Re: Disk ][ Drives not working

[Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net>]

In article <pan.2004.07.02.11.21.49.257301@alirossdotco.uk>,
 Alistair J Ross <mailat@alirossdotco.uk> wrote:

> Hmm,
> 
>     Well, I have two Disk ][ interface cards, one from the Europlus and one
>     from an //e. I don't know if either work, as I don't really know how to
>     test them. I don't have any reason to doubt them working though.
> 
>     Next, I have a number of disks from different sources, the chances of them
>     all being faulty is very unlikely.
> 
>     Finally, taking a blank DSDD diskette 

Bingo... There's a very likely explanation for your trouble.

Betcha your drives and controllers are just fine. You problem is the 
disks. Disk II's are known for not putting out enough electromagnetic 
"oomph" to properly write on DD disks, which didn't exist back when 
those drives were designed, and require more power being applied to them 
to write a bit than the same bit that's destined for a single-density 
disk - The end result is like trying to write on a tyvek disk envelpe 
with a pencil - it "just doesn't take".

-- 
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