Executor 2.0/executorv2.0.iso/pc/linux/extra/docs/maillist/text/archive.96/text3107.txt

Text File | 1996-07-25 | 1.7 KB | 38 lines

WILLIAM J. MILLER wrote:

> The IBM PC drives can store more information on disks then the standard
> format command allows.  Available on various online services, FTP sites,
> and so one, are programs called dynamic formatters.  I have seen (and
> used, but don't ask where) a formatter that squeezed 2.1 meg on a 1.4 meg
> disk by rewriting the track structure on the disk.  It took FOREVER to
> format the disk, and the disks had a high error rate, making it a toy more
> than anything, but it can be done.
>


Yes, software to write disks to a higher/different capacity exists. This
has nothing to do with the executor reading MAC formatted 800k floppies.
Such software merely removes the overhead of inter-sector gaps, and may
also write to tracks beyond the 80 track position and/or step backwards
to a position before track 0. This may result in data loss since the
tolerances of the drive and floppy are being exceeded.

MAC 800k floppies have data written at a higher data rate on the outside
tracks of the disk than they do on the inner (nearest the spindle)
tracks. Since the media has uniform magnetic properties throughout its
surface, it can therefore hold the data without loss (since capacity
per unit area is within spec for the media).

The data writing speed on a PC drive cannot be altered by software,
therefore PC drives will not read/write a MAC 800k disk.

I hope this is clear enough.
Iain.

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