lgold@bambam.metaphor.com (Lynn Gold) (09/23/89)
I need to read some ASCII files off disks written by an IBM PS/2. The 314s on my ST can't read high-density IBM 3.5" floppies; they can't read low-density disks produced by a high-density drive. The local Atari dealer says it's due to the difference in head size on the disk drives. Is there any way I can read these IBM disks? Is there some kind of special hardware or software I need to buy? Thanks, --Lynn lgold@bambam.metaphor.com figmo@eris.berkeley.edu Typo of the month: (found in a hardware manual) "Functional testes can be either static or dynamic." NOTE: The opinions expressed here are MINE! ALL MINE!!! So THERE!!!!!
kclenden@silver.bacs.indiana.edu (Kevin Clendenien) (09/23/89)
In article <797@metaphor.Metaphor.COM> lgold@bambam.metaphor.com (Lynn Gold) writes: >I need to read some ASCII files off disks written by an IBM PS/2. > Lynn, I do this all the time. On the PS/2 you format your disk like this: FORMAT A: /N:9 /T:80 This will create a 720K disk that can be read by your Atari. I've done this from Model 80's, Model 60's, Model 50's, and Model 30's. They all have a 1.4M floppy drive in them, so it will work... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- kclenden@silver.bacs.indiana.edu Kevin Clendenien BLoomington Atari ST users group BLAST, President BLAST BBS - (812) 332-0573 FNET node #141 "Of course any opinions or views stated above do not necessarily represent the official position of any person, or organization other that of Kevin Clendenien." --------------------------------------------------------------------------
hcj@lzaz.ATT.COM (HC Johnson) (09/24/89)
In article <797@metaphor.Metaphor.COM>, lgold@bambam.metaphor.com (Lynn Gold) writes: > I need to read some ASCII files off disks written by an IBM PS/2. > > The 314s on my ST can't read high-density IBM 3.5" floppies; they > can't read low-density disks produced by a high-density drive. The > local Atari dealer says it's due to the difference in head size on the > disk drives. Try formatting on the ST. Either use TOS1.4, or a PD formatter that can put the IBM magic in sector 0. Howard C. Johnson ATT Bell Labs att!lzaz!hcj hcj@lzaz.att.com
gl8f@bessel.acc.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) (09/24/89)
In article <798@lzaz.ATT.COM> hcj@lzaz.ATT.COM (HC Johnson) writes: >In article <797@metaphor.Metaphor.COM>, lgold@bambam.metaphor.com (Lynn Gold) writes: >> The 314s on my ST can't read high-density IBM 3.5" floppies; they >> can't read low-density disks produced by a high-density drive. >Try formatting on the ST. Either use TOS1.4, or a PD formatter that >can put the IBM magic in sector 0. This isn't the entire answer. There is a longstanding problem in the PC world related to mixing high density and normal drives. Yes, she needs to use TOS1.4 and a PD formatter when formatting disks on her ST, but she also needs to make sure that she formats disks on the same type of drive she writes on them with, and that she only writes on a single disk from one type of drive. The DOS docs do say this, in a very round-about fashion. To verify that this is indeed the problem, she can try reading the disk in a IBM normal 3.5" disk drive, such as one on a PS/2 model 25 or 30. ------ Greg Lindahl | Welcome to Mars, Earthling. We Martians don't like gl8f@virginia.edu | illegal aliens, so we'll just have to deport you.