Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!watdragon!rose!trgauchat
From: trgauchat@rose.waterloo.edu (Terry Gauchat)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: ??HELP?? DOS 3.3: How to format 1.44 MB ?
Message-ID: <14402@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Date: 10 Jun 89 00:19:43 GMT
References: <330001@hpbblb.bbn.hp.com> <1439@bucket.UUCP> <14288@watdragon.waterloo.edu> <1448@bucket.UUCP>
Sender: daemon@watdragon.waterloo.edu
Reply-To: trgauchat@rose.waterloo.edu (Terry Gauchat)
Organization: U. of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 63

In article <1448@bucket.UUCP> leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) writes:
}In article <14288@watdragon.waterloo.edu> trgauchat@rose.waterloo.edu (Terry Gauchat) writes:
}<
}<Okay, so the hardware knows the disk isn't an HD -- so why the $^@$*
}<didn't they add a DOS error ==> improper media density, or something,
}<rather than allowing the format command to run for days pseudo trying
}<to format -- only to say 900+k bad sectors when it stops?
}
}If your drive has the media type sensor enabled you *will* get a write
}failure error from DOS when you try to format a DD disk at HD. If you 
}don't and FORMAT runs, you have the drive set for software density select
}and the failure is the poor quality media!
}
}<
}Sorry, but like I said above, if FORMAT is running past Head0, Track0
}the bad sector report is *real*. If your drive allows format to run
}then you don't have the hardware sensor enabled and melting a hole ain't
}gonna help.


WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG ... (etc.)


I performed the following experiment:

   Take a random no-name regular density 3-1/2" diskette,
   pop it into the drive, and "format b:".

   Wait 20 minutes.

   Return to find out that 900+K in bad sectors exist.
   (not DOS "write failure"  -- Using DOS 4.0)

   Grab screw driver and (no, don't open the computer) PUNCH a
   friggin hole in the friggin disk.

   Pop it into the drive, and "format b:".

   Wait 1-2 minutes.

   WOW!  1.44 Meg available space ===> 0 (zero, zilch) bad sectors.

   NO MEDIA FAILURE!


So...Now what do you think?


I'm gonna take a look for that jumper, I guess...

QUESTION:  Is the HD hole looked at when READING/WRITING (not formatting?)
           I put the hole in to be compatible with all HD drives, in case
           some have hardware detect on.

           Besides, it makes it easy to tell whether a disk has been
           formatted for high density or not...


...Terry
MicroCosmic Computer Services

and President of the International Coalition Against Deceit by Disk
Manufacturers (PICADDM).