Article View: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Article #14747Why no single density?
From: John Ruschmeyer
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1986 04:56
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1986 04:56
26 lines
1668 bytes
1668 bytes
Recently I've been looking at ads for programs to read/write alien disks on an IBM compatable. One thing I've noticed, though, is that none of them support the formatting of single density disks (old Osborne I, TRS-80 Model I, etc.). Forgive a naive question, but why is this the case? Is there some limitation of the disk controller in an IBM-PC which prevents single density operation or is it some limitation of the BIOS? Looking in the tech manual for my own machine (a Tandy 1000), I noticed that it uses an Intel 8272A as the floppy disk controller. According to the spec sheet, this chip is capable of single density operation. If so, then why can't I find a program to use it that way? Thanks in advance for any replies. If you know of a program which will deal with single density disk, feel free to pass the name along. -- Name: John Ruschmeyer US Mail: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ 07764 Phone: (201) 571-3557 UUCP: ...!vax135!petsd!moncol!john ...!princeton!moncol!john ...!pesnta!moncol!john This isn't a coronation- this is bad comedy. -Galvatron
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Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!watmath!clyde!cuae2!gatech!akgua!mtune!mtuxo!houxm!hjuxa!petsd!moncol!john From: john@moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.tandy Subject: Why no single density? Message-ID: <437@moncol.UUCP> Date: Mon, 10-Nov-86 23:56:07 EST Article-I.D.: moncol.437 Posted: Mon Nov 10 23:56:07 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 15-Nov-86 05:08:28 EST Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ Lines: 26 Keywords: Intel 8272a, FDC, IBM-PC, Tandy 1000