Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!grebyn!escom!al
From: al@escom.com (Al Donaldson)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: 1.44 drives (3.5")
Keywords: size
Message-ID: <588@escom.com>
Date: 9 Sep 90 04:51:58 GMT
References: <2661@unccvax.uncc.edu> <39697@cci632.UUCP>
Organization: ESCOM Corp., Oakton, VA
Lines: 28

In article <39697@cci632.UUCP>, sjo@cci632.UUCP (Steve Owens) writes:
> 	Taking into consideration 200 blocks worth of system info, it appears
> that your system *is* writing it as a 1.44Mb floppy.

What "system info?"  In my experience with dd, it takes into account
everything on the file (in this case, the device /dev/at1).
No system info, no carrying charges, no fine print, no hidden agenda..

As I explained in mail to Charles earlier, the most likely problem
was that he was using the wrong device name -- instead of using /dev/at,
he should make a device for /dev/PS and use it for 1.44 meg diskettes.
I use a Zenith portable with a 3.5 inch 1.44meg diskette, and it works
for me.  (Sometimes my fingers get ahead of my mind, and I still type
in /dev/at0, but that is another story..)

Some have asked how you get a 3.5" MINIX distribution.  In my case,
I made the purchase of the machine conditional on being able to run MINIX,
which of course was conditional on being able to use one of Heath-Zenith's
dual-drive 3.5/5.25 machines to copy the distribution.  :-)

> 	NOTE: I don't claim to know all the different flavors of Unix, but
> I'm sure that your system is seeing the full 1.44Mb floppy.

In the immortal words of Col. Sherman Potter on MASH, "Cow cookies."
Unless Charles has seriously hacked his version of MINIX to handle 1.44 meg 
diskettes, then he most certainly is not getting 1.44 meg with /dev/at1.

Al