bird@kksys.UUCP (0000-Mike Bird) (12/10/87)
I have an NEC PC8801-A, and I belong to the Turbo User's Group. They (and Borland) do not support my machine's disk format. So what I've been doing is buying software in the Osborne format, and having a friend of mine, who owns Unidos, convert to my format. Recently, TUG dropped the Osborne format, so now I'm ordering in the Kaypro format. I did get a utility with my machine that lets me re-configure my drives to anything that CP/M can be configured for without special hardware. This means that if I can get the SPT, BSH, etc. and the 1st sector ID, Density, etc. for the Osborne and the Kaypro, then I don't have to wait for a couple of months when my friend's machine isn't busy on a day that I have free. If anyone knows what the formats are, or if there's a product for CP/M machines like Unidos, please e-mail the information to me. Thanks. -- ================================================================================ Mike Bird (These opinions are mine, dammit!) Mail paths: bird@kksys.UUCP -or- Void where prohibited by law. ...rutgers!meccts!kksys!bird
dbraun@cadev4.intel.com (Doug Braun ~) (12/11/87)
I am also wondering about disk formats. I would like to convert my homebrew system from 8" SSSD to a 5.25" format. Which format should I use? Has anyone ever compiled a list of formats? I assume a format description would include the following: Recording format: IBM (SD or DD) or Apple. This would also include definitions of gaps, CRCs, address marks, etc. These are the truly controller- dependent characteristics. Number of sides and tracks: These are drive-dependent characteristics. Sector size and sectors/track: Controllers can almose always be programmed for this. CP/M filesystem parameters: Physical sectors/sector, allocation group size, directory size, and the other Disk Parameter Block junk. Strictly software-dependent. Has anyone ever seen a list. Doug Braun Intel Corp CAD 408 496-5939 / decwrl \ | hplabs | -| oliveb |- !intelca!mipos3!cadev4!dbraun | amd | \ qantel /
berger@clio.las.uiuc.edu (12/13/87)
The closest I've seen is the list of disk formats packed with
Uniform, a program and device driver by Micro Solutions in
DeKalb, Il. Uniform, available for several computers, including
the IBM-PC and Kaypro, reads and writes over 150 different disk
formats from your host machine.
Mike Berger
Center for Advanced Study
University of Illinois
berger@clio.las.uiuc.edu
{ihnp4 | convex | pur-ee}!uiucuxc!clio!bergerbird@kksys.UUCP (0000-Mike Bird) (12/14/87)
In article <1458@mipos3.intel.com> dbraun@cadev4.UUCP (Doug Braun ~) writes: >I am also wondering about disk formats. > ... >Has anyone ever compiled a list of formats? Since I was the original person who brought this topic up, I think I should pass this along: Keith Peterson at SIMTEL20 sent a copy of their FLOPPY.FMT file which contains the information I was seeking. I suggest you try that source. -- ================================================================================ Mike Bird (These opinions are mine, dammit!) Mail paths: bird@kksys.UUCP -or- Void where prohibited by law. ...rutgers!meccts!kksys!bird
abp@j.cc.purdue.edu (Jeffrey J Wieland) (12/16/87)
There three programs that I am aware of: Uniform from MicroSolutions Media Master (I can't remember the manufacturer, but it's one I have for my Kaypro) Compat from Mycroft Labs Uniform is probably your best bet. They seem to have versions for all sorts of machines. Jeff Wieland abp@j.cc.purdue.edu