Date   : Thu, 14 Jul 2005 23:30:42 +0100 (BST)
From   : Pete Turnbull <pete@...>
Subject: Re: floppy discs

On Jul 14 2005, 21:32, Colin wrote:
> I think I am getting the idea now.
> I have spoken to the previous owner of the BBC Micro and explained
about
> utilities disk and she tells me she never used it to format her
disks. Of
> course, she can't remember HOW she used to do it other than she just
typed
> something in on the keyboard.

Either she had the format program on some other disk, or she had a
utility ROM that included a formatter.

> Now, I think my problem is this.
> As my disks have been formatted for use with a PC, the Beeb can't
recognise
> them as valid disks so reports "Disk fault 18 at 00/00"
> My question now is, is there a way to get rid of the stuff (and the
> formatting) already on the disk (using the BBC Micro) and then
reformat it
> for use in my external disk drive?

See Jules' suggestion for a copy, or BeebMaster's web page.  But you
don't need to "get rid of the stuff already on the disk" as a separate
step.  Just reformat.

-- 
Pete                                           Peter Turnbull
                                               Network Manager
                                               University of York