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From: bpm@homxb.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Help with floppy disk problems
Message-ID: <327@homxb.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 28-May-87 08:29:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: homxb.327
Posted: Thu May 28 08:29:09 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 30-May-87 00:58:58 EDT
References: <399@tifsie.UUCP> <62NETOPRDC@NCSUVM> <1752@ihlpe.ATT.COM> <3212@ecsvax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 16

: 
: I have on numerous occasions formatted 360KB diskettes in 1.2MB drives (using
: "format /4"), written on them with both 1.2MB and 360KB drives, and then
: successfully read them in both 1.2MB and 360KB drives.  
: 
: It is true, however, that 1.2MB drives write narrower tracks than 360KB drives,
: so disks written on 360KB drives and then written over by 1.2MB drives may then
: be unreadable on 360KB drives, since the wider track of the 360KB drive is not
: completely obliterated by the 1.2MB drive.  It is also true that some drives,

If this is indeed a problem, why not just erase the disk with a bulk
tape eraser (Radio shack has a good one for about $15) and then format
the disk on whatever drive you want.  This way there will be no
residual data on the disk for a slightly misaligned head to pick up.
I've used this method for a long time on other computers and have had
no trouble at all.