mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Meir) (05/10/91)
In article <1991May7.061300.13670@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu> devolder@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Eric DeVolder) writes: >Okay, all you IBM PC techno gurus, here is a question for you. What I have >in mind is this: Is it possible to create your own device driver, for DOS >or some other OS, that does not use the BIOS but rather communicates directly >with the drive controller and make the drive believe that it is a 1.44M disk? > >I have noticed, as I am sure hundreds of other people have, that alot of the >problems of trying to add a higher density drive to a PC is that the BIOS >does not support it. So, why not bypass BIOS and create your own subroutine(s) >to handle the disk drive. Outside of the check for the 1.44M hole on the >actual disk, I don't really see any problems in doing this. > >If this is possible or it has already been done, I would welcome any pointers >as to where to this driver or source to a driver would reside. > >Thanks, >Eric DeVolder Somewhere on SIMTEL, there is a program called FDFORMAT16, which lets you do all kinds of neat things with your floppies. I format 1.44 Meg floppies to 1.77 Megs. It should support 3.5 inch floppies even on old XTs. But to get 1.44 Megs from a 720K floppy you still have to add a hole. It isn't worth it. Why not just buy 1.44s? They are available for $.79 from MEI 1-800-634-3478 in lots of 25. (Add $3 ? for s/h). This is apparently a good company with good prices, so I'm told. They have a small but impressive line of products. BTW, I DON'T work for MEI, but I DO plan on ordering from them. * * * * * * * ======================= Meir Green * * * * * * * * ======================= mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu * * * * * * * ======================= N2JPG