Date   : Fri, 06 Jul 1990 14:03:55 GMT
From   : Christopher Currie (IHR) <THRA004@mvs.ulcc.ac.uk>
Subject: SD osborne to MS-DOS transfer

Tim Maguire writes:
>A few years ago I was using an Osborne I and then graduated to an
>Osborne Executive (it came w/ UCSD Pascal).  I (reluctantly) moved all
>my computing to MS-Dos about 4 years back.
>Well, this isn't alt.folklore.computers, so on to my question:
>
>I recently needed to access some of my data from my Osborne I days, and
>found (actually remembered) that Media Master and Uniform will not read
>single density disks.  I presume that this is a hardware limitation of
>the *BM drive.  Can anyone give me any info on how to read my ancient
>manuscripts?
>
 
According to documentation which came with my TRS-80 emulator for
the PC, the problem is with the disk controller, not with the
drives. You might be able to find someone with a non-standard
controller in his PC which could read the Osborne disks.
 
The Sydex 22disk program states of the Osborne 1 single-density
format:
 
This format requires a controller capable of operating in single-density
(FM) mode.  If you are using a standard PC-style controller, you will most
likely NOT be able to handle this format.  The MicroSolutions CompatiCard
will handle this format, however, and may be used in addition to your
normal controller.
 
22Disk (at least the registered version) handles the following
Osborne formats:
 
 OSB1   Osborne 1 - SSSD 48 tpi 5.25"
 OSB2   Osborne 1 - SSDD 48 tpi 5.25"
 OSB3   Osborne Executive - SSDD 48 tpi 5.25"
 OSB4   Osborne G2 System - DSDD 48 tpi 5.25"
 OSB5   Osborne G2 System - DSDD 96 tpi 5.25"
 OSB6   Osborne 1 + Osmosis - DSDD 96 tpi 5.25"
 OSB7   Osborne Nuevo - DSDD 48 tpi 5.25"
 OSB8   Osborne Vixen - DSDD 48 tpi 5.25"
 OSB9   Osborne Executive w/Z3 - DSDD 96 tpi 5.25"
 
Christopher