bw0i+@andrew.cmu.edu (Bryan Wu) (01/19/89)
My friend just got a new 1040 ST and asked me to ask the net about 2 problems: 1. How do you format a disk in double density? Using the format program on the DOS disk he has only formats the disk w/ 40 tracks (double sided) but is only in single density. This is strange because the programs he bought are in double density. 2. Some games that worked on his friends' ST's (a 520 and a 1040, both not new) but do not work on his 1040. Some games that do this are: Typhoon and Super Sprint. Should he send the ST back to the dealer for repairs or is there a simple explanation for this? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com (01/21/89)
Bryan Wu asks: >1. How do you format a disk in double density? All ST formatting programs, and the formatting routine available from the desktop should format at 80 tracks (optionally, sometimes more). The only available option is Single Sided or Double Sided... is your friend sure that his disks are really being formatted at only 40 tracks? And just to be sure, is he talking about regular 3 1/2 inch Atari format disks, or IBM PC style disks? >2. Some games that worked on his friends' ST's (a 520 and a 1040, both not n >but do not work on his 1040. The answer here is likely to be that his new 1040 has what are called the "Mega ROMs" in it. Some software, notably games, violate certain restrictions and thus won't work with the upgraded ROMs. This is not a defect in the machine, but is the fault of the software. He should contact the software publisher about an upgrade to the software that follows the rules..! One possible solution, although not guaranteed to work, is for him to try loading the old TOS in RAM from disk, if he can find a copy of it. This should allow the software to work, but it eats up nearly a quarter of the memory in the machine. BobR