14 Nov
2007
14 Nov
'07
7:57 a.m.
FYI: 3.5" disks were never meant to run at 125khz.
The
720k mode is 250khz and the 1.44mh is 500khz. The read
amps just may not work well down that low.
Do you think that it would be better if I were to get the Tarbell to
run at 4MHz (250kHz)?
I'd have to make a new BIOS and modify the format program. I don't
have source for the format program. Does anyone off hand know where
source to the Tarbell CP/M utilites could be found?
I should be able to format the disk as 36 sectors 80 tracks and
possibly configure it to use both sides. That would be formatting it
to capacity...
I'm going to write a disk image tool that dumps the disk to my
computer. I could write one that also writes an image to a disk.
What do you think would happen if I were to try to use the disk at
250kHz but only put half of the sectors? Will the 1771 handle the
extra time or give me errors?
This faster signal might be better for the disk drive?
It may seem strange I'm fighting with this so hard, especially since
I'm working on Altair disk drive system emulator using SD cards, but
nothing beats real live hardware. : )
Grant