2 Oct
2013
2 Oct
'13
3:05 p.m.
> DFS format is FM with 10 256-byte sectors, so you
should be able to
> format and write a disk with ImageDisk or similar. Here's an ImageDisk
> file of an 80T DFS disk:
> http://offog.org/stuff/bbc-80t.imd
On Wed, 2 Oct 2013, Liam Proven wrote:
Very few of my PCs have floppy controllers any more
though. I think
there's one left.
If it IS 10 256 byte sectors, then it is FM/SINGLE DENSITY.
There are SOME PC disk controllers that can handle that, many more that
can not. Dave has some utilities for testing that.
If it IS 80 tracks per side, then you will need a 96tpi drive, preferrably
"720K", but "1.2M" can usually made to work, NOT A "360K"
drive.
If it is 40 cylinders with 2 sides, then that would, indeed ALSO be
referrable to as "80 track" IFF you WANT to be ambiguous.
For formatting blank disks, . . .
TRS80 [model 1] was 35 track/35 cylinder single sided with 10 x 256.
Osborne was 40 track/40 cylinder single sided with 10 x 256.
Both are 48tpi.
If you have 96tpi, then track 0 would be in the same place
That doesn't solve the formatting problem, but, if the error messages are
specific enough to differentiate between unformatted disk ("General
Failure" in PC), versus formatted, but can't find the disered sector
("Sector Not Found" in PC) then that may provide some further diagnostic
info.