On 25 May 99 at 22:09, Tony Duell wrote:
> > Yes, the VS2000 format (and RCT table) is compatible with the RQDX3. You
> > can do the formatting on the RQDX3 as well, with the right diagnostics.
>
> True, but IIRC, the 'right diagnostics' are a lot harder to find tahn a
> secondhand Vaxstation 2000...
>
> >
> > Of course, there are also machines with floppy drive systems that cannot do
> > a low-level format. The most classic 8" floppy drive systems (specifically,
> > the IBM 3740) can't format floppies, for example. There are also 5.25"
> > floppy drive systems that can't format - for example, the RX50 on a DEC
>
> This is, IMHO, less of a problem. Mainly because there are other
> common-ish machines that _can_ do the formatting. 8" 'RX01' floppies can
> be formatted in most soft-sector 8" CP/M machines (and a PERQ will not
> only do the format, it'll even stick an 'RT11' directory on the disk).
> RX50 disks can be formatted in some PCs, or in Rainbows, or in many other
> machines.
>
> > Q-bus or Unibus controller. (On some Rainbows, it is possible to low-level
> > format RX50 media directly.)
>
> You say 'some Rainbows'. I thought this was just a software
> consideration, and that the hardware of all 'bows was capable of
> formatting blank disks. Since the 'bow disk controller is just a WD179x
> chip (IIRC) on one of the micro's buses, it seems hard to figure out a
> way to stop it from formatting, although anything is possible.
>
> The common version of CP/M for the 'bow certainly includes a format
> command that seems to work on blank disks.
>
> -tony
>
The 'Bows came in several versions. There was an A and B model at least.
In a Byte mag I have, the reviewer ("Caccia ?") complains about the inability
to format a disk on the preview machine he is testing. Don't know if it was a
hardware or software problem. He eventually got one formatted by a local tech
on another machine.
ciao larry
lwalker_at_interlog.com
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Received on Tue May 25 1999 - 12:51:01 BST