Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!comp.vuw.ac.nz!gp.co.nz!gpwrdcs From: gpwrdcs@gp.co.nz Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: Re: RX ****ing 50s Message-ID: <1991Feb19.194011.1476@gp.co.nz> Date: 19 Feb 91 08:00:19 GMT References: <1991Feb18.090824.1117@spcvxb.spc.edu> Organization: GP Print Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand Lines: 53 In article <1991Feb18.090824.1117@spcvxb.spc.edu>, terry@spcvxb.spc.edu (Terry Kennedy, Operations Mgr.) writes: > In article , don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (Don Stokes) writes: >> >> Does anyone know how format a disk to look like an RX50? Can a PC high >> density floppy drive do it? With DOS? > > Out-of-the-[DEC]-box RX50 diskettes are a bit strange. The gaps are tight > enough that a PC's controller chip (NEC uPD765 or clone) will have some > problems. I've formatted diskettes on a PC and been able to read them in an > RX50 drive, but I wouldn't bet on it always working. The RX50 seems to manage to read pretty much anything as long as it fits within its specs. That's not what I'm trying to achieve. I want the disks to *be* RX50s, not just readable, but writable, INITable etc on DEC systems, notably PDP-11s running RSX and VAXes running VMS, neither of which are terribly keen on anything that doesn't have 80 tracks at 10 sectors per track. > What _does_ work is a Central Point Software COPY II PC Option Board. > > Of course, there are other options. A Rainbow can format RX50's. > > Probably the best solution is to upgrade the RX50 to an RX33 drive, Useful suggestions, 'cept that avoiding spending money is whole object of this exercise...... > gives you 3x the capacity and is user-formattable. Some PDP-11 operating sys- > tems (like RSTS/E) allow formatting the disks without needing diagnostics. > [Guess where the RSTS/E group got that idea... 8-] I wonder if Micro/RSX has this option... (Unfortunately, I have only Micro/RSX V1.0, which doesn't have much of anything -- V4.something is on its way.......) However, for the time being the problem is solved, in true GP fashion, with some esoteric hardware -- in this case a multi-format disk reader/writer that just happens to have a "PDP11 RT11 RX50" option under "FORMAT DISK".... (I know, I should have tried that first!). Stick a double density disk (High density does *not* work) into the drive, press the button, and Hey Presto!, one RX50. I'm now going to round up all the double density disks I can get my grubby paws on (we use mainly high density for PCs, so DD disks are mostly rubbish) and make them into RX50s. Now, where cane I get the little "digital RX50K" stickers that hide just inside the envelope? 8-) Don Stokes, ZL2TNM / / don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (home) Systems Programmer /GP/ GP PRINT LIMITED Wellington, don@gp.co.nz (work) __________________/ / ---------------- New_Zealand_____________+64_4_737_320 Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.