Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!watdragon!violet!jjboritz
From: jjboritz@violet.waterloo.edu (Jim Boritz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: 3.5" disk drives and diskettes
Message-ID: <10208@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Date: 5 Dec 88 01:00:33 GMT
Sender: daemon@watdragon.waterloo.edu
Reply-To: jjboritz@violet.waterloo.edu (Jim Boritz)
Distribution: world
Organization: U. of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 18


A long time ago there was much debate over whether both sides of a single
sided diskette were usable, and whether one could use a single density
diskette in a double density drive.  Well, now the question surfaces in
another form.  

In the new world of 3.5" floppies the high density diskettes have an
additional hole on the side opposite the protect hole.  My 3.5" drive will
not even think about formatting at 1.44Meg unless this hole is present.  My
question is, "Can I punch holes in my 720K diskettes and use them at
1.44Meg?"  

I am more interested in whether the hardware can withstand this use as
opposed to how the media will stand up to the punishment.
--

    Jim Boritz			{uunet,utai,clyde}!watmath!violet!jjboritz  
    University of Waterloo	jjboritz@violet.waterloo.edu