VBRANDT%DBNUAMA1.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu (07/24/89)
Hello all,
... recently I asked if the PC and ST versions of Minix were media
compatible. Well, they're not. The main reason for this is the well-known
byte ordering difference (Intel LLHH, Motorola HHLL). This does have advan-
tages: the Min2DOS package works fine under TOS, it just had to be recompiled.
(I can post the binary if anyone wants it).
Then I proposed that the Minix-ST disk format be changed to the PC format,
to achieve full media compatibility. I solicited replies and criticism, but
nothing happened (not even a single flame :-).
Now I read that Minix on the Amiga uses the Minix-ST disk format. So I guess
we're stuck with the format, no chance of ever reaching a *single* disk format
again. Note that there is supposed to be floating around a change to Minix-ST
to enable the use of so-called 'twister' disks (ie. disks formatted ds 80 tr
10 sec spiralled). So the disk driver *can* be modified. (You can tell that
I haven't done anything serious with Minix yet, though I've had it lying around
for ages ...).
That brings me to the next question: Has anyone written a device driver
that reads/writes Minix-PC disks on an ST ?? Can anyone tell me how to do
this ? (I have to recompile the kernal anyway, to get my Maxtor HD to work.)
As usual, any and all help is most welcome.
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Bitnet: VBRANDT@DBNUAMA1 (will go away late '89) Volker A. Brandt
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