Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!csn!kessner!david From: david@kessner.denver.co.us (David Kessner) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: Simple floppy question Message-ID: <1991May17.190723.12668@kessner.denver.co.us> Date: 17 May 91 19:07:23 GMT References: <1991May17.152846.21839@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> Distribution: na Organization: Kessner, Inc. Lines: 34 In article <1991May17.152846.21839@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> skesterk@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Shane Kesterke) writes: >Here's a simple question that I've never gotten a straight answer on >in all the time I've been exposed to computers. When a floppy drive accesses >the disk the budy light always stays on for about 2 seconds after it's >done accessing. Is it safe to pull the disk out during this time or is >it better just to wait till the busy light turns off? > >I know it's a dumb question, but like I said, I never got a straight >answer for it in the past. The computer keeps the floppy spinning for several seconds after each disk access, just incase there is another floppy access. This way, the computer is not constantly turning the motor on and off, and waiting for the thing to spin up. Under normal conditions, you can remove the disk after the data has been written-- even if the thing is still spinning. I've done it thousands of times. However, things like disk caches will mess things up. Most caches have a "delayed write", where it just buffers the written data and writes it out when it gets a chance (while your program _thinks_ it's done). I would not reccomend taking the disk out early unless you are sure there is no cache. Also, often we tell 'normal' computer users to wait till the drive light is out simply because they cannot figure when it is "safe". These are the same users that call a 3.5" disk "hard" since it cannot be bent like the 5.25" "floppies". :) -- David Kessner - david@kessner.denver.co.us | 1135 Fairfax, Denver CO 80220 (303) 377-1801 (p.m.) | Reunite PANGEA! Why can't everyone have three or four line .sig's? |