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app:using_fast [2022/02/07 07:50] – Created from https://applesaucefdc.com/tutorials/fast-imager/ flanapp:using_fast [2024/01/29 02:43] (current) – pdevine
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 TODO: TODO:
-  * Better overview. +  * Finish rewrite of content. 
-  * Update Fast Imager capabilities. +  * Screenshots.
-  * Update images.+
  
 ===== Overview ===== ===== Overview =====
  
-The Fast Imager can read a non-copy protected floppy disk (5.25″ or 3.5″) and export the results as either a disk  +The Fast Imager is designed to quickly image unprotected floppy disks and to recover data from damaged, unprotected disks. It displays its progress and highlights bad sectors. Bad sectors can be retried multiple times in hopes of getting a clean image.
-image or as the individual files within the disk image. To export individual files the source disk must use a standard file structure.+
  
-Some copy protected disks may appear to successfully fast-copy but will not actually boot (or behave correctly if the protection check is deferred). If you’re imaging a commercially produced disk, even if its a copy, it may be safer to image it with the Flux Imager.+The Fast Imager can save the image in many formats, depending on the source disk, including platform-appropriate image files (like ''DSK'' and ''WOZ'' for Apple II disks), as well as individual files. **The Fast Imager can not write ''a2r'' files.**
  
-There may still be use cases for fast-imaging copy protected disks. Such as if the disk has a normal file system and you want to export the exposed files individually for use outside the disk image (for example, //Wizardry// or //Ultima V// save game files).+===== UI =====
  
-To create a fast disk image, select the Fast Imager by clicking the “Fast Imager” button on the left side of the UI:+{{ :gallery:fast_imager.png?direct&600 |}}
  
-[image Fast Imager icon]+**Track/Sector Grid**: The track/sector grid shows the status of each sector that the Fast Imager has read. Tracks are the columns, sectors are the rows. Each cell is colored to show its status:
  
-===== Source and Target Disk Formats =====+^ Color   ^ Status                   ^ 
 +| [green] | Block read successfully. | 
 +| [blue]  | Block read in progress.  | 
 +| [red]   | Block read with errors.  |
  
-Supported disk formats are different depending on whether you are using 5.25″ disks or 3.5″. 
  
-==== 5.25″ Disks ====+===== Imaging a Disk =====
  
-=== Source Disk Formats === +⚠️ Before you begin you should [[https://applesaucefdc.com/?page_id=539|clean your drive head and inspect each disk for damage prior to imaging]].
-  * DOS 3.3 +
-  * DOS 3.2 +
-  * ProDOS +
-  * Pascal +
-  * CP/M+
  
-=== Target Disk Image Formats === +The basic steps are:
-  * [[http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/faqs/Csa2FLUTILS.html#006|DSK]] +
-  * [[https://retrocomputing.stackexchange.com/questions/12684/what-are-the-most-common-apple-ii-disk-image-formats-and-what-hardware-disk-driv|D13]] +
-  * [[http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/faqs/Csa2FLUTILS.html#006|DO]] +
-  * [[http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/faqs/Csa2FLUTILS.html#006|PO]] +
-  * [[https://applesaucefdc.com/woz/reference2/|WOZ]]+
  
-==== 3.5″ Disks ====+  - **Insert a disk and click ''Image Disk''.** The drive will seek to track 00 and begin reading the data on the disk into memory. 
 +  - **Enter a name for the image in the ''Save As'' text field.** This field is editable even while the disk is being read.  See [naming images] below for some tips. 
 +  - **Click ''Retry Bad'' if there are bad blocks.** The Fast Imager will try read the bad blocks (and only the bad blocks) again. You can repeat this as many times as you would like. If a block can't be read after several tries, see [recovering bad blocks] for some advanced techniques. 
 +  - **Wait for the image to finish.** 
 +  - **Select a format and click ''Save''.** You can save the image in as many formats as you would like until you start imaging the next disk. See [image formats] for an explanation of all of the supported image formats. See [saving multiple images] below for some tips on organizing images.
  
-=== Source Disk Formats === 
-  * ProDOS 
-  * GS/OS 
-  * Macintosh MFS / HFS 
  
-=== Target Disk Image Formats === +===== Tips, Tricks, and Gotchas =====
-  * DiskCopy 4.2 +
-  * [[http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/faqs/Csa2FLUTILS.html#006|2MG]] +
-  * [[http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/faqs/Csa2FLUTILS.html#006|PO]] +
-  * [[https://applesaucefdc.com/woz/reference2/|WOZ]]+
  
 +Tips & Tricks:
 +  * Fast-imaging can be useful for copy protected disks if there is a normal filesystem and you want to export the exposed files individually for use outside the disk image (for example, //Wizardry// or //Ultima V// save game files).
  
-===== Imaging a Disk =====+Gotchas: 
 +  * Some copy protected disks may appear to successfully fast-copy but will not actually boot (or behave correctly if the protection check is deferred). If you’re imaging a commercially produced disk, even if its a copy, it may be safer to image it with the Flux Imager.
  
-Before you begin you should [[https://applesaucefdc.com/?page_id=539&preview=true|clean your drive head and inspect each disk for damage prior to imaging]]. That page will explain the “Clean Head” button.+----
  
 While the underlying concepts are similar, which screen you see depends on whether a 5.25″ or 3.5″ drive is connected. While the underlying concepts are similar, which screen you see depends on whether a 5.25″ or 3.5″ drive is connected.
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 ==== Reading 3.5″ Disks ==== ==== Reading 3.5″ Disks ====
  
-[image Fast Disk Imager 3.5"]+{{ :gallery:fast_disk_imager_screenshot.png?direct&600 }} 
 +⚠️ This screenshot needs updating.
  
   * If the “Clean Head” and “Image Disk” buttons are not enabled as shown above, ensure that a 3.5″ disk drive is properly connected to the AppleSauce and that the AppleSauce is connected to the host computer.   * If the “Clean Head” and “Image Disk” buttons are not enabled as shown above, ensure that a 3.5″ disk drive is properly connected to the AppleSauce and that the AppleSauce is connected to the host computer.