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From: dagraham@vax1.tcd.ie
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: HD <-> Low D Fun
Message-ID: <1991Feb21.171228.7836@vax1.tcd.ie>
Date: 21 Feb 91 17:12:28 GMT
References: <1991Feb20.151150.17854@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Lines: 26

In article <1991Feb20.151150.17854@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, robs@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Rob Schaeffer) writes:
> Someone where I work bought a load of high density disks.  But they have
> some high density drives and some low density drives.  They formatted the
> disks on a low density machine.  These disks can be read on low density
> machines, but NOT on high density.  Is there anyway to fix this?  These
> disks will get a lot of use, so tape over the hole is out.
> 
> Any ideas?

Yes. First of all, low density drives use a much higher 'write' current than
high density ones, so a HD disc formatted low density may not be reformattable
again as HD because the weaker HD current may not be able to overwrite the
stronger low density signal, although I have been able to reuse discs formatted
in this way (and even format low density discs as high density, with a hole
drilled in the disc, but this is obviously not so reliable!)

Obviously if you can't reformat the discs high density, you could either-
1. Try a *big* magnet :-)
2. Fill up the hole somehow. Actually, 5.25" write protect metally labels work
quite well and stick well too. Or you could fill up the hole with goo- try
melted plastic or something. :-)

David Graham, JF Comp Sci, Trinity College, Dublin
dagraham@vax1.tcd.ie


#! r