Date   : Sun, 22 Oct 2006 17:07:45 +0100 (BST)
From   : Greg Cook <debounce@...>
Subject: Re: 1.2mb 5.25 drive

On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:28:40 +0100, salahdin mahmud <tbkc@...>
wrote:

> hi,
>
> does anyone know if a 1.2mb 5.25 drive is fully compatible with normal bbc
> floppies (which I think are DD 720k)?
>
> And, are these normally 80 track drives by default?
>
> If an old pc drive is for sale, and the only info is the capacity, is there
> a general rule that can be linked to this to determine compatibility with
> bbc and the no. tracks?
>
> cheers
> naz

1.2 MB drives are always DSHD, 80 track drives.  They may need the
jumpers changed to spin at 300 rpm, otherwise they'll work like any
other drive.  I have a Teac FD55GFR which is quiet and works fine in
single and double density.  FYI standard BBC discs are SD, either 100K
or 200K per side.

As with 3.5" drives there may be a problem with HD discs.  According to
some an HD disc should work in an HD drive attached to a Beeb, but
often it doesn't.

Greg Cook
debounce@...
http://homepages.tesco.net/~rainstorm/


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