Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!eecae!cps3xx!usenet From: usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: DRAM & 1.44MB drive questions; comments on Gateway 2000 Message-ID: <2223@cps3xx.UUCP> Date: 16 Mar 89 04:39:21 GMT References: Reply-To: cook@frith.UUCP (Greg Cook) Distribution: comp.sys.ibm.pc Organization: Engineering, Michigan State University, E. Lansing Lines: 41 In article kkerce@x102c.harris-atd.com (Kerce KF 70458) writes: >I'm working with a 20 Mhz 80386-based PC from Gateway 2000--more on > >On another note, does a 3.5" 1.44 MB disk drive need a high-density >diskette to format 1.44 MB correctly? Can a double-sided double >density 3.5" diskette be formatted to 1.44 MB? > I tried to Email this but couldn't get it to you. Yes and No. You need a high density disk to format to 1.44 MB. If you have a double density disk you can format it to 720 K by using the following: (if in drive b:) "format b:/f:720" If you try to format a 720 K disk in a 1.44 MB drive without this extension it will not work. Note: However, a double density disk can be converted to a high density disk (even the cheap 89 cent signle sided ones) by drilling a hole in the case. If you look through your gateway manual (on your gateway setup disk) it describes how to do this. Take two disks and place them back to back (hub to hub) and mark the disk through the write protect hole. Then drill a hole through the disk at this location. Gateway claims to have tested this and had only a 1%-2% failure rate. I have seen in various computer magazines a tool that does this converting easily for about $20.00. This could be valuable since the high density disks run about $8.00. I haven't tried this yet. I don't really like the idea of drilling holes in my disks. I am thinking about buying this tool. If anyone has tried this please let me know your results. For my money the high density 1.2 MB 5.25" disks seem the best value. They hold almost as much as the 1.44 MB disks and only cost 50 cents each. Hope this helps. Greg Cook