Re: Apple II 5.25" floppy disks ...

[mkelsey@eecs.wsu.edu (Michael Kelsey)]

In article <4jttgo$ndo$1@mhafn.production.compuserve.com>, Tom Zuchowski <71214.1670@CompuServe.COM> writes:
|> <<<Most apple drives could be tweaked into writing 40 tracks. 
|> There were a number of patches published in Nibble, A+ &c to that 
|> effect.>>>
|> 
|> I guess I'm picking nits, but the way I remember it is that true 
|> Disk II drives could =usually= be patched to access one extra 
|> track, and most if not all of the aftermarket drives were actually 
|> 40-track drives and could easily be patched to access all 40.
|> 
|> But then again my memory is turning into Swiss cheese...
|> 
|> TomZ

Hmm.  I have tested out the true Disk II drives as well as the modular replace-
ments in my DuoDisk, and *most* drives can access up to track 39 reliably.  Laser
128EX  drives are not (at least the models I tested) able to access above track
36.  Very few Apple brand drives cannot access above track 36.  If I remember
correctly, only the Platinum Apple 5.25" UniDisk drives (used on the GS) had pro- 
blems accessing above track 36.

The reason I know this is related to the fact I wanted to use Apple II Desktop,
and the only way to fit the Accessories on the disk was to 'extend' the capacity
of ProDOS from $118 to something higher (I don't recall the exact value). 

Michael Kelsey
mkelsey@eecs.wsu.edu
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"Your Apple II is only as limited as you make it!"
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