Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnewsh!mbb
From: mbb@cbnewsh.ATT.COM (martin.b.brilliant)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Question about diskette densities
Message-ID: <1559@cbnewsh.ATT.COM>
Date: 19 Jun 89 15:06:06 GMT
References: <2210@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 22

From article <2210@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu>, by vu0112@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Cliff Joslyn):
> 
> I'm beginning to doubt common sense about diskette densities.  Both
> single and double sided diskettes can be formatted as if they were
> double.  I'm told it's simply a difference in quality control.  On my
> new 1.2 meg 5.25" drive I can format DS/DD disks at 1.2 meg?  What am I
> risking by not buying HD disks?  etc.

You'll be happy to know I can't do that.  I have a 1.2 meg drive with
suitable controller in an XT clone, and I have both kinds of disks. 
When I format an HD-labeled disk at 1.2 meg it comes up just fine.  If
I put in a 360K-labeled disk and enter exactly the same command line, I
get a gradually increasing series of horrendous grunches, grinds, and
groans, and I eventually chicken out and abort.  Of course, I can
format the 360K disks with the /4 flag, and they quietly come up 360K.

M. B. Brilliant					Marty
AT&T-BL HO 3D-520	(201) 949-1858
Holmdel, NJ 07733	att!hounx!marty1 or marty1@hounx.ATT.COM

Disclaimer: Opinions stated herein are mine unless and until my employer
	    explicitly claims them; then I lose all rights to them.