Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!austex!roadhog
From: roadhog@austex (Lindsay Haisley)
Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm
Subject: Re: CP/M disk formats (was Re: CPM to DOS exchanger)
Message-ID: <90LL41w163w@austex>
Date: 15 Jun 91 19:50:07 GMT
References: <1991Jun7.064252.13117@monu1.cc.monash.edu.au>
Organization: The Texas Feedlot
Lines: 39

> 
> 
> Clarence Wilkerson writes:
> > If the 3.5" disk is physically compatible with ibm pc type
> > drives, then you can hack a set of parameter tables to match
> > them and use 22disk, a shareware program that runs on a PC.
> I have tried this and it didn't work.
> I have two theories, neither has been tested.
> 1. Microbee disks have 10 sectors and the intersector space
>    is shorter than specified in the Western Digital data sheet.
>    The PC may not like this short space.
> 2. I think (but am not sure) that the sector header information
>    is marked side 0 for both sides of the disk.  
>    If the PC insists that side 1 is marked as side 1 ...
> 
> > My guess would be that the disks are single sided, double
> > density with either 5 1k sectors per track or 10 512btye
> > sectors per track, with first 2 tracks reserved for system.
> 3.5", 10 512byte sectors per track, single sided, 390k
> 3.5", 10 512byte sectors per track, double sided, 780k
> In both formats tracks 0 and 1 (both sides) are reserved for system.
> I have the correct DPB entries and skew table if anyone wants them.

Sydex, the people who created 22disk, also have a product out called AnaDisk
which does a fairly thorough and intelligent analysis of >>any<< disk 
format, CP/M, DOS, or otherwise.  Contact Sydex (see the 22disk reg. info)
for a shareware sampler containing the program.  The registered version of
22disk has a pretty good facility for creating your own disk format table,
and the instruction which come with the registered version give fairly
complete directions for the process.

                                    Lindsay Haisley


"Everything works if you let it!"
 --- Travis J. Redfish
 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
uucp: austex!roadhog@emx.utexas.edu
 BBS: 512-259-1261 (Znode 77 - aka - Kaypro Club of Austin)