Date   : Wed, 04 Jul 2001 08:06:22 +0100
From   : Mike Tomlinson <mike@...>
Subject: Re: Missing stuff from the archives (Re: Interest Dying Down?)

In article <3B425047.794BDF32@...>, W.H.Scholten
<wouter.scholten@...> writes

[ADE manuals]

>I heard someone locally may have it (a photocopy of ADE, not the others)
>though, so I can scan that. I'll let you know.

I found it.  Original manual and ROMs.

>> Unfortunately, I've just noticed the Bitstik 2.0 system master disc is
>> written on a DS/QD disc so god knows if that is still readable or
>
>QD?

Quad Density - PC 1.2Mb format. Uses different media to double density
discs, so I was a bit worried that the data might have fallen off it.

I tried the discs in a Beeb the other day and the Bitstik 1.0 discs
verify, so should image OK.  

The Bitstik 2.0 master disc fails verify on track 1, I suspect this
might be because it's copy protected.  It boots alright (a Robo Systems
logo appears) then a message pops up saying the second processor can't
be found - it needs a 6502 SP, which I no longer have.

What do you want to do?  I can copy the discs using a Beeb disc copier
and mail them to you if you like.

>In general 5.25 discs seem much more reliable than 3.5 (if stored ok). A
>lot of discs from stored backups on brand (like 3M) 3.5 discs have gone
>bad in about 1.5 years in the past! 5.25 discs 15 years old are
>almost all perfectly ok...

Every Beeb disc I've tried has read OK, with the exception of one (BCPL
program disc, for which I had no backup, duh) and I suspect that was
damaged by grit getting into the disc envelope, as it's heavily
scratched.  The occasional one has needed to be taken out of the drive
and tapped on the palm of my hand, then reinserted, to get it to verify
completely.  Presumably this is due to slight head alignment differences
between the drives used to write and read them.

-- 
"Security-wise, NT is a server with a 'Kick me' sign taped to it."
                      - Peter Gutmann