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

[Roy and/or Janet Miller <millers@inetnebr.com>]

Nice to see you back David.

Roy

David Empson wrote:

> 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