csrobe@ICASE.ARPA (Charles S. Roberson) (03/21/88)
I would like some help sorting out the available disk formats. I've used Twister and given the explanation in the STart article, I have a lot of confidence in it. Recently, I tried using DCformat (especially for its intelligent copy (I only have one disk drive while my HD is being repaired, again :-( )). The most significant thing about DCformat is that it allows you to format 82 tracks per disk. I also remember some people saying that certain drives won't let the r/w head go that far -- I think mine is one. Would some kind soul take the time to explain DCformat (especially when are the options (sectors per track, tracks, side, etc) active). If I am doing a disk copy, do these options have any effect? Also, I know have disks that have total storage of: 815,600 805,179 695,891 and I'm think I have seen 82x,xxx or something like that. Is there a utility that I can use to determine how a disk is formated. Thanks, -chip +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Chip Roberson ARPANET: csrobe@icase.arpa | |1105 London Company Way BITNET: $csrobe@wmmvs.bitnet | |Williamsburg, VA 23185 UUCP: ...!uunet!pyrdc!gmu90x!wmcs!csrobe| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ "One world is enough, for all of us..." - The Police.
woodside@ttidca.TTI.COM (George Woodside) (03/23/88)
In article <8803210013.AA22627@icase.arpa> csrobe@ICASE.ARPA (Charles S. Roberson) writes: [edited a bit...] > I would like some help sorting out the available disk formats. OK, here goes, from the ground up. It gets deeper as it goes along: A disk is a series of concentric circles, called tracks. The standard for the ST is to have 80 tracks on a disk. The first track (usually called track zero) is at the outer edge, and the last track is toward the center. If your disk drive has two heads (SF 314), it can read and write on both sides of the disk. If it has only one head (SF 354), it can write only on one side. Each track is divided into sections called sectors, sort of like cutting a pie into equal pieces, straight out from the center. The standard for the ST is to have nine sectors per track. > The most significant thing about DCformat is that it allows > you to format 82 tracks per disk. I also remember some people saying that > certain drives won't let the r/w head go that far -- I think mine is one. That's true. The manufacturer of a disk drive specifies the amount the read/write head can move. The ST uses the industry standard of 135 tracks per inch, so the head must be able to move (step) in 79/135ths of an inch to reach the innermost track. If there is another 1/135th of an inch left before the head stop, you can reach track 81, 82, or further, depending on exactly how much extra room there is. That will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, model to model, and possibly even drive to drive in the same model. Atari has used different manufacturers, so there are variances in the drives in the world today. > Would some kind soul take the time to explain DCformat (especially when > are the options (sectors per track, tracks, side, etc) active). I didn't write DCFORMAT, but I've used it. The version I have is 2.03, which is the last one I saw come across the net. Nice job to Paul Lee, Keith Gerdes, and Michael Vederman, the authors. I'm not sure I like the darkening of the options as the mouse passes over them, though. Generally, the options active are the ones that are dark when the mouse is away from them. The upper box selects the disk format characteristics (SIDES, TRACKS, SECTORS, FAST/NORMAL), and the lower ones are functions you can execute after a disk is formatted. You should understand the "tracks" and "sides" options from above. On to sectors, those pie shaped wedges. As you move in on the disk, the circles get smaller, so the wedges get smaller. The amount of data you can write is dependant, therefore, on the amount that fits on the innermost track. Now, you can read or write data on the disk only in whole sectors, which are 512 bytes on the ST. When you write a sector, the disk drive has to be certain not to start writing too soon, or write too late, or it will mess up the data in the preceeding or following sector. To help with that, there is some space between each sector on a disk, called a gap. There are standards for gap sizes. There is also some leftover space after the last sector on a track. If you use the leftover space at the end of the track, and maybe make the gaps smaller, you can crowd one or even two extra sectors onto each track. However, you get a non-standard disk, which can cause problems. When writing 10 sectors per track, DCFORMAT uses gaps slightly smaller than the Desktop's built in formatter, but well within the specs for the Western Digital 1770 (the disk controller inside the ST). There are other formatters around which attempt to put eleven sectors on a track. This, in my opinion, is past the limits, and will eventually lead to disk errors. There is information in the first sector of a disk which explains to the operating system the format of a disk. When you change disks, TOS/GEMDOS reads this information to determine how to read the data on the disk you just inserted. It will correctly read data from the disk if the information in the first sector (boot sector) is correct, within GEMDOS's limits, and within the capabilities of the disk drive. One very important option you didn't ask about is "FAST". The way the ST is built, the disk controller doesn't usually get to tell the ST when it is done with a task unless an error occurrs. The DMA chip is in the way. Consequently, things run a little slower than they should. Dave Small came up with a way around this with TWISTER. He staggered the sequence of the sectors on the tracks, so the extra time lost by the controller, moving the disk heads, and waiting for things to settle down would amount to the time taken by the staggered sectors to pass under the disk head. That way, just as the head is ready to read or write, there's the right sector. Another way to do this is by writing what looks like a bad sector on the disk, but making sure it is a sector that the disk will never use (like sector number 10 on a 9 sector disk). That causes an error, ends the disk controller task, and gets things moving sooner. The error is on a sector you didn't want anyway, so no harm done. This trick, however, may bite back in later versions of the ROMs due to better error reporting. DCFORAT 2.03 uses the bad sector mark trick on 9 sector disks, and the stagger the sectors trick on 10 sector disks. Note that it appears to use these tricks whether you select "FAST" or "NORMAL". No matter which one you select, you get the same result (couldn't be a bug, could it?). > If I am doing a disk copy, do these options have any effect? This is where the risks of using non-standard formats rear their ugly heads. It depends on how you do the copy. If you copy files one at a time, from one disk to another, GEMDOS will read and write the files correctly. If you use the desktop's disk-to-disk copy, by dragging one disk icon onto another, you must be sure the disks are the same format. The desktop will detect an error if one disk is single sided and the other is double sided. It will not detect an error if one disk has nine sectors per track, and the other has ten (or anything else). You will wind up with a useless disk. If you are using some copy utility program, you'll have to try it and see for yourself. If you are referring specifically to DCFORMAT's copy function, the same rules as the desktop apply. You must be certain that the disks are the same, but the options on the format dialog (TRACKS, SECTORS, SIDES) do not matter. DCFORMAT reads the boot sector to decide what to do. It just doesn't check all the information available to it to be sure the disks are the same. A side note about the desktop: If you open the destination drive icon, then drag the source disk into the open window, GEMDOS copies all files and folders to the destination correctly, regardless of formatting differences. It does it a file at a time, though, so it's not fast. > Also, I know have disks that have total storage of: > > 815,600 > 805,179 > 695,891 > >and I'm think I have seen 82x,xxx or something like that. You've got some funny numbers there. There is some amount of overhead in the use of a disk. The boot sector, the disk directory, and a map of how files are laid out on the disk (called the File Allocation Table) all take up space. The rest of the disk should be available for your data. I say should, because a glitch in GEMDOS causes it to lose a little space, normally four sectors per disk. To determine the amount of space a disk offers, multiply the number of tracks by the number of sides (or heads), then by the number of sectors per track, and finally by the number of bytes per sector (512). Deduct the overhead mentioned, and you have the number of bytes available to you. The more common values: Single Sided Double Sided 9 Sectors 10 Sectors 9 Sectors 10 Sectors 80 Tracks 357,376 398,336 726,016 807,936 81 Tracks 361,984 403,456 735,232 818,176 82 Tracks 366,592 408,576 744,448 828,416 > Is there a utility that I can use to determine how a disk is formated. Not really. There are quite a few things that vary, as you can see. You can determine the more important things (tracks, sides, sectors, and sequence) with the program I'm attaching to this note. It will also tell you what the serial number on a disk is, and if it contains self-booting code. It attempts to determine these things by reading full track images, and scanning the image for the sector and data marking values. It my be fooled by some unusual formatting programs, or copy protection schemes. > Thanks, > -chip You're welcome. Please pass the information and the program along, so that others can learn, too. table !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>? @ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_ begin 644 chkfmt.arc M&@A#2$M&350N34%. ,P, '80L5 8Q20% ,#10,0;+$2!,J(" ]F((0z MBIPW9^2$:=.FC)P3<T T">.F3A@V"1\,+'@P8$ G09H4"9BPP$B#"%N ()-Fy M#APV8?* H(.F# @S;^2T"4,'Q!LS(,+\9/,&#AR=-.>L,:E@2A8G3Z!,23*%x M):0"8]"L,=.FZ!8R<M+8*=.%*I$B4X9(20*%2I(G3KR"%4NV:-2;.3/.>5/1w M*%*>/L>\<6,FS9DZ$NFD60PB#>.@0R53MKRS)P@Q;]X4G5-F#)V@>H]V]AEUv M364WJT&XF5B&S,RT:UDD=6,;,0@X1.E8A*W:-VG303-2]JVWL9PY1<V4N;-3u MXI@U<UR 2(+4S9O;:GW6!%'&C7 YM76''5OV]\,V<.AD!"HG*?BU>D^#"%MZt MC0NJ+3U1!QUP# @"&S7))UL=;8AAD6'5A7'='+K-D089960$QX.M55C::<_]s M]B =UJW!0GZB?03"<2 J!UN'.Z4(DH5Z^*1::Z]]EH=P%,96!VEAB,&&3S9)r MZ%-JL/D&(T>]>=8:1BM:E(:*'37X( I)$)&"=MS%AJ-BYH5A648<@:!7&7B4q M-F"00WX6&AVZ\4343Q(6-9YWPI'!95&(P88@=!D95T8<=90WAHU(Z<5B<D8Ep MZ9EST/TT7803:C?%AXS>@48:8:V(QAMUL&$;>G.$:B=L2J$7!AEGRO%0?6&@o M)YMHM>FX6U+022D5""BHL"550E1Q1%<*M+1>7R"H2D:@GI$HH6MI#'6&3TPFn M18=P\"FH'U-C$.63H,C)H5=/JUJ4'0C;%3643@[^%-J0MHFA4QT=E:HB?9E)m MYL89[D$D41O*B5OL5XH]U:]PIDT&VQS\590=54%400423TBAUQ%E!#4M"%)Hl M=T5HRU[H$R0-#$%8@:3)L1:Z-]A0PPPWL!####3(8.; !=0@0PPY@#!%F4:4k M@> 84WH' A%R: =) D<4X48:(Q]PA M7//$$$5N]I=?';Y"!$V\@()$&&VSTj M.$08VN4PLPTTW*Q7%5,4X4015.@ @@LNA+ 'B7?((08?<&R*DQAS\#%&J6X i M;J$=8>#11PC77MAM"'> ;"&&5#ED69X@P###"SN_@ ,."<$00T :"$-(2T9-h M5"Y45% ( =A ;4+%%*"L Q@- \ '!P &$!FKP @"2 Q5O ! g MT08 AFCM ' @49&%$$ BD"B1< :*"$4FE)#(HD2#&7XG1Y[AP6 #@"!FV-4$f M(,6,N9U'S(#;:<6,MIT]S"A0,N&,@1'+!HKP(203B 0G4ZYL^3*F!#/R3 Pe M(Z/J51'\I((IDA$0!0U(! F1 0* '!!OSUB@%> ,OBE*1"C+JX"O&7Q"5/S[d M!\9<51$)IN63*F9$,,HNDJQ((O%%@Q'(!GZ@] +!"P"2 )$+-"7(CP"3FKU(c MX%G(F1\\ "AQ$L1;6@9*!IEQ@5MB<0%.<@W$P,4'H.3+5?W@ T! =2%7H%MLb M_ERY1558GG!RICV "-\ %/P H/V"K.),>#NQ\@\> S?5 2!@0P ."# ,@("?a M B"@(1$$$" !R'K:": '%4_T ,0__OS@ H7:(0 +A!+^0P\<"" !3""3 < #z M.AWJ(X0;_^ #PX7XP,*B/FP,),V*__#S8HZPY#'0B34"@(L0I_C'8!!</-'"y MA/ HP2(]9F!@88M3\C.E/]H-@$:2'=KSPH7P&,D>DD\XZ:$9<-P'#P#_V&.&x M R_D1A HVC$ QA8W!</FVZ:)N<'M("!SGWR\&F&GZ(5 P8V]\UC**($60,&w M,F;:<P8%4WKYISEUPI D&!!4.24^VAV 2'A2L,@/&&SZD&J+K/Z3TI-F@$"Dv MF+PEN61]VAF QY?UX4JF=@NPXH073M0Q'X7W 5 7 F:0$*=H_'0:WK3.9F#Mu M$W (T*$_8!C0 WX(,(N? !2>8>>%_LBHGQD#>=(LNOZ880.V(-RP+;8AR*'=t M!)R$!T< 1W(XH3_X(NN=G>$U&T:Z"#0;!(5F0("C/R.DE9X!/X(#AB/-B@%Qs MLT)03,' WV8\D (*=!PK&\T.0#&;5 S,H'?N01BK%#MBB:RR]%7H0GH6ZJ<=r M 3*$5S0#VA4 @<$4FNG/&0[TB@<,/.S):D, S) 6) /]8X@!7@< -IMC>\TUq MV@; H<$,P*!-P+0$#%0<.$VSPN7!:K)9KP2E0F$UUFN"X4// @!AD;J#LPL&p M"FJ?+;:X/DY.(>**!V &T][YBK6C8 @@!!#')KLL/$A< T"8 40 # $^./DNo M 7P0$#H? LBN@!D"2&$$' ZL9QL<'##H1)(*)@X /CX X(@1Q3GRPP'$&X\\n M(&H+PC8(/IHX%!2+O4%@]SR \P,$8/1','N=PP.AV@E-;C/[ QG@_A,HR"D"m M." 0( @#9&90$8'@0),(&YB:T#_P $(%#C+?P"$A !0$ #(M 0"UA@ Q_Xl MOP#^8X! *. !T98 )J@.'J4#&H6XUS$E0 %F36/#M\R@ [49@FU%0T"O[@<'k M3-$/ 6@!]3\(0#\8"!J+*K7^#H& U?HIV<I7)8_;-,T(4;H8)C3R+=ZI@#%j M$>!;4CL4"[TG!"A \6?S&8C: #BY'.X00E-PH@*H!H$<L$D? 4B>XD"0$R7(i M<7.!(QP PE4J#$21/OIXD7Z4AX]@D&N,Y8.! P6@O $$@ER%W"*[E >(,RB@h M!=2IVQW!@ !0 H!C=W1C^^#HBG_H@XYV=&4> :$\/K+#CZX$I'<.8$8>%,X g MA3QDCFRX/?*9#P)OY%:H?AA$#E$'$)?;I.(ZR;F!' #WP*#.H GO#-4CSW'f M>X(>E]>AM.#G #F*7I6^Z81P*DB8_'C! ?P B4<X0P$F,(1P("/&;A#/W*Ce MISWQJ4]^NN #PL1'Z@ #('>,Y_[[&=:V#@V'L32$ 1P*$$C"@,#*.\?)F1Hd M0A<*C#7B,#?02"8?ZFD$@AJ!GX5L'@P.$%)@"),=J8,!.%1 '0"(X!LHZ&GYc M<H@O,'0J2453 +[0<-0G@* )4FA$+)A!!AL1L (,4%PH<D+ %@ @ %D%P%;!b MT=7JA+5> T&$'D#@AP$PX @ . ;T/!6 S #!* P1&BT0P"0L!=""B)'E0 a M!B;4E0!OTBM?_>HN!32FK@8P@P84VPP&0* Z9W"0"@JHH/7@RPZ@HJQ?/2LGz M$.BAJ5+8IR3*ZE'%#2 WVDA+ F+EA+(*(*S[@-<_@" # R A&.-(! B"$ V-y M?0 3,(" %8"@#6#$"@7X\L.V3*A38:+NA#D<WOJPM;_A$8!!34"/ QS( $+\x M0X+R, ,+<@B' X W/ [,KC>WJS^R>O.[[ EO6L:K&T*<@0,OF%MINS,0.T&!w M6^MKCRP@I$@$&$!QK@$ OC#15#]$#*X+8 ,(%*NQ[H9PF?AZ!6KWJ0T"VM&Gv MZ/@H$H PNA6K@()!D,")19 . 02!34@(@A""D&,0%" <B !$(%Z\8QE+11TVu MQK&.>1P$'P-9R"]^00'P58M.'9A8@L@- XP@ 1H<"E_.-0"^R+,P&(2GR#.>t M1Y+_86*IT",<2(!&$'+341&]& Y8^7$J5! -$L%'VMNLT_S 6<YP^U'Y/"Ss M3_41Z!#.>!^%#L*A382..H^H1"<2$8D0/6D>F -?*2VSTD[L:7XMH*D_(#4Zr M^#4!5).:'/SB *K%+*<0G*"I4N;7"ZS\A"D80=$B<$>CZRB5=T2Z>9PX K#Mq M,>P9W^/8,#:R3^$QTV $ ]G*CO&,X]%LJ<@#VC/5=%H@@&U@M\/2@0A&;GQMp M[HY:F\Z^!<:=\QR./0<@U[7& :]A0("0HA"-]*%'ZD#04!/Q( X*E4P-%1o M7RL!"/CT1A? 0(^9FI#@\/0,OX1 +'.$1P5 $$#\*F$"IC! OPZ IZ/E*3Vn M%NP)*OB", 5^#1P P 3=&PT(%G &%ZA@"R(_ PI00"X)= )@8 !10$"YP@m M0 D4P*<4& &&6U+ #-Y@@%=[L!@S6$/DH?N("6U^R($@@5S\\M?"/'%E@)L=l M/PSXDM'6WG;3T<<<9_^'.7 #0+GKT#L1@ !Z%'!V # @[YRBNSA9Y)@S"*A%k M3@!;DH1)B9P"H@5PS]'C^8$"*&"AE?R <4U+RPEN ,&ABH7<W@]^D)2#\%j M @#@)/\$,&C#/QT*TS\ZQ XX['Y"[A ]Z0T/UQ:\"643DH?P =&\].%('G6%i MP>;@ (/<+[_T<%6!&4RP>2J O@?@8P<;((#\?\AC1^P@ A!X?_U!J@!'.H$Kh M#-H @KKFP V3O1 [@I$6!4#C" 2@.-4W(>S0?K975RY@!DK0?G6E?130?=\'g M/L$W>LSG?CCB#M%'?_:'?SOB#OR7'O\7@ P@/\P@<-W@'#%!MO'@'!%!F<@f M 77U!NI25W7@%'6%!X<R4XGS#]_0/"#@ 0000, !KM"#R!7?I5V "#04Q\ e M 3*0&PX0.EB !+" !5>0#*X$ H(##:P2 $H @3D"?O\ #F8"#FS@ #L"#NK7d M(> !RV@ < !^H! %,"#IZA'1! P<&<ETH 7*X'F!H)>C3A@@ !NX !^BCc M#IO7 N ##I^7([ADA@X A>BAI<W(6WXAG$XA\!BAPV AZ P>&# "G_H+*KRb M A!PA]X! :'8?R#WB*LR$*0 (F#@#8AH>YL' A @ @Y$ +L"#BTP,>0 !:#Ga M&5/B#L ":Y4X/>W!#.B!/FPB!3B"#HL(/OAP**9$$.6"#[!(B2U2A""G!!WPz M@F;B#FU@#R('-JT4(RSB#F^@#E/0"(\SC8&87' (!A:P>:CH=W7"=K7')EC@y MC?1P&N@G(M%P"2#P 6#3"!VB#OR!(^I@)NG%!&:"#F< \T" _5A!BCP>/1@x M60!@?![@=QXI!:U$#PC26:8(>P8R>P"0)#L"CRP2D1"G5$.# %,"#[7HD;'0w M#&0 B3Y)";I(2FY("N) +'GDI^"#1)Y!@# #[ 0DU,PDP_GE/P@"JT')J^'v ME"T9>2]9>]Q 7<\!</^@#@,'##XP- R@ K55 CH(0&SR#X#P3PZ0&V<@ F\9u M-G))ERNV8BT6<D!07**A!AM ;@8 !LXP/;8! E\@F 1!F!!0<NJRE2:I'Q#0t M"6 #Y2H'Q=G4V0I#I:G N22E@ 4G@#HLA!"0 !R-X *<A=]4$ !O@#0>Vs M*^YP!JO9FJ^IEMJQ$0<& H%I7&J0 1" >25H>&! #*_' ([Y <,9F5%' !K r M#?PD<F*9<0T@F@ PB3>I H"P HJ# "O04Q% "MLI!%YE 8K$ .JW XK# S0q M!H" < PP?CO !W_P#X8WG@,1 8H@>Z3$GP 0 6(@>R(7<]BIG0HP!151GP@@p M! WJ>V! (%4@!9708! " A*EO&4G0," A5ZH3>9H1MJ=SGB&=J) %+0H&_Po MH!'*&$@9HGY5HBK4H2FJ!*WP+LF5GN,D 'B%&]:A'1UP/^#Y+A(@H!70,@X@n MH!9 @#J!L4) !;0HV01I1>@DMJ1 0( (57I ;N@,?UR<@)* 0ZTI#UE <9@m MH%Y5B"8PIF6*I+(@>U:*I=XA 7X (2("#3F* -Y9I 0 H89'H\L23]2S/D2Bl M2@.1 2)P8&H)39" 6'\*!&" A@?007$)"/Q@'2MV4 F*=I\(>,IP+0I4$54#k M-A\G<V2I4-< LS7G0.BBOT9JD]@C$I8$4KY!!<WEB9JHST5 O:0!8WP5+$ j MIJ90!I%9"6< #R]0 ?^" ^$!!N0@J/2AJJR:HE$ZI;24.6;0'XP!!+ * 3i M'LTSIT:I'1CP-&6RIV=PKCR:K=6Q.2^PIMKA 0AP9NEI<:NJJRI$K1I*+H!Jh M6>VJ/!!@!K52 6"3H[ # &^@ =,3KP?B55=:KMZA 5QP8+ 0%"1@3VW 12Ag M'T&08@ 0"]6P.2"PIGWJ1>FS E4@$:,#!AMV8A\@"2+" $+(1P^:<Y(0+B%9f MFE+J>[DZ4OF:HBMJ>!&!&M\:KF4"!/ " +; -Z!I@,1 H3P)FGW+P'C5&MJe M '!I'0=K'!+F501 KC>3J"[T!.WYGF&E.5X S KL\! LP%DLT* LSKK59=Ed M ?\*!D8 U[% $,;(!5! & ##"N !!(!HA;J5^,:L'M$-74U<FQB6'"E 9XTc M4Y.J! UJ!G&SICT+4ODJ3/J HN3BM ,!M0 @M51;:VHW$$C[K_.3=_X@MC^4b M 66;58MQ!C10E5# $.C 10#L%(Z3GQ$$T/3 +][K<)K!K9 0(Z# FPK&FX+a MMQ(DMW3K #M[MW4+4!;@>]+:(@/7JOJAH'6U.R2 O.X* NOJ&7#0 &,+ !4@z M"TEBN_^PK1(* PQJ>&P@ M]Z 400'@]G!M28M5O+-0@[!4#@GH:'N!=Z !GZy MLV1I#]]+FGPZ(!UP!,P"5[NCBXSK+)>BONS[0TT:OQ/R#V?@!?]JO@)K!DZPx MO_V;M&8 !*^;1+*K'11[8&F[K9;[LM [LS5[*',+O=E[MS[[N:D:P:Z:'N,;w M+2C<N!C@P>V+IB+<==P*!CSPKQV+ !]K'2)+M9_*NE?[O]Z@P#.5H6&U.W#2v MQ>#ZQ4HK#/C*JIUJF1M, )[D&1U;J@ 0'AU+ "(K!G&'QD@+!C0P/R!@L " u ML")R&C/L'8IJPXX*J1*J "K+L@TZ.M(Z$/^B'C?9'OP (64G8;5F#_/J!0*3t M8#BS8$_0R<W8R>S%!$<2'IW<+ 6@'VX@ 8@* !J "! 25D,@='#P ^M1RQK@s MB$_ 7C[0RK/Z0QO !\\J.J3#H?+$7D5@S,TS?N$&#*>A'<G\K"( S+A\1?K1r M!L%SD\PXL<(\4YSJS.XESD.C '( /0&0*T_0//^+ MQL,-]L 3F45#1<SNL\q MJ=5\S=Z1S4]PSG9G-YD\L=VLR_0; &'7S 5-AT,3SOHA=PH !T)P)(,'T ,Ap MT-8U<.9ST J1T(HS!$O+#-1!;#[5",.'TB+ " HB(EHK%8P <E.YG17A//K$o M!F0 !U$P0C[%"$(P8XW 78Q0BO \S0A0S5M#":78+>L!!P, 7BTG #[=TBRMn MTA7(TBX-"# -ERT-<I0EAQD* 4<'"#I@>$5@R]OJ!X/T@ -2F0H 87@.PR0m MUKO#)FX@<D$HTU7-"!-P#%+1"!T%!M*RSHKD (<,T?K1RQC]&QHMF\J,JZN*l M-VXG888=T8G-7D#0V(;WV!Q=Q/DJP3.U7&$E &+ >6 !# 0G**Q5EL(!BH k M!U !B8 !T$ !B( !T, !AZ@L0_1/5.A3VWP=!UP&!+Z=!7@%Q!0 0KBP";*j MKQ+LVRH W#X@W,1MW(RQ%,GM(NNL 8#@W/MJQ$]T *2M.*:-!*F]VLUI"%KHi M!- PW5+A \O-=/<$'";7']U VU%5=>D( -XQ%>W+'#KC 'ZPV\[@![>M#'XPh MV\8 !]L WFFD&TZT'Q"PF0A !-@3-P0A"1(Z$9G\,R(0$85( $/P#OJAOQ*Ag M!@) !(% A&@XD0@"$&@#Z>T-7R@!*=! &H '(&065( "$H0 6LPXD$.X\]1f M!R&N'^E3XB>>XRX^XS4^$+N!Y"*^Y":. "X.XX* X@0 Y8<Y$"P GVQ%#FNe M!@1 "8 LA!Y4I.XE?NXEP.Y;8S$>]<![ZG!()@!FW#'M @#H@@"X(P!@8Pd M#HI !O8@#I(@"8) !@(@#8(P#F!#!O1@!,^14O1Q73@ ""YPDU!P" QP"'$)c M#@4* (;PZ0-A$&1@ "X@)P8A3_,*"A\7<DTPK.<EQV"@!/^-"'AE DVP<R.@b MX2*@!K\N%69 VV,D HC0DTH1!8W0Z280N& @ 2@ W(@0!8P DQ@ @9" "G0a M!(=[ %$ 0)GCG2!P -#0",/N4XB D!@[=@N!&"3 DL@$6.GKZ>34P5GX5P z M"%.0K13" @# "Q.>ZA^Q-<:0"<P WSY5*R-W%Q4P-!TD07V!!/5'->6^@_X0y M#92 %T.C DR DW@"X8P!C+@">Q] -([ 1 !@12 1COG6! 2K W@9P[NDNx M K4"W+5R""*'!8 !F2 \$IP")-9J0=S[GQ( "H0N+M0(CAO!HY0\4_!#,0Nw M!<#M!L_K4VY0VF6PH%<?*UCP L#D'1S !=<"T@#0 7<,<T P!5=OG=< Y[Yv MT*S98(^M]JX,VJQJX5F@H4"@!)5@!C3 UAPF%7"P@(XW4ZFEWAV&B EBE$X-u M % MU;5'#9H, )400 $ X?1AH^0BF1J0=O-ME&,DM5Z9)/LM#FE7BJ5/"*</t M<ZCZW"2UZ?HQ]&R E#Q0ZV T,O1CEP7BI/V%+ \T9/(4,C3W" !"SW! !_s M!M0 C5_"+\._!-A #75R0V6V*^>]\FR!TY0!4S !'T00$0P$ X@!P#P!.8?r M&BN[G:APQ^9/]6,P$ \@! !05=LI @!0!N8/#6/1_P#@E-OI_T7K &I@%_1/q M!0 P!_1?-W5@_EH 'A@_OA1_H:'## 0 S(P S10 S9P SB0 SHV!$10!$:@p M$$YDRW%JR[:PT?@AFVJPT? ""0<PG_E1-W) !SH E20!FU0!F]0!W0 F4@o M!W+P!G+@ BTC!W2@ R P!V50!FL F4@!W+P!G+@ BTC!W2@ R @!V40!C]9n M!G(@!V\@!R[0,G) !SH F30!F$ F4@!W+P!G+@ BTC!W2@ R 0 S=P S m M F4@!W+P!G?AEC* !R[0,D; !F\ !W"0!WST!G+0!F% !R P!FA0!F.P!B!0l M!W20!FR0!G20!RUC!64@!W.0!F^0US'@ C$0YDT0!G(P!F@ C(@ V$> SF k M SC ,@ !7)0!G,P!R!P D%P B#P!G=Q D)P GST!G=!!G*0!G90!B P!V7 j M!F4P!G20!F_@!CI0%RU3 C3PDX_J+"5 S\)"0D "4P!G51 C)052TS!FBPi M!F;0!G2@ R @!640!C]9!G(@!V]P%R6@TRU#!'*0!G90!CH B4P!B#PJ$20h M!G.P!B"0!$2@ W7AEC* !W4! BA0 CB@TRD A($ %-0!BIH*V_P!G20!F[@g M2>D! %0@!V$P!FLP!R#PJ%.0!F10!G, I!0 %-0!F- !V\@!W, A)$!6] f M!V&@89!@ %.0!GI0!B "0<P!7 0!F/0]0!0 C3PDX_J+"5 S_YJ,XB025 e M S_YJ,XB025 S_I+"!0 CB@TR!0%R B6 SK-,@,!!4% !88+!7)0!G,Pd M!R 0!FZ0!R"P!F60!RY0%Y @ 1* "P,A =P0 @TQ 1* "P,A =P0 @@'"1(@c M ;@P$!+ #2/ M000 E@0M>A_NHS0$$20!6]0!Q11!W- !R P!F_0!G"0!FQ0b M!B!P!VE !V@ G2 !F50LK7R!G! !VGP!GE-!V\ FG@!F/ !G5 !F4 G @a M!VG@!G3 D2G 1VSP!F% !VG@!HX'!V^0!FY !PU! "(@!$,P!$$ !3\ "1C0z M$ 9@$)"P $(0!C\)!V^0!FY !V5P%VF0UV8@!V50!B[0 "T#"24D KV%A@C@y M B@ &N)("*@ B9@ ! @01)@ !+ A)@ 0;@8+WE8!1@ " @ AA0?Q* Q1@x M !9@ F3 Y 0B@!0J 0R 1B@ B @ @R@ 1*@ B+ !80,1A "Q*@ 0:@w M ; 9 "!)@ #8 08@ C2@ 0; !)@ #!H [P%AI@ C@ ZF S 0R@v M !'#,@XF00YF YF YF I@ I@ / ) 0S@ !# !H@ 1Q@ " @ @8@ 1EKu M !C 1(0 (1@!%" 4+ 4P0 X@ 42 0I 2Y @J "0Z ![ B Z t M !#@ C:@ B*@ [@ A+0V\GE D#H8"1 1#@!@3@8!P@!!!@!!0+ AP@ 1 s M!"3 2&' G%M );E A9@ 2S@ !0 Q9 19 Q@@ 2QC 09@ "Q@ "QC P9@r M "8 R; 3+@ PK 4F-#Q3 : _X]P9 @Q@ ; !*D !L! 1H@ @S@q M K B3 11@ Y! 8); &@#01@ 01@ 02 0@N-84 ! 0 "T# P&$ !_0p M$ KPGQ+$: /A!0(!"0; ?0$- B!V50!E_0$ MP61*$ ![ !FT0!FS !F\Po M!E_0$ AP68_: 6T0!FG@!E_0$ MP61(D @%0!G(@!V[P!E_0$ I 0$D"1_Pn M!69P!F5 !V+P!0V1 )<E02A 5]@!F=0!G0P!E_0$ EP61*D !50!FY !F; m M!F\ !U_0$ AP61*$!P8P!V50!FOP!0VQ )<E007T!6B2!FZ0!G3P!0V! )<El M0=P@ 5] !G10!F9P!E_0$ EP61+$#!>0!G,P!W50!E_0$'$=0/!@ %\P!W0@k M!V\ !V7@!E_0$ P<0! 0 7#P!6% !F0@!U_0$ EP61*$" =P!W*0!G10!E_0j M$'$=0%Q N65 !V20!G.P!E_0$ AP61*D!P+P!7- !VLP!VF@!V7P!0UQ !00i M0&(@ E]P!F5 !V: !G20!W!0!E_0$$X30(B@ 70@!G5@!E_0$ M0 0$$#B(Ph M!V(@!VOP!0VQ )<E0?#@ 7)0!G-0!G00 S=P S#P!0UA )<E05!P %\P!W1 g M!F4@!W+P!0V! !000(P0 E\0!E\P!V,0!FX !U_0$ = 0%D!B+P!6/0!F3@f M!F'0!F7P!0UQ !000+C]!6CR!0W! !000*80 E\0!FR0!F$P!V: !E_0$ P<e M0!2P 6T0!FS !F\P!E_0$ EP61($#\4-!W*0!FY !V;P!0V! )<E04K &0Pd M!V+P!0W! !400.# V6 !VE !U_0$ MP61(D"Q?P!7-0!G1@!FA !WD !V7Pc M!0WA- $$#AI !G8N U_0$ MP61*D"AC !CJ=!G;0$ MP61+D"1M@!F/ !F\Pb M!V7P!0V1 )<E03@P 6S !G)0!A4!"0MP6>BU 5^ )G5 !V+P!0V1 )<E0;)0a M 7-0!FQ0!F- !U_0$ EP61(D P3P!6A2!W0P!E_0$ EP61)$ A;P!7- !V20z M!F[P!0V1 !000%@0 F7@!G:0!G+P!F[P!0V! !000)3P 6P@!V20!G;0$ MPy M61)$"AOP!7- !V3P!G5 !U_0$ A 0$D!R' !G(@!V50$9"P )<E0?BP 7-0x M!F- !V\@!W/P!0V! !400.3 W)0!G- !V\@!V7P!0V! )<E06Q0 '+P!6+Pw M!F] !U_0$ EP61($"PA !F4P!VM0!GGP!0V1 )<E0:RP &8P!F_0!FT0!FY v M!E_0$ P<0*Q0 ':@TVE@!PVQ )<E0=BP 7, !W*0!FY !V;P!0V! )<E07S\u M!6'P!6:0!G(P!W3P!0UQ !000&H@ G; !G)0!A4!"0MP61+D 1SP!61 !V\0t M!E_0$'$=0.YP 70@!V$P!FLP!U_0$ E0 0%D#CQ L&Q0!W. !E_0$ EP61+$s M"4U1!G10!FY@!U_0$ EP61)D#@M !G;^!0T!DA+$!1CP!6GP!G90!F- !V\@r M!U_0$ 9 0'D R(P!FBP!G-0!VWP!0V1 )<E08*P '!0!W0P!U_0$ MP61+Dq M!1Y@!W) !FE@!PVQ )<E0=ZP 78@!W)0!A4!"0MP61)$ APP!U\P!VF@!V7Pp M!0V1 !000)CP 5\P!W00!G) !U_0$ EP69!0 ')0!F% !G0@!V&P!E_0$ P<o M0&@P %\P!V5 !V4@!W+@!F_P!0UA )<E07RP 5^ )G5 !W3P!0V1 )<E0<9@n M 7,P!F_0!FT0!FY !E_0$ P<0/10 ' @!VG@!G1@!E_0$ EP61*$D6PP!V50m M!FOP!0T1UP$D ADP!FSP!G-0!E_0$'$=0!" 7(P!W00!G10!W/P!0V! )<El M01AP '.0!F10!G/P!0VA !400.C U]0!GB0!G3P!0T1UP'$#Q=@!V20!G;0k M$" I03C 6:0!FZ0!G3P!0T1UP&D#!$@!V40!F3P!0VQ )<E04J0 5^ )G-0j M!F6P!E_0$ AP61)$!!? !G,@!G*P!E_0$'$=0*#@ 6DP!V% !W20!U_0$ EPi M61(D !GP!69P!F5 !W- !W+P!0W!P %$"A'P!6:0!FZ0!G. !E_0$ AP61*Dh : !/P!69P!FG@!FE !U_0$ AP61*$"Q( &@#Pg f end -- *George R. Woodside - Citicorp/TTI - Santa Monica, CA *Path: ..!{trwrb|philabs|csun|psivax}!ttidca!woodside
uace0@uhnix2.UUCP (Michael B. Vederman) (03/27/88)
In article <8803210013.AA22627@icase.arpa> csrobe@ICASE.ARPA (Charles S. Roberson) writes: >I would like some help sorting out the available disk formats. I've used >intelligent copy (I only have one disk drive while my HD is being repaired, >again :-( )). The most significant thing about DCformat is that it allows >you to format 82 tracks per disk. I also remember some people saying that >certain drives won't let the r/w head go that far -- I think mine is one. >Would some kind soul take the time to explain DCformat (especially when >are the options (sectors per track, tracks, side, etc) active). If I >am doing a disk copy, do these options have any effect? etc.... >+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ >|Chip Roberson ARPANET: csrobe@icase.arpa | In fact, none of the disk options (except MAGIC) have any effect during the disk copy portion of DC Formatter. You can usually hear your disk head go 'CLUNK' when you reach the last track of a disk drive that does not allow 82 tracks. line eater line eater . . . -- for (;;) : Use ATARINET, send an interactive do_it(c_programmers); : message such as: : Tell UH-INFO at UHUPVM1 ATARINET HELP University Atari Computer Enthusiasts : University of Houston UACE
unpowell@csvax.liv.ac.uk (04/18/88)
In article <517@uhnix2.UUCP>, uace0@uhnix2.UUCP (Michael B. Vederman) writes: > In article <8803210013.AA22627@icase.arpa> csrobe@ICASE.ARPA (Charles S. Roberson) writes: >>I would like some help sorting out the available disk formats. I've used >>intelligent copy (I only have one disk drive while my HD is being repaired, >>again :-( )). The most significant thing about DCformat is that it allows >>you to format 82 tracks per disk. I also remember some people saying that >>certain drives won't let the r/w head go that far -- I think mine is one. >>Would some kind soul take the time to explain DCformat (especially when >>are the options (sectors per track, tracks, side, etc) active). If I >>am doing a disk copy, do these options have any effect? > etc.... >>+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ >>|Chip Roberson ARPANET: csrobe@icase.arpa | Atari external drives can cope with 83 tracks. Early Atari internal drives can cope with 82 tracks. More recent internal models can only cope with 81 tracks. I don't know about the States, but in England, if you purchase a non-Atari external drive, such as Cumana or A,S&T it will generally be able to cope with 86 tracks (yes 86!). I definately know that A,S&T drives can cope with 86 tracks, as I own one. As to sectors per tracks. Any drive (any?) should be able to read and write 10 sectors per track. The number of drives that can handle 11 sectors per track is limited. My Atari external drive can read/write 11 sectors quite unhappily (it slows down file reading and writing). My A,S&T external drive, on the other hand, cannot handle 11 sectors per track. I've tried without little success to vary the sectors per cluster. I think this is always taken to be 2 by the ST. I've tried to vary the number of FAT tables without much success. I think the ST has to have 2 FAT tables per disk. (This is a good idea anyway. If you lose your, only, FAT table, you can forget your data). Sectors per FAT can be altered quite readily. You must calculate how many clusters you have on your disk, before setting the sectors/FAT. The Desktop formatter uses 5 sectors/FAT which is too many for any floppy. To calulate the number of sectors/FAT your format needs, perform the following calulation. RES=number of reserved sectors i.e 1 for the boot sector FAT=number of FAT tables DIR=number of directory entries. Usually $70, but is variable SEC=number of sectors on disk SPF=sectors per FAT SPF=INT(INT((SEC-INT((DIR+15)/16)-FAT*SPF)/2)+2*3/2)/512 Simple really. Mark Powell. ******************************************************************************** "...there's no success JANET unpowell@uk.ac.lis.csvax like failure and UUCP {backbone}!mcvax!ukc!mupsy!lis-cs!unpowell failure's no success ARPA unpowell%csvax.lis.ac.uk@nss.cs.ucl.ac.uk at all..." B.Dylan ********************************************************************************