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From: chap@art-sy.detroit.mi.us (j chapman flack)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.admin
Subject: Re: UNIX filesystems on Sun SPARCstation floppy disks (solved, sort of)
Message-ID: <9105130918.aa02909@art-sy.detroit.mi.us>
Date: 13 May 91 13:08:00 GMT
References: <1991Apr30.213800.18265@trc.amoco.com>
            <1991Apr18.174329@quercus.gsfc.nasa.gov>
            <NSXA7K9@xds13.ferranti.com>
            <1991Apr23.155250@quercus.gsfc.nasa.gov>
            <1991Apr26.141911.17924@Arco.COM>
Sender: chap@art-sy.detroit.mi.us (j chapman flack)
Reply-To: chap@art-sy.detroit.mi.us (j chapman flack)
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Organization: Appropriate Roles for Technology
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In article <1991Apr30.213800.18265@trc.amoco.com>,
zjmw36@trc.amoco.com (Joe M. Wade) writes:

>The second hole on some diskettes is to denote that is is high density. If
>SUNOS tools only works for low density as you imply, you could probably 
>force low density fomatting on a high density diskette. Better yet, just 
>use a low density diskette.

I'm not sure about 3 1/2" diskettes, but with 5 1/4" diskettes, you *can't*
force low-density formatting on a high-density diskette.  The high-density
coating requires a higher write current to magnetize it; the drive selects
the write current based on what format you've selected, so when you select
low density it's using barely enough current to make any mark on the disk.

I always thought it was crazy that you couldn't put a LOW density format on
a HIGH density diskette, until I learned that....
-- 
Chap Flack                         Their tanks will rust.  Our songs will last.
chap@art-sy.detroit.mi.us                                    -MIKHS 0EODWPAKHS

Nothing I say represents Appropriate Roles for Technology unless I say it does.