CHPHLP.THD --- Copyright 1987 by Phil Wheeler An original compilation of Compuserve Model 100 Forum messages for use by Forum members only. Disk drives are great -- unless you cannot get the data off the disk! This THD is aset of messages on that topic, for the Chipmunk. The availability of that fine utility DISKPP is discussed. And the the originator of the thread is graciously welcomed to the "Chipmunk Zone"! Message range: 160825 to 161353 Dates: 11/19/87 to 11/25/87 Sb: #Chipmunk Help Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: All Background: I have text files (.DO - I presume they're ASCII stored, but I don't actually know how chippy stores them) that are less than 20K stored via the chipmunk in a third level subdirectory. I need to load the files to RAM to change them. Problem: I cannot access the files because the chippy 'info' function says that they are over 66K long and I receive an OV error when trying to load them. When trying to read them with READIT.BA, I can read all of them except one, getting an 'OS Error in 19' error (leading me to believe that, somehow, the file was converted to one REALLY long string-do I have that right?) - but I need to be able to manipulate them, not just read them. Also interesting, when making a backup copy of the main disk (somehow, my other backup copy also has the same problem!), I have no trouble accessing the two subdirectories above where my files are located but receive a 'FF - File Not Found' error when accessing the final subdirectory where the files are located. Additionally, several other files in other subdirectories also show as having more than 66K when I KNOW that they don't. Question: Can anyone direct me toward some online software and help/educational material that would help me recover my lost files. I thought my backup wasn't corrupt - until I tried it and discovered that I'm up to my knees in poop - I NEED those files. HELP, ANYONE, PLEEEEEZZZZZ??? (Phil, Tony, Denny???) Fm: Denny Thomas 76701,40 To: M. Miller 76606,25 Oh dear. Do you have a couple of hours? You have run into a problem that just happens - for no reason I can think of - "A Trashed Directory" It isn't pretty. What you need is a program called DISKPP in DL9 (BRO DISKPP for associated files). It is a very powerful tool for working with Munk disks, but it does take some time to learn what is going on. First you have to learn the stucture of the Munk disk (as found in the DOC file) and then learn how to actually run the program. I have successfully recovered files from a severly trashed disk, but it took time. You have to copy the recovered information onto a new disk sector by sector. I was able to recover not only text files (the easiest) but CO and BA files as well. After you look through the DOC file, let me know - you will undoubtedly have questions that I can answer that will save you hours of puzzling over. .........."You are now entering the Chipmunk Zone" Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: M. Miller 76606,25 Re the OS Error when using READIT.BA (I assume that's READIT.CHP stored here), that's because the program uses the LINE INPUT method of getting lines from the file, which assumes a line will not be longer than 255 characters before encountering a carriage return. If your text file had carriage returns only at the end of paragraphs, as many users prefer to do, it's likely that the paragraphs are longer than the input string can take. Thus, READIT won't be helpful in that case. You'd have to change the program to get data from the file a character at a time, typically with an INPUT$(1,1) type of statement. There is a major file recovery, disk "fixup" program for the Chipmunk in DL9, called DISKPP.V30 - See the DOC files in DISKPP.DO1 & DO2. It's a major disk fiddling program, you can do a lot of damage to the disk files if you're not careful, but you can also do a lot of fixing, too. There is also a lot of technical info in DL9 on how the files are stored, how the allocation table works, how each sector points to the next, etc. It can all be found with the command S/KEY:CHIPMUNK. Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Thanks for the info. I will try that software and search the Library. I don't expect that revovery will be easy or quick, so I will let you know if I have further problems. Thanks for the direction! Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: Denny Thomas 76701,40 I think I've been in the Chippy Zone for sometime now, Denny. I wasn' sure whether or not my problem was a trashed directory. I will look up that software and get back to you. I'm SURE I will be confused, not having taken the time previously to fully understand the mechanics of the Chippy's innerworkings. I'll let you know. THANK YOU! for your help!!! Fm: Larry Holmes 72276,1666 To: M. Miller 76606,25 How old is your Chipmunk? If it is one of the early models, or one with a particular type of disk drive, there may be a way to at least prevent this from happening again. Although I am no longer associated with my old company, the Chipmunki was my pet project and I will be happy to help any way I can. PCSG wrote the CDOS operating system, so Mike Anders may be able to get some help for you if you can't solve the problem using the methods already mentioned here. In any event, I'll be glad to do what I can to help you out. (I haven't finished reading this thread so if it turns out that you already solved the problem this will just be a good intention!). Good Luck--I am sure you will be able to find a way to recover the "raw" data from the disk at least. If you have any way to make a mirror image backup of the disk, I would do that immediately; you may run into problems as CDOS may give you error messages during the backup process. By the way, CDOS, in the final version, actually did some minor repairing of problems "on the fly", which was a great idea PCSG came up with but, which may also complicate your problem if you allow CDOS to try repairs on a disk with a bad directory. Hence, I would write protect the disk whenever you are trying to read the lost data, to prevent CDOS from trying to make repairs and actually making the problem worse. If you can tell me the version of CDOS you have, plus the color of the plastic front on the disk drive, plus the height of the entire drive, and the approximate date of purchase, that may tell me what version of Chipmunk you have and may help in the solution of your problem. I do not usually have much time to check in here so it would be best to use EasyPlex so any messages you leave me won't scroll of and be lost. I have started a new company after losing Holmes Microsystems/Engineering to my investors and am terribly busy. Good luck!!................Larry Holmes Fm: Larry Holmes 72276,1666 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 I think you know more about the 'munk than I do! Thanks for doing your usual terrific job.......Larry Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: Larry Holmes 72276,1666 Not true. But we try with what we've got.