In article <DDEGJONNOFMPHPIHKCJGEENICBAA.rgrafton@indatacorp.com>,
 rgrafton@indatacorp.com (Randy Grafton) wrote:

> "Randy Grafton" <rgrafton@indatacorp.com> writes:
> <
> < When I try to use the Apple HD SC utility to partition the drive I get a
> < message that says the process was unable to unmount the drive because a
> file
> < may be in use. This same message comes up when I try to initialize the
> drive
> 

You've got Virtual Memory (or RamDoubler, or similar "toys") turned off, 
right? That was my "killer" yesterday while attempting to repartition 
the (only) drive in the Powerbook I'm trying to install NetBSD on. Had 
*EXACTLY* the symptoms you're describing, despite trashing *EVERYTHING* 
off of the drive and rebooting from an external. Then I checked the 
memory control panel, which told the tale... I was using a file on the 
drive all right. A nice, fat, invisible 17Meg file (which, 
coincidentally, matched the "missing" amount of space I was seeing on 
the drive...) being used for virtual memory. Killed virtual memory, 
restarted, and was able to format/partition without so much as a hiccup.

Now if I could just get NetBSD to boot...

> Are you unmounting the drive _before_ running the formatter?
> 
> Mark Geary

Irrelevant. HD SC Setup takes care of unmounting (if there's not 
something in use on the drive...) if the operation requested needs the 
drive unmounted. "pre-unmount" the drive, or don't. HD SC Setup doesn't 
care.

> If I put this drive into a non-Apple system and re-format it, can I bring it
> back to the Quadra and use the  Apple HD SC utility or will I have totally
> messed things up?

You *SHOULD* be able to do that, yes. Whether you *WILL* be able to or 
not... Well, that's another question. Some versions of HD SC Setup seem 
to look for something (I've never been able to find out exactly what) 
that says "Yep, this is an Apple drive, so I can work with it". I've 
seen cases where Apple drives were reformatted on a SCSI-equipped Wintel 
box, (for the sole purpose of wiping them clean, overwriting anything 
that *MIGHT* be left, and starting from ground zero - it was a paranoid 
company) and then put back in the Mac, and HD SC Setup refused to work 
with them. (or even acknowledge the fact that they existed) On the other 
hand, I've seen other cases where they were reformatted in a Wintel box, 
used for months there, then moved back to a Mac, and HD SC Setup was 
perfectly content to deal with them. Why? <shrug> You tell me. I've 
never been able to find out.

-- 
Don Bruder -  dakidd@sonic.net     <--- Preferred Email - unmunged
I will choose a path that's clear: I will choose Free Will! - N. Peart
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