[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks

If it’s any help, i second the reformat completely a disk in a old pc. I had some issues many years ago where disks formatted on an ibm pc didn’t work correctly on a non- ibm pc. Reformatting and doing the error checking by reading and writing all sections fixed it. A quick format didn’t. There are lotsa 720k diskette’s available for sale… prices vary. Even Amazon has them! Sent from my iPhone > On Apr 30, 2024, at 15:39, Mike Katz <bitwiz(a)12bitsbest.com> wrote: > > Thank you.  I didn't see any new procedures that I have already tried. > > I do not have a problem with the drive or with trying to format a HD > disk with the HP-41 and therefore I was looking for a few DSDD disks > instead of DSHD disks. > >> On 4/30/2024 5:13 PM, Wayne S wrote: >> There is also these 2 procedures to try…. From >> https://literature.hpcalc.org/community/hp9114a-ms-en.pdf >> >> >> >> TheHP9114Ausesdouble-sideddiscs.Dataiswrittenonboth sides of the >> disc. Thus the normal formatting procedure is double- sided >> formatting. Single-sided formatting is allowed for transferring >> data from older systems. See the next section for single-sided >> formatting. >> Before a flexible disc can be used for the first time, it must be >> formatted. Formatting establishes the directory and volume label as >> wellasverifyingthatthemediaisnotdamaged.Shownnextare two ways to >> format discs. Insert a blank disc into the disc drive. >>  From the P.A.M. display, pressing the “File Manager” (f2) softkey >> gets you to a “Format” softkey. Press the key labeled ““Format” >> (f5) and answer the next questions. >> “Enter the disc to format”. The first disc drive is assigned the >> letter C. Type C: and press return. >> “Enter a volume label (optional).” The volume label is the name you >> want to call the disc. This can be up to 11 characters. For >> example, let’s call this disc “First”. Type First and press Return. >> >>   The information is displayed on the first two lines below the >> cursor.PresstheStartFormatkey(f1)ifthesetwolinesarecorrect. >> “Formatting Disc. Please wait.” appears on the display. Formatting >> a disc takes about 1 1/2 minutes. The interleave used with this >> formattingmethodis8,theoptimalforHP Portable/9114A operation. >> After formatting is complete, pressing the “’Exit Format” (f8) >> softkey returns you to the main File Manager display. To exit File >> Manager press the “Exit File Manager” softkey. This ends the format >> procedure. >> ThesecondmethodofformattingdiscsistousetheMSDOS Format command. >> From the initial P.A.M. display, tabbing over to the area called >> “DOS Commands” and pressing “Return” allows you to use the DOS >> command called Format. The interleave used inthiscommand >> is8whichisoptimalforyourHP Portable/9114A system. >> Type FORMAT C: and press Return. >> “Press any key to begin formatting C:” is displayed. Press any key >> on the keyboard. Formatting takes about 1 1/2 minutes. >> After formatting is complete there is another prompt on the display >> ““Volume label (11 characters, Enter for none)?. *“Press “Return”if >> you don’t want a label or enter the name and press “Return” if you >> want to label the volume. >> When completed “Format another (Y/N)?” appears on the display. >> Typing “N” gets you back to entering MS DOS commands. Type “EXIT” >> to return to P.A.M. >> Formatting Single-sided >> TheHPPortable/9114Asystemcanformatdouble-sideddiscsina single-sided >> format. This is allowed for data compatability with other 3 >> 1/2-inch disc systems. There is a utility called >> “Format.Com”ontheutilitydiscsuppliedwithyourHP Portable >> computer.Youmustloadthe“Format.Com”utilityintoyourHP Portable. Use >> the following sequence. >> PlacetheUtilitydiscintoyourHP9114A. TabovertotheDOS Command >> blockandpressStartApplic. >> >>   From theMS DOS command displaytype: COPY C: FORMAT.COM A: and >> press Return >> This loads the utility and allows you to use the extra parameters >> explainedinthefollowingFORMATcommand. >> TheMS DOS command thatallowsthiscompatibilitywithits parameters >> isshown next. >> Format C:/W -Single-sided >> /X -Double-sided with 256 byte sectors >> /Y -Double-sided with 512 byte sectors /Z -Double-sided with 1024 byte >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>>> On Apr 30, 2024, at 14:39, Mike Katz <bitwiz(a)12bitsbest.com> wrote: >>> Thank you for your help. >>> >>> That is the command I am using on the 41 to try and format the >>> disk.  With a directory size of 60. >>> >>> On 4/30/2024 4:22 PM, Wayne S via cctalk wrote: >>>> Also this article refers to a set of commands for this drive. The >>>> NEWM command formats a new disk. >>>> Link is >>>> https://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/articles.cgi?read=78 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On Apr 30, 2024, at 14:07, Wayne S <wayne.sudol(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> What kind of floppies did Hp recommend to use with this drive? >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On Apr 30, 2024, at 13:55, Fred Cisin via cctalk >>>> <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: >>>> >>>> On Tue, 30 Apr 2024, John Herron via cctalk wrote: >>>> Yup, that's all I used to do. Some scotch tape over the floppy >>>> disk hole to >>>> make the system see it as DD. If it didn't automatically format >>>> as 720, you >>>> could specify size or sector count with format.com in dos. >>>> >>>> Somemedia sensors are optical; use opaque taps. >>>> >>>> I did hear folks say it wasn't always reliable (similar to 5.25 >>>> disks being >>>> formated on a high density drive) but I never saw any problems in my >>>> limited use. >>>> >>>> 3.5" are 600 VS 750 oersted; >>>> 5.25" are 300 vs 600 Oersted; >>>> a low density 5.25 formatted as "high density" won't do well; >>>> a high density 5.25" (1.2M) formatted as low density ("360K") >>>> sill self erase VERY soon, sometimes before you can even get it >>>> over to another machine.  We had a college purchasing agent in >>>> bed with "Roytype", who kept giving us "1.2M" floppies ofr out >>>> TRS80s; they self erased very soon. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Grumpy Ol' Fred             cisin(a)xenosoft.com