[comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware] 3 1/2" drive incompatibility?

baycroft@lib.uwo.ca (Mike Baycroft) (06/03/91)

We have been having some problems tranferring data on 3 1/2"
720K floppies between a PS/2 (Model 50 and 70) and several
AT clones. I have tried so many hardware/software combinations
that I my head is spinning a little. So far I have no answers.

The situation is as follows:

1) We have 2 sets of master disks (720K) that were created on the
PS/2s. These disks have been successfully used as masters many,
many times. I am assured that the PS/2s are running the special
drivers they require to work with the 720K disks.

2) I format a set of 720K disks on a clone. I have used several 
models of Panasonic high density drives on several machines with
different controllers. I have used both MS-DOS 3.3 and 4.01. I 
have also tried a normally reliable low density drive.

3) I use diskcopy to duplicate the masters. I have done this on
the PS/2, as well as on several clones.

4) The resulting disks work well on the PS/2, but not so good on
the clones: read errors, etc. Norton Disk Doctor complains
biterly on the clones, but it doesn't report a problem on the PS/2.

5) I have used different varieties of new disks.

6) The drives are all aligned correctly and are all clean.

7) ??? This is where you get to fill in the obvious answer ???

You can send your responses directly to me, and I will
summarize for the list.

Thanks in advance,

Mike.

-- 
Mike Baycroft	The University of Western Ontario Libraries
		London, Ontario, CANADA, N6A-3K7.
		EMAIL:	mike.baycroft@uwo.ca	baycroft@lib.uwo.ca
		PHONE:	(519)661-2111 ext.4809