need 720k 3 1/2" disks

On Mon, 9 Jun 2003, jamesd wrote: No, a "DSDD" can't read a DSHD because it is recorded at a higher density. WHICH IS NOT THE DIRECTION THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT! The message that you just replied to was addressing the issue of whether the 720K diskette could be formatted in an ordinary PC (specifically XP). EVERY DSHD drive can read "DSDD" diskettes, so long as the disk controller supports the lower (250K) data transfer rate, and the correct software is present. That includes every disk controller that you have ever seen, although Tony and a few others may have some that were originally designed for 8" that do not support the lower rates. NO manufacturer of a 3.5" HD drive has ever made an HD drive that couldn't ALSO handle the lower density. Yes, the media is different. The differences are: different chemical coating to produce a slightly higher coercivity, and an extra hole in the diskette to tell drives which diskette it is. Those are the ONLY differences. NOTE: not all drives include the sensor to notice the disk differences. THEREFORE: as stated previously, the ability to FORMAT 720K in a 1.4M is ONLY an issue of whether the SOFTWARE supports it, and if the harware is "normal".