Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpfcso!rrd
From: rrd@hpfcso.HP.COM (Ray Depew)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Downloading with an IBM for the ST
Message-ID: <7340001@hpfcso.HP.COM>
Date: 12 Oct 90 15:42:39 GMT
References: <4757MV010320@NDSUVM1>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Lines: 33

> Your ST can read a disk that was formated on the PC as long as it's not
> high density (1.4M) which it probably isn't since it's an XT.  The PC 
> can read a disk formated on the ST only if you've used a formater that
> puts the DOS boot sector on the disk.  DCFormat will do this for you.

I've only had experience with HP 3-1/2" disk drives in HP Vectras, so this
may not apply to all PC clones, but...

The Vectra can read ST-formatted disks just fine.  You don't need to have the
DOS boot sector on the disk.  In fact, when I've used FORMAT /S to format 
disks on a Vectra, my ST can't read them.  Nor do I need to use DCFormat on
the ST; the default formatter works fine (TOS 1.0 or 1.4).

Some people have had trouble reading ST disks on their Vectras, because they
forget to install the device driver that comes with the 3-1/2" drive.  The 
device driver allows the Vectra to read and write a multitude of
"near"-MSDOS-formatted disks without any problem.

(The device driver is only necessary for the newer HP 3-1/2" drives.  The
old "classic" drives read/write to the ST disks without it.)

I've traded the Vectra for a workstation, so this information is only current
as of August 10 (last time I flopped disks on a Vectra).  I mention it here
because of the possibility that other high-class clones (e.g. Compaq) may
have the same mileage. 

Then again, the Vectra may be a truly unique machine ... :-)

Regards
Ray Depew
HP Colorado IC Division 
rrd@hpfitst1.hp.com
----------