terry@spcvxb.spc.edu (Terry Kennedy, Operations Mgr.) (02/18/91)
In article <wV8JX4w163w@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz>, don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (Don Stokes) writes: > > Does anyone know how format a disk to look like an RX50? Can a PC high > density floppy drive do it? With DOS? Yes. Yes. Sort of. Out-of-the-[DEC]-box RX50 diskettes are a bit strange. The gaps are tight enough that a PC's controller chip (NEC uPD765 or clone) will have some problems. I've formatted diskettes on a PC and been able to read them in an RX50 drive, but I wouldn't bet on it always working. What _does_ work is a Central Point Software COPY II PC Option Board. This is a hardware add-on used for copying "uncopy-able" diskettes. You need to patch the drive tables so it won't double-step the heads (since an AT-type 80-track drive must double-step to copy a 360Kb PC diskette). One you've done that, set the Option Board up for 80 tracks, single-sided, keep track length and go make the copies. Avoid using RX50's that say "Format Copyright Digital Equipment Corp" as masters 8-). Of course, there are other options. A Rainbow can format RX50's. Several 3rd-party controllers for Q-bus do as well (the Andromeda UDC11 comes to mind). Probably the best solution is to upgrade the RX50 to an RX33 drive, which gives you 3x the capacity and is user-formattable. Some PDP-11 operating sys- tems (like RSTS/E) allow formatting the disks without needing diagnostics. [Guess where the RSTS/E group got that idea... 8-] Terry Kennedy Operations Manager, Academic Computing terry@spcvxa.bitnet St. Peter's College, US terry@spcvxa.spc.edu (201) 915-9381
don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (Don Stokes) (02/19/91)
Does anyone know how format a disk to look like an RX50? Can a PC high density floppy drive do it? With DOS? The things are 80 track, ten sectors, single sided. MSDOS 3.3 gives up at 9 sectors. Mumble. At NZ$80 a box, after discounting, pre-formatted RX50s are *way* too expensive for home use!, and I need quite a lot of them. 8-( Don Stokes, ZL2TNM / / don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (home) Systems Programmer /GP/ GP PRINT LIMITED Wellington, don@gp.co.nz (work) __________________/ / ---------------- New_Zealand__________________________
jdudeck@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (John R. Dudeck) (02/19/91)
There is a product that will format RX50's on an AT. I have used it to format hundreds of ordinary cheap $.24 DSDD floppies, with zero problems. The prodect is called Uniform-PC, and the vendor is Micro Solutions, Inc. in KeKalb, Illinois. I don't have the full address or phone number. Maybe someone else knows how to contact them. BTW I am working on a program to read RT11 files on an AT. -- John Dudeck "Communication systems are jdudeck@Polyslo.CalPoly.Edu inherently complex". ESL: 62013975 Tel: 805-545-9549 -- Ron Oliver
gpwrdcs@gp.co.nz (02/19/91)
In article <1991Feb18.090824.1117@spcvxb.spc.edu>, terry@spcvxb.spc.edu (Terry Kennedy, Operations Mgr.) writes: > In article <wV8JX4w163w@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz>, don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (Don Stokes) writes: >> >> Does anyone know how format a disk to look like an RX50? Can a PC high >> density floppy drive do it? With DOS? > > Out-of-the-[DEC]-box RX50 diskettes are a bit strange. The gaps are tight > enough that a PC's controller chip (NEC uPD765 or clone) will have some > problems. I've formatted diskettes on a PC and been able to read them in an > RX50 drive, but I wouldn't bet on it always working. The RX50 seems to manage to read pretty much anything as long as it fits within its specs. That's not what I'm trying to achieve. I want the disks to *be* RX50s, not just readable, but writable, INITable etc on DEC systems, notably PDP-11s running RSX and VAXes running VMS, neither of which are terribly keen on anything that doesn't have 80 tracks at 10 sectors per track. > What _does_ work is a Central Point Software COPY II PC Option Board. > > Of course, there are other options. A Rainbow can format RX50's. > > Probably the best solution is to upgrade the RX50 to an RX33 drive, Useful suggestions, 'cept that avoiding spending money is whole object of this exercise...... > gives you 3x the capacity and is user-formattable. Some PDP-11 operating sys- > tems (like RSTS/E) allow formatting the disks without needing diagnostics. > [Guess where the RSTS/E group got that idea... 8-] I wonder if Micro/RSX has this option... (Unfortunately, I have only Micro/RSX V1.0, which doesn't have much of anything -- V4.something is on its way.......) However, for the time being the problem is solved, in true GP fashion, with some esoteric hardware -- in this case a multi-format disk reader/writer that just happens to have a "PDP11 RT11 RX50" option under "FORMAT DISK".... (I know, I should have tried that first!). Stick a double density disk (High density does *not* work) into the drive, press the button, and Hey Presto!, one RX50. I'm now going to round up all the double density disks I can get my grubby paws on (we use mainly high density for PCs, so DD disks are mostly rubbish) and make them into RX50s. Now, where cane I get the little "digital RX50K" stickers that hide just inside the envelope? 8-) Don Stokes, ZL2TNM / / don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (home) Systems Programmer /GP/ GP PRINT LIMITED Wellington, don@gp.co.nz (work) __________________/ / ---------------- New_Zealand_____________+64_4_737_320 Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.