SAC.DYESGPF@E.ISI.EDU (05/24/89)
720k drives (5.25 or 3 inch) can be connected to the 5.25 inch side of
the z-207 controller easily but require some changes to bios and dos. I
know that some have taken the source code for the bios and modified
it, then used masm to assemble the new bios. Other methodes do exist.
As for using high density drives the 1.2meg AT style drive works just fine
and you can make your own cable or by a kit. Your nearest Heathkit
store may be able to help you with the kit. I opted to do it myself,
obtained a drive the 50 pin connector and a length of ribbon cable from the
local Zenith dealer. For complete hookup information I suggest you FTP
the file MFORM100.EXE from pd1:<hz100> @ wsmr-simtel20.army.mil.
The file MFORM100.EXE is a self dissolving achive which should contain
the following files of the indicated size:
DOSFUNC.ASM ( 7101 bytes) - 8086/8088 assembly source code for the low
level disk i/o operations and direct interface with DOS interrupts.
DOSFUNC.OBJ ( 1117 bytes) - object file from above, ready to be linked
with MFORMAT.OBJ, NULR7 and NULE6.
MEGDRIVE.DOC ( 4191 bytes) - some information on connecting an AT style
1.2 megabyte drive to the eight inch controller.
MFORMAT.DOC (16112 bytes) - Document file for MFORMAT. May be printed
using DOS type, print or copy commands. Pure ASCII text file.
MFORMAT.EXE (30832 bytes) - Executable formating program for use with
Z100s having high density drives connected to the 8 inch controller.
This program will not run on PC clones and must not be used on real
8 inch disk drive. See MFORMAT.DOC for more details.
MFORMAT.PAS (25689 bytes) - Source code for above in Microsoft PASCAL.
See MFORMAT.DOC for specifics on compiling and linking this file.
RDALTER.ASM ( 4950 bytes) - 8086/8088 source code for a program to modify
Z100 bios to read and write the different high density formats.
Type RDALTER ? for explination on how to use.
RDALTER.COM ( 718 bytes) - Above file assembled, linked and EXE2BINed.
README.1ST ( 1413 bytes) - A file which contains the information you
are currently reading.
1.44 meg drives are another matter. The rotational speed is 300rpm (as is
the speed for 360 - 720k drives) but they use the higher data rate of the
1.2meg 5.25inch drives (same rate as the 8inch drives). The problem is
that the 8inch mode of the z-207 card wants to see a rotational speed of
360rpm. I haven't found a way to over-come this problem but feel
certain that there must be a way.
Hope this helps you some.
ALLEN E. HOLECEK, MSGT, USAF
<SAC.DYESGPF@E.ISI.EDU>
Disclaimer: The source code and instructions/documentaion referred to
in the above message are my own work on my own machine at home on my own
time and have no connection with my military job.
-------GUBBINS@TOPS20.RADC.AF.MIL (Gern) (05/24/89)
Return-Path: <SAC.DYESGPF@E.ISI.EDU>
Received: from E.ISI.EDU by TOPS20.RADC.AF.MIL with TCP; Tue 23 May 89 20:02:49-EST
Date: 23 May 1989 17:01-PDT
Sender: SAC.DYESGPF@E.ISI.EDU
Subject: Adding Drives to Z-100s
From: SAC.DYESGPF@E.ISI.EDU
To: benz@GORT.CS.BUFFALO.EDU, info-hz100-request@TOPS20.RADC.AF.MIL
Message-ID: <[E.ISI.EDU]23-May-89 17:01:02.SAC.DYESGPF>
720k drives (5.25 or 3 inch) can be connected to the 5.25 inch side of
the z-207 controller easily but require some changes to bios and dos. I
know that some have taken the source code for the bios and modified
it, then used masm to assemble the new bios. Other methodes do exist.
As for using high density drives the 1.2meg AT style drive works just fine
and you can make your own cable or by a kit. Your nearest Heathkit
store may be able to help you with the kit. I opted to do it myself,
obtained a drive the 50 pin connector and a length of ribbon cable from the
local Zenith dealer. For complete hookup information I suggest you FTP
the file MFORM100.EXE from pd1:<hz100> @ wsmr-simtel20.army.mil.
The file MFORM100.EXE is a self dissolving achive which should contain
the following files of the indicated size:
DOSFUNC.ASM ( 7101 bytes) - 8086/8088 assembly source code for the low
level disk i/o operations and direct interface with DOS interrupts.
DOSFUNC.OBJ ( 1117 bytes) - object file from above, ready to be linked
with MFORMAT.OBJ, NULR7 and NULE6.
MEGDRIVE.DOC ( 4191 bytes) - some information on connecting an AT style
1.2 megabyte drive to the eight inch controller.
MFORMAT.DOC (16112 bytes) - Document file for MFORMAT. May be printed
using DOS type, print or copy commands. Pure ASCII text file.
MFORMAT.EXE (30832 bytes) - Executable formating program for use with
Z100s having high density drives connected to the 8 inch controller.
This program will not run on PC clones and must not be used on real
8 inch disk drive. See MFORMAT.DOC for more details.
MFORMAT.PAS (25689 bytes) - Source code for above in Microsoft PASCAL.
See MFORMAT.DOC for specifics on compiling and linking this file.
RDALTER.ASM ( 4950 bytes) - 8086/8088 source code for a program to modify
Z100 bios to read and write the different high density formats.
Type RDALTER ? for explination on how to use.
RDALTER.COM ( 718 bytes) - Above file assembled, linked and EXE2BINed.
README.1ST ( 1413 bytes) - A file which contains the information you
are currently reading.
1.44 meg drives are another matter. The rotational speed is 300rpm (as is
the speed for 360 - 720k drives) but they use the higher data rate of the
1.2meg 5.25inch drives (same rate as the 8inch drives). The problem is
that the 8inch mode of the z-207 card wants to see a rotational speed of
360rpm. I haven't found a way to over-come this problem but feel
certain that there must be a way.
Hope this helps you some.
ALLEN E. HOLECEK, MSGT, USAF
<SAC.DYESGPF@E.ISI.EDU>
Disclaimer: The source code and instructions/documentaion referred to
in the above message are my own work on my own machine at home on my own
time and have no connection with my military job.
-------