chess@ibmpcug.UUCP (Chess Ferrier) (04/15/89)
For the last 18 months we have been using PARROT, DSDD 3.5" diskettes as either DSDD (720Kb) in out PC-ATs or DSHD (1.44Mb) in our PS/2s. To date I don't think that we have had even 1 problem with read or write errors ! Has anyone any views on the pros and cons of using DSDD diskettes as DSHD ? Thanks in advance for any help. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr Chess Ferrier ESSO ENGINEERING (EUROPE) LIMITED. Apex Tower, High Street, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4DJ. 01-949-8459 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Automatic Disclaimer: The views expressed above are those of the author alone and may not represent the views of the IBM PC User Group.
gillies@p.cs.uiuc.edu (04/21/89)
There is a rumor that Sony 3.5" DSDD disks won't format at all in DSHD
(1.44Mb) mode. Can anyone confirm this?
Don Gillies, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Illinois
1304 W. Springfield, Urbana, Ill 61801
ARPA: gillies@cs.uiuc.edu UUCP: {uunet,harvard}!uiucdcs!gilliesroot@spdyne.UUCP (04/25/89)
> There is a rumor that Sony 3.5" DSDD disks won't format at all in DSHD > (1.44Mb) mode. Can anyone confirm this? > Don Gillies, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Illinois Is this with the extra hole "melted thru"? A HD microfloppy has to have two holes in it in order for the drive to format it. It needs a second hole opposite of the Write protect hole. I presume that the original poster has been using such a device.. I'm told the the only diff between the two types of floppies is the percision in which they are made. (The Case & Center, not the media) -Chert Pellett chert@spdyne
leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) (04/26/89)
In article <79700021@p.cs.uiuc.edu> gillies@p.cs.uiuc.edu writes:
<There is a rumor that Sony 3.5" DSDD disks won't format at all in DSHD
<(1.44Mb) mode. Can anyone confirm this?
They will format to 1.44M and seem to be at least somewhat reliable.
*However* a CORRECTLY WIRED 1.44M drive won't format a DSDD disk to
1.44M. There is an extra hole in the disk to indicate that it is a HD
disk. Without this hole the drive won't go to high density mode.
Of course this is not well known, as IBM PS/2's and Compaq SLT's both
have the drives wired "incorrectly". :-)
--
Leonard Erickson ...!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!leonard
CIS: [70465,203]
"I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools.
Let's start with typewriters." -- Solomon Shortsparks@corpane.UUCP (John Sparks) (04/27/89)
In article <79700021@p.cs.uiuc.edu> gillies@p.cs.uiuc.edu writes: > >There is a rumor that Sony 3.5" DSDD disks won't format at all in DSHD >(1.44Mb) mode. Can anyone confirm this? >Don Gillies, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Illinois It's true, sort of. Here's my experience. We have 2 IBM PS/2 (30 and 60) and several third party AT clones. They all have 1.44M 3.5" drives. Using (different brands) DSDD (720K) disks, I tried to format them to 1.44M THe PS/2's do this just fine, but the clones won't read these disks and will not format them to 1.44M, so I think it depends on the 3.5" drive you have. Not the brand of disk. Buy a box and try it out. -- John Sparks | {rutgers|uunet}!ukma!corpane!sparks | D.I.S.K. 24hrs 1200bps [not for RHF] | sparks@corpane.UUCP | 502/968-5401 thru -5406 When everyone is out to get you, Paranoid is just good thinking. --Johnny Fever
soley@moegate.UUCP (Norman S. Soley) (04/28/89)
In article <1370@bucket.UUCP> leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) writes: :In article <79700021@p.cs.uiuc.edu> gillies@p.cs.uiuc.edu writes: :<There is a rumor that Sony 3.5" DSDD disks won't format at all in DSHD :<(1.44Mb) mode. Can anyone confirm this? : :a CORRECTLY WIRED 1.44M drive won't format a DSDD disk to :1.44M. There is an extra hole in the disk to indicate that it is a HD :disk. Without this hole the drive won't go to high density mode. : :Of course this is not well known, as IBM PS/2's and Compaq SLT's both :have the drives wired "incorrectly". :-) Someone out there is marketing a punch to puch this little hole in your DD disks so they can be formatted HD, I wonder how many they've sold to unknowing Compaq & IBM owners. -- Norman Soley - The Communications Guy - Ontario Ministry of the Environment Until the next maps go out: moegate!soley@ontenv.UUCP if you roll your own: uunet!{attcan!ncrcan|mnetor!ontmoh}!ontenv!moegate!soley I'd like to try golf but I just can't bring myself to buy a pair of plaid pants
mdfreed@ziebmef.uucp (Mark Freedman) (05/07/89)
Has anybody had enough experience with DD 3.5" diskettes used at HD to comment on reliability ??? I've seen many articles describing modifications to the drive or the media, but none stating "I've been using DD at HD for six months without problems" or "I've used hundreds of DD diskettes at HD without problems".
hollombe@ttidca.TTI.COM (The Polymath) (05/13/89)
In article <1989May6.163118.2460@ziebmef.uucp> mdfreed@ziebmef.UUCP (Mark Freedman) writes: } Has anybody had enough experience with DD 3.5" diskettes used at HD to }comment on reliability ??? I've seen many articles describing modifications }to the drive or the media, but none stating "I've been using DD at HD for }six months without problems" or "I've used hundreds of DD diskettes at HD }without problems". I don't have long-term experience because the short-term was so bad. I tried formatting Fuji DD diskettes as HD on an IBM PS2/50z. Typically, one third to half the diskette's capacity would wind up as bad sectors. I gave up and now only use the diskettes as Fuji intended. -- The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, hollombe@ttidca.tti.com) Illegitimati Nil Citicorp(+)TTI Carborundum 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. (213) 452-9191, x2483 Santa Monica, CA 90405 {csun|philabs|psivax}!ttidca!hollombe