Duos: The HD-20; is this what you are using (see photos)?

This drive requires a Powerbook Duo floppy adapter:

Lastly, have you tried formatting an 1.4 floppy on the Superdisk and then using it to receive files from the Duo to transfer?

MlchaelLAX wrote:

Lastly, have you tried formatting an 1.4 floppy on the Superdisk and then using it to receive files from the Duo to transfer?

I do not remember if the Imation had the ability to format discs.

I also found this Imation support document:

Disk in drive x: is not formatted, do you want to format now? Mac: Floppy Disk does not mount on the desktop.

We have learned that on some computers, powering up the computer with the floppy drive connected can put it in a state where it will not properly read floppy disks. To see if this might be the situation on your particular system, try either of the following as a potential workaround:

1. Power up the computer with the floppy disconnected. Then connect the floppy drive, allow it a few moments to mount, and attempt to read a floppy.

2. If the computer was already powered up with the floppy drive connected and the floppy drive does not appear to be performing normally, disconnect the floppy drive [using the "Unplug or Eject Hardware" icon in the Windows taskbar, or by dragging to the Trash on the Mac]. Then reconnect it and try to read a floppy disk.

3. We also need to make sure that we are using 1.4MB HD (High Density) Floppy Disks, not DD (Double Density) Floppy Disks.

4. Try the drive on different USB ports, or another machine. Make sure that you are not connected through a hub or other device, but directly to the machine.