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From: to_stdnet@stag.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: IBM -> Atari Disk
Message-ID: <672@stag.UUCP>
Date: 7 Dec 88 18:55:36 GMT
Sender: daemon@stag.UUCP
Lines: 51

From: dynasoft!john@stag.UUCP (John Stanley)

[wfp5p@euclid.acc.Virginia.EDU (William F. Pemberton) writes...]

> Does any one out there know of a way to for a ST and an IBM PC to 
> read/write each others disk formats?  I'm trying to get some of the
> binaries for my girlfiends ST, but the only access that I have to the
> Net is through PCs.

  You're probably already receiving a flood of answers, but here it is
anyway...

	a) format 720k 3.5" floppy -ON-YOUR-IBM- (!)
	b) place files on disk
	c) take disk to girlfriends machine
	d) place disk in drive
	e) read files from disk
	f) copy files to true ST format disk
	g) enjoy..

  IBM formated disks are directly readable/writeable by an ST right out of
the box.  No need for any special software or hardware....  Unfortunately,
due to a problem that exists in all versions of MS and PC-DOS the reverse
is not true (PC/MS-DOS doesn't like ST formatted disks).  The exceptions
consist of any disks formatted by the new (soon to be released) (ver. 1.4)
version of TOS, or a number of utilities available to format IBM format
disks on the ST...

  Bottom-line:  Format on the IBM and the ST will accept it as one of its
own disks (almost.. more on this point later on).  Create 2-3 transfer
disks on your IBM and use them to copy files over to disks formatted on
the ST to avoid a small problem that the ST runs into when you swap two
IBM format floppys.  It works most of the time, but the ST won't allways
notice the change which can cause some serious problems...  If you insert
an ST format disk and read its' directory between inserting the two IBM
disks, then there won't be any problem, but this isn't easy to do reliably
enough to totaly avoid the problem....

  If you're fortunate enough to have the 1.4 version of TOS (which most of
us won't for at least a month or two): Format disks on the ST and just use
those disks...  The new TOS formater creates disks that an IBM will accept
-and- that won't cause disk-swap problems on the ST...

> Thanks in advance,

  Glad to help...  If my explanation is unclear in any way, please feel
free to drop me a note for more details...

---
John Stanley (dynasoft!john@stag.UUCP)
Software Consultant / Dynasoft Systems