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| Can a 5MB ProFile be low-level formatted for Apple II using a Mac XL? | |
| Posted by: olePigeon on 2016-04-21 10:21:29 I was wondering if anyone knows if the 5MB ProFile drive can be low-level formatted for the Apple II using a Mac XL? Seems like a Mac XL with parallel card is slightly more common than an Apple /// with a ProFile Interface card. | |
| Posted by: rsolberg on 2016-04-21 16:55:27 This doesn't definitively answer your query, but may be helpful: http://apple3.org/Documents/Technotes/TA29187.html | |
| Posted by: Paralel on 2016-04-21 17:23:52 From reading above. I'd say "No" It specifically says: If you're unable to initialize a Profile for use with an Apple II or Apple III after it's been used with a Macintosh XL, check with a Level II service center: the ProFile may need reformatting. Apparently a "Level II Service Center" was the only place capable of doing what you want to do. | |
| Posted by: ScutBoy on 2016-04-21 18:55:06 I don't think BLU can help with this, but it might be worth asking the author. http://sigmasevensystems.com/BLU | |
| Posted by: CelGen on 2016-05-12 23:59:39 I seem to recall before BLU came along there was a utility that you ran on the Apple III with a ProFile controller installed and using the normal LLF rom you initiated it from there. Presumably the Apple III-specific parameters are set that way. There's a guy on ebay right now using the copyright loophole to sell the burned EPROM and a copy of the utility on ebay. I bet you if you look deep enough you will find it available freely somewhere. The EPROM image is at least on bitsavers along with its source code, so presumably the utility is also now public domain. | |
| Posted by: BadGoldEagle on 2016-05-13 00:56:07 You may find this interesting: http://john.ccac.rwth-aachen.de:8000/patrick/UsbWidEx.htm It enables you to check, backup and low level format any Profile (5 or 10) or 10mb Widget drives directly from your Windows PC or Mac. It's a DIY though. You can find all the ressources to built one on Patrick Schäfer's website. I was thinking go getting one of these but I'm not good enough at soldering. Don't know how much it will actually cost but I think much less than a III with a Profile interface! I think this is the perfect tool for diagnosing and repairing bad Profiles/Widgets. What do you guys think? | |
| Posted by: olePigeon on 2016-05-13 09:39:09 That'd be exactly what I need. Too bad he doesn't sell a kit, I'm useless when it comes to building anything electronic. | |
| Posted by: BadGoldEagle on 2016-05-13 14:29:26 Same here. We should start a new thread called: "Can you build something for me?" I bet a lot of people here would like to have things done by other, more competent people (including me!): SCSI2SD brackets or really any 3D printing at all: i personally don't know anybody with a 3D printer... Plus, it wouldn't cost us a fortune since all the engineering work was done before. It's just the matter of soldering a few resistors and caps and flashing a few EPROMs... I think this UsbWidEx is a must have for any Profile/Lisa Owner. A lot of people got rid of their original Widgets because they couldn't do a low level format. When you think of it, the Profile/Widget drives were really well made compared to Conners for example. The Widget is often easily fixable (brake failures), but low-level formatting was a pain in the @rse! Until now I guess. | |
| Posted by: BadGoldEagle on 2016-05-25 09:07:16 I actually discovered something today. BLU can low-level format any Profile or Widget. But I think it will only on Lisa/XL afterwards. Picture taken from Jason's Macintosh Museum 's video about the Lisa:  | |
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