26 Dec
2001
26 Dec
'01
9:39 a.m.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you simply
cover the hole
(with tape) on a 1.44mb floppy to make a 720 mb diskette?
Obvisously the hole is the one that isn't the write protect
one (i.e. doesn't have the slide tab).
I can tell you, ignoring all the "technical" issues, based purely on
experience... this is a BAD idea. It will work... for a while, but you
are almost guarenteed that the disk will fail eventually. I don't have
ANY that have worked long term... and I still do this trick from time to
time when I need a 720k disk briefly... it is always easier for me to
just convert a 1.44 then it is for me to dig out a 720k.
They usually work long enough for me to copy a file to and from the
disk... but within a few reads and writes, it will die. Reformatting will
refresh it for a few more reads and writes... but again, it will die
shortly.
So if your data is important, DON'T do this.
There are companies that still sell DD disks brand new, I would just hunt
one down, and buy a bunch.
-c
28 Dec
28 Dec
9:05 a.m.
I use 1.44mb disks converted to 720k (a piece of scotch tape or electrical
tape) on my Atari ST all the time. They work ***JUST*** long enough to move
data between the PC and the ST.
The disks look the same etc, but the media (coating) is different enough for
them not to work reliably. I think this stuff is defined in OARSTEADs or
something like that?
So, if you just need a quick floppy, go right ahead, but expect a lifespan
of minutes or hours at best.
Regards,
Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris" <mythtech(a)Mac.com>
To: "Classic Computer" <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: 720k floppy
Correct me if
I'm wrong, but can't you simply cover the hole
(with tape) on a 1.44mb floppy to make a 720 mb diskette?
Obvisously the hole is the one that isn't the write protect
one (i.e. doesn't have the slide tab).
I can tell you, ignoring all the "technical" issues, based purely on
experience... this is a BAD idea. It will work... for a while, but you
are almost guarenteed that the disk will fail eventually. I don't have
ANY that have worked long term... and I still do this trick from time to
time when I need a 720k disk briefly... it is always easier for me to
just convert a 1.44 then it is for me to dig out a 720k.
They usually work long enough for me to copy a file to and from the
disk... but within a few reads and writes, it will die. Reformatting will
refresh it for a few more reads and writes... but again, it will die
shortly.
So if your data is important, DON'T do this.
There are companies that still sell DD disks brand new, I would just hunt
one down, and buy a bunch.
-c
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