Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!waikato.ac.nz!comp.vuw.ac.nz!actrix!Roger.Sheppard
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st.tech
Subject: Re: 1024-byte floppy sectors?
Message-ID: <1991Jun16.133749.24412@actrix.gen.nz>
From: Roger.Sheppard@actrix.gen.nz (Roger Sheppard)
Date: Sun, 16 Jun 1991 13:37:49 GMT
References: <3251@krafla.rhi.hi.is>
Organization: Actrix Networks
Lines: 37

In article <3251@krafla.rhi.hi.is> adamd@rhi.hi.is (Adam David) writes:
> I have formatted disks with 1024-byte sectors, both by using my own version of
> the Minix formatting program and with the excellent format option in Knife-ST
> from Hisoft. Both in TOS (1.2) and in Minix (1.5:4) there are serious problems.
> TOS cannot read any sectors with this format and displays the data damaged
> dialog. Minix produces DMA error status 0 at present, but I am working on this
> with a little help here and there.
> 
> 1024-byte sectors are very useful on HD floppies because although it is
> possible to squeeze 22 normal 512-byte sectors onto a track, this is slow
> and potentially unreliable. 11 sectors of 1024 bytes each fit comfortably
> on the track though, so 10% more space becomes available in a reliable format.
> 
> TOS uses a BPB to handle various media specifications. The floppy driver /
> filing system must use 1024-byte cluster buffers for the standard format.
> Why should it not be possible with standard TOS to use 1024-byte clusters
> of one sector each? What modifications do I need to make to TOS in order to
> use the larger sectors with it?
> 
> Any thoughts / suggestions welcome.
> 
> --
> Adam David.
> (adamd@rhi.hi.is)

The BIOS in the ST is set up to only read 512 byte sectors, that is
the Big problem.
I did see a program that installed a ACC that would support 512/1024
bytes sectors and you set up different drive id's, this was in the
Package called HyperFormat.

Note: some game programs use the 512/1024 sector format, this is equal
as the 11 sector format, but with out the problem of using 11 sectors.
-- 
***  Roger W. Sheppard        *    Roger.Sheppard@bbs.actrix.gen.nz  ***
***  85 Donovan Rd          *  *   At least I don't Flicker, not     ***
***  Kapiti New Zealand..    *     like a dying light globe. !       ***