Re: PowerPC Mac's Dont like 800k disks!!

[Joseph Martin <jmartin@mitre.org>]

Let me explain how this problem came about.  I own a Centris 660AV, a PowerMac 7500, and an Apple 
IIGS.  I use a Quadra 800 and Powermac 7100/66 at work.  I first noticed this problem with the 
660AV.  

     Starting with this machine (and the Quadra 840AV) Apple used a new floppy drive system.  This 
included not only a new "highly accurate" (as Apple calls it) drive mechanism, but they changed 
the controller chips.  Although it's been a while, but I think the drive mechanism was from NewTek 
(or a similarly named company.)  I, like many others was unable to use 800K floppies that I 
formatted at work (on the Q800) on my 660AV at home.  I had similar problems with the 7100/66 
trying to read 800K floppies from the Q800 or IIGS.  

     Basically, the new drives will not accept the "sloppiness" of the older mechanisms.  This 
includes both the mechanical insert (C660AV) and the cheaper manual insert (PM-7100) mechanisms.  
The only solution I have found, format the 800K floppies in the newer machines.  This works about 
80% of the time.

     Apple didn't do away with the 800K compatability on the PowerMacs, the used "better" 
components that are just more picky about what they get.  It doesn't make me happy but hey, I 
bought a 7500, the computer with the corrupted install CD.  The one I spent 2 days trying to 
install system 7.5.2 on an external HD (Saturday and Sunday).  When I called Apple on Monday, they 
told me that they would NOT be shipping a fix for the System CD and that I could get the patches 
online (with what? PPP doesnt work with OT earlier than 1.0.8 which was on the System disk).  In 
other words, I better go before I get upset at Apple again.