braner@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (braner) (10/08/87)
[] A while ago I had problems with writing to subdirectories created by the ST on a (720K, 3.5") disk formatted by MS-DOS (3.2). Well the other day I formatted a disk on MS-DOS 3.3, created subdirectories and put files in them (all on an IBM-PC). When trying to open the folder icons, the ST HUNG (with varying numbers of "bombs") or even rebooted. The behavior was unpredictable but always disasterous. Conclusion: to transfer files between the machines use the root directory only. If anybody has more info about the differences in disk format between GEMDOS and MS-DOS, please post. BTW: an alternative method for packing many files together (without using subdirectories) is to ARC them. I have had no problems ARCing on the IBM and de-ARCing on the ST. Use a RAMdisk if possible! - Moshe Braner
dclemans@mntgfx.MENTOR.COM (Dave Clemans) (10/10/87)
There aren't any direct differences between GEMDOS and MS-DOS file formats; i.e. presuming a bug free fully implemented GEMDOS, and presuming physically compatible drives, GEMDOS can read any file that MS-DOS (2.x and greater) can produce. However, there are certain variables in the "DOS" filesystem... for instance if the MS-DOS disk wasn't formatted with a clustersize of two I would expect problems. And then there's some general memory allocation problems, especially in the older, non-blitter ROM's. Another problem would be physical disk compatibility. Since the PS/2's use a two meg (unformatted) 3.5" drive for all except the low end models, there are going to be disks that physically can't be read on the ST, with it's 1/2 meg and 1 meg (unformatted) drives. dgc
braner@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (braner) (10/11/87)
[] No, no, no! The ST hangs upon accessing (MS-DOS 3.3) subdirectories, even when it reads files, even very long ones, from the root directory with no problem! I've heard that (for now?) ALL PS/2 models can read/write the 720K format, so if we can just figure this out, there won't be problems communicating with those poor MS-DOS users for a while yet! - Moshe Braner PS: still seeking the ST---5"drive connection specs. Anybody kind enough?