johnsonc@topaz.ucq.edu.au (06/05/91)
I remember hearing that START magazine had published information on how to make disks formatted on the ST (?) so that they can be read on IBM compatibles as well as the ST. This was supposed to be done by altering three bytes somewhere on the disk. Do any of the readers know of this information? I tried looking back through what issues I have of START but couldn't find the info and am afraid that it is in an issue I have not bought. What sectors/bytes have to be changed? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Chris Johnson : "I have made this letter long than usual Final Year B.App.Sc (Computing) : as I lack the time to make it short." "Just another student" : - Blaise Pascal =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
mathew@mantis.co.uk (Giving C News a *HUG*) (06/05/91)
johnsonc@topaz.ucq.edu.au writes: > I remember hearing that START magazine had published information on how > to make disks formatted on the ST (?) so that they can be read on IBM > compatibles as well as the ST. This was supposed to be done by altering > three bytes somewhere on the disk. Do any of the readers know of this > information? The best solution is to get TOS 1.4 or later, or a copy of Neodesk, or a copy of DC Format. All three will format IBM-readable disks with no problem. There are also countless other PD utilities to make pre-1.4 ST disks PC-readable. Alternatively, just format the disks on the PC. mathew
johnsonc@topaz.ucq.edu.au (06/06/91)
In article <cXo3322w164w@mantis.co.uk>, mathew@mantis.co.uk (Giving C News a *HUG*) writes: > > The best solution is to get TOS 1.4 or later, or a copy of Neodesk, or a copy > of DC Format. All three will format IBM-readable disks with no problem. > > There are also countless other PD utilities to make pre-1.4 ST disks > PC-readable. > > Alternatively, just format the disks on the PC. > > > mathew > > Thanks to everyone who replied to my previous posting. So far I had been formatting on the PC but it was getting tiresome when I had to keep running out to the campus just to format another dozen or so disks. The information is very useful. Steve, thanks for the information on the bytes to be changed. I'll try it as soon as possible. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Chris Johnson : "I have made this letter long as I Final Year B.App.Sc (Computing) : lack the time to make it short." "Just another student" : - Blaise Pascal =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
revpk@cellar.UUCP (Brian 'Rev P-K' Siano) (06/06/91)
johnsonc@topaz.ucq.edu.au writes: > > > I remember hearing that START magazine had published information on how > to make disks formatted on the ST (?) so that they can be read on IBM > compatibles as well as the ST. This was supposed to be done by altering > three bytes somewhere on the disk. Do any of the readers know of this > information? I tried looking back through what issues I have of START but > couldn't find the info and am afraid that it is in an issue I have not > bought. > > What sectors/bytes have to be changed? > > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > Chris Johnson : "I have made this letter long than usual > Final Year B.App.Sc (Computing) : as I lack the time to make it short." > "Just another student" : - Blaise Pascal > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Actually, a good number of BBSes should have a formatting tool that allows the ST to format for MS-DOS machines. (The formatting is actually identical-- a few boot sectors have to be placed on the disk.) If you cabn get ahold of PC Ditto (the software version), the FORMAT A: command works just as well. ====================================================================== Brian Siano, aka [ "Mr. A. Hitler, the old Nazi thing, says [ Mickey's silly. Imagine that! Well, Mickey is Rev. Philosopher-King [ going to save Mr. A. Hitler from drowning or [ something some day. Just wait and see if he revpk@cellar.UUCP [ doesn't. Then won't Mr. A. Hitler be ashamed!" [ -- Walt Disney, 1933. ======================================================================
boyd@nu.cs.fsu.edu (Mickey Boyd) (06/06/91)
In article <1991Jun5.105751.7503@topaz.ucq.edu.au>, johnsonc@topaz.ucq.edu.au writes: >I remember hearing that START magazine had published information on how >to make disks formatted on the ST (?) so that they can be read on IBM >compatibles as well as the ST. This was supposed to be done by altering >three bytes somewhere on the disk. Do any of the readers know of this >information? I tried looking back through what issues I have of START but >couldn't find the info and am afraid that it is in an issue I have not >bought. A much easier way is to use a formatter that does it for you. Most programs that offer formatting do (including the hardcoded one in TOS 1.4). For a quick solution, ps2form.tos from atari.archive.umich.edu works for me. It will format disks so they can be read by any IBM compat (including the ps/2, which for some reason has more trouble that others). I have been using it for about 3 years with no problems. Also, Neodesk 3.0 formats to IBM specs, as does (I think) Universal Item Selector III. -- ---------------------------------+------------------------------------- Mickey R. Boyd | "Kirk to Enterprise. All clear FSU Computer Science | down here. Beam down Technical Support Group | yeoman Rand and a six-pack . ." email: boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu | ---------------------------------+-------------------------------------