Re: Apple II-Or Come on people, It's a 20 year old computer

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Matthew T. Russotto <russotto@wanda.vf.pond.com> wrote:

> In article <398f2417$1@hal.grnco.net>, Arkain <rwking@no.usa.spam.net> wrote:
> 
> }That brought the # down to 40. Some of the old A2+ hardware couldn't
> }handle going the full 40 and would overwrite track #35 when trying to
> }write to the last 5 tracks. So the original format was made 35 track.
> 
> Right, the original Disk IIs from Shugart couldn't reach Tracks 36-39.
> (they could reach Track 35, but it wasn't used anyway, possibly just
> to give a margin of error.  Copy protected disks used it often enough)
> 
> }Later versions of the [drive] didn't have the same track motion
> }limitations. That lead to a slew of formatting software to format disks at
> }40 tracks instead of the standard 35. I enjoyed using 160K floppies.
> 
> There was a hardware hack (basically, bending the piece which stopped the
> arm) to get 40 tracks out of even the original Disk II.

Later 5.25" drive mechanisms (after the Disk ][) still didn't
consistently support 40 tracks.  My Apple 5.25 Drive (purchased in 1987)
can only reach track 37 or 38.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P O Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand