Bad Checksum error fix?

[carvedeye]

Hi all is there a way to fix checksum errors on floppys? I have a few boxed original games that i am trying to install with whdload but when the installer is reading the disks i get alot of checksum errors if anyone can help i will be very grateful.

Ray

[Thomas]

It depends on why the checksum errors exist. If the checksum errors are there because the disk is old and lost its magnetism, then you could perhaps repair it if you copy it to another disk. If the checksum error is caused by a virus, it's most likely that the disk is lost because important data has been overwritten.

1. make sure that the write protect switch is on before you insert a floppy disk
2. make sure that your Amiga is not infected with a virus
3. make sure the game disk is not infected with a virus
4. copy the game disk to an empty disk
5. run DiskSalv on the copy
6. try to install from the copy

If the game is copy protected, you will probably not be able to copy the disk and if you try to repair the original it may be that it destroys the game.

[carvedeye]

Thanks Thomas i will give that a go but ive had bad experience with disksalv is there any other programs i can use other than disksalv?

[zipper]

Disksalv is the best I know! The only problem is you might to have it run 2 -3 times before a bad error is fixed (at least on hard disks). I managed to fix Lotus Esprit 1 with Disksalv when unfixed it exited on some 30% of  the total game (bad crack...).

[carvedeye]

Well there is no harm in trying it 1 more time, i will let you all know how i get on

[runequester]

Honestly, I'd probably just download an ADF and copy it to the disk. (unless the disk is physically damaged of course).

That is, if you can't manage to fix it any other way

[scuzzb494]

I actually use ARESTAUR to check disks cus it restores  whole files that it can find to a place on the Amiga. DiskSalv is fine but you often get fragmented bits and never know if the whole thing is saved. Most the time with checksum errors you are going to get parts of the disk unreadable and when you need the whole thing for say a game it really matters not cus it won't work. Try cleaning the floppy drive first and then try to copy the whole disk. I have never really had much luck salvaging and repairing disks other than to recover data. Thats why I use ARestaur.