Might be that they come preformatted now and magnetic erasing is the best
option. Your dirve may be getting dirty too and the newer tighter oxides
aren't as easily read. I would guess the bulk erasing would be your next
troubleshooting step though.
  -----Original Message-----
 From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
 [mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Gunther Schadow
 Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 10:53 PM
 To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
 Subject: New HD disks not working in 1541?
 Hi,
 now that I have my old C64 setup back I found that I could not
 format newer 5.25" HD disks on the 1541 or 1571. It just bumps
 and blinks and stops. Does the 1541 require hard sectored disk?
 I don't think so, because I can still remember today that my first
 disk ever said "BASF Flexi Disk, 5.25", Singled Side, Double
 Density, Soft Sector." So what's the trick to get media working?
 Bulk eraser? (BTW: It's been over 15 years and I still have that
 disk and could actually read one side of it, that's fun!)
 thanks
 -Gunther
 --
 Gunther Schadow, M.D., Ph.D.                    gschadow(a)regenstrief.org
 Medical Information Scientist      Regenstrief Institute for Health Care
 Adjunct Assistant Professor        Indiana University School of Medicine
 tel:1(317)630-7960                         
http://aurora.regenstrief.org