There are several points to be aware of when using SyQuest drives, Macintosh PC Exchange, and DOS formatted cartridges together. They are listed in order of importance. Also, check the Tech Info Library for several articles discussing Macintosh PC Exchange and removable media drives.
1) Make sure the third party driver for the SyQuest drive isn't loading on
the Macintosh, this will typically be an init or extension. Also, the
driver that's written to a separate partition on the drive (when using
it with a Macintosh) will need to be deleted. Do this by formatting on
a DOS computer.
2) Use the latest version of Macintosh PC Exchange.
3) If the drive has been used on a Macintosh, then taken to a DOS computer
and formatted, it's possible there are still driver fragments causing
problems when you try it again on a Macintosh. To avoid this, use the
formatting software that came with the DOS version of the drive to
low-level format the drive. Note that there is a difference between
low-level formatting and using the DOS format command -- make sure you
low-level format the drive.
WARNING: Low-level formatting a drive will erase all data, with no
chance of recovering it. Be sure to backup data first, or use this
procedure on new or blank disks only.
General how-to for cross-platform use of SyQuest drive. (This will assume a standard SyQuest drive using SQPREP on a DOS computer and Macintosh PC Exchange on a Macintosh computer.)
1) Make sure both drives work in their respective computers.
2) Load the proper drivers on the DOS platform. These drivers will
typically be two drivers in the config.sys file. The first one will be
an APSI API (sometimes referred to as an ASPI Manager/SCSI controller
driver), the 2nd one will be a driver to control the SyQuest driver.
For the first driver, we're using "aspi2dos.sys" and for the 2nd
driver, we're using "aspidisk.sys".
3) Make sure NO Macintosh SyQuest drivers are loaded on the Macintosh.
4) Format a cartridge using SQPREP on the DOS computer.
5) When done with SQPREP, for thoroughness also format the drive using the
DOS "format" command.
6) Insert the cartridge into the Macintosh drive and restart the computer.
If you are asked to initialize the disk after restarting answer "No",
go to Macintosh PC Exchange Control Panel, click options, make sure a
check mark is by the SyQuest drive. Close everything and restart.
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