Re: HD floppies in a DD drive.

[paulp@netmanage.com (Paul Pietromonaco)]

In article <1228263325.185652155@adbbs.antioch.edu>, John_L._Graham@adbbs.antioch.edu says...
>
>Since DS/DD disks are getting practically impossible to find, what's the story
>on using DS/HD disks in a DD drive (3.5 and 5.25")? I've heard some say some
>HD disks can't be formatted in a DD drive, and some say they can. We seem to
>have mixed luck here at work, and I haven't tried HD disks in a 5.25" drive
>yet. One reason for asking is we're getting a couple of new Apple II users in
>our group and we like to tell them what to ask for when they go to a computer
>store to avoid the ol' "buy what we're selling this week" speech. For
>example, instead of asking for 3.5" disks for an Apple II (BIG MISTAKE) ask
>for 3.5" double sided double density diskettes.
>
>Thanks!
>
>John
>
>
John,
     For what it's worth (i.e. it's been many years since I heard this
stuff) here's what I was told:  According to the floppy disk manufacturers, 
there is no difference between HD and DD for 3.5" disks.  Format 'em HD, 
format 'em DD, should work fine.  The only difference
is that the HD disks have been verified to work at higher densities.  
     On the other hand, HD and DD 5.25" inch disks *do* have differing media
and cannot be interchanged.
     My own personal experience with PCs, Macs and Apple IIs with 3.5 and 5.25
drives have borne this out.
     And, you're absolutely right of course - ask for 3.5" Double Density diskettes.
Note:  If you buy them preformatted for IBMs, you'll have to re-format the disks.
If you buy them preformatted for Macs, you just have to erase them, since the GCR
tracks (800k) are already laid down in the correct order.  (Of course, if you already
have GS/OS 6.X, with the Mac FSTs, then you can leave them as is, and use them
straight out of the box!)
     You should get DD disks for 5.25" drives.  The drives are not single density.
Depending on your frame of mind, you can notch the other side of the disk, and use the
back sides of the DD disks.  Pros:  The media has been tested for DS/DD disks.  I've
never had any problems.  Cons:  The disk spins in the opposite direction, so any
junk built up at the edge now spins back across your heads.
     Hope this helps!
     Paul
  
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                               -paulp@netmanage.com
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