🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1991Feb18.090824.1117@spcvxb.spc.edu>, terry@spcvxb.spc.edu (Terry Kennedy, Operations Mgr.) writes:
> In article <wV8JX4w163w@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz>, don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (Don Stokes) writes:
>> 
>> Does anyone know how format a disk to look like an RX50?  Can a PC high
>> density floppy drive do it?   With DOS?
> 
>  Out-of-the-[DEC]-box RX50 diskettes are a bit strange. The gaps are tight
> enough that a PC's controller chip (NEC uPD765 or clone) will have some
> problems. I've formatted diskettes on a PC and been able to read them in an
> RX50 drive, but I wouldn't bet on it always working.

The RX50 seems to manage to read pretty much anything as long as it fits 
within its specs.  That's not what I'm trying to achieve.  I want the 
disks to *be* RX50s, not just readable, but writable, INITable etc on DEC 
systems, notably PDP-11s running RSX and VAXes running VMS, neither of 
which are terribly keen on anything that doesn't have 80 tracks at 10 
sectors per track.

>   What _does_ work is a Central Point Software COPY II PC Option Board. 
> 
>   Of course, there are other options. A Rainbow can format RX50's. 
> 
>   Probably the best solution is to upgrade the RX50 to an RX33 drive, 

Useful suggestions, 'cept that avoiding spending money is whole object of 
this exercise......

> gives you 3x the capacity and is user-formattable. Some PDP-11 operating sys-
> tems (like RSTS/E) allow formatting the disks without needing diagnostics.
> [Guess where the RSTS/E group got that idea... 8-]

I wonder if Micro/RSX has this option...  (Unfortunately, I have only 
Micro/RSX V1.0, which doesn't have much of anything -- V4.something is on 
its way.......)

However, for the time being the problem is solved, in true GP fashion, 
with some esoteric hardware -- in this case a multi-format disk 
reader/writer that just happens to have a "PDP11 RT11 RX50" option under 
"FORMAT DISK".... (I know, I should have tried that first!).  Stick a 
double density disk (High density does *not* work) into the drive, press 
the button, and Hey Presto!, one RX50.  I'm now going to round up all the 
double density disks I can get my grubby paws on (we use mainly high 
density for PCs, so DD disks are mostly rubbish) and make them into 
RX50s.

Now, where cane I get the little "digital RX50K" stickers that hide just 
inside the envelope?  8-)


Don Stokes, ZL2TNM  /  /                             don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (home)
Systems Programmer /GP/ GP PRINT LIMITED  Wellington,       don@gp.co.nz (work)
__________________/  / ----------------   New_Zealand_____________+64_4_737_320
     Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.