Re: CBM-900 floppy disk format/encoding

From: Uffe Jakobsen <uffe_at_uffe.org>
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:22:28 +0200
Message-ID: <4EA35002.40007@uffe.org>
On 2011-10-22 01:09, MikeS wrote:
> Without knowing anything about the CBM-900 or even the SFD-1001 I'd say
> it's No. 2)
>
>  From the specs below it looks like you should be using a 5.25" *1.2MB
> HD* disk drive, not a DS/DD (~360KB) drive.
>

I may have written this in a way that that could be misunderstood but 
the drive attached to my kryoflux is capable of 80 tracks (83 actually) 
someone could argue that I should have written DS/HD than :-)

/Uffe

>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Uffe Jakobsen" <uffe@uffe.org>
> To: <cbm-hackers@musoftware.de>
> Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 5:51 PM
> Subject: CBM-900 floppy disk format/encoding
>
>
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm in the progress of dumping some 5.25" disks from a CBM-900
>> (protoype) system - for "obvious" preservation reasons.
>>
>> The disks are labeled to contain Coherent 0.7.3 (UNIX) - (which was
>> the OS for CBM-900)
>>
>> From the labels both "lowres" and "highres" Coherent disk sets exists.
>> I guess that has to do with hw graphics modes and not the disk format.
>>
>>
>> My problem is that I cannot read/dump the disks.
>>
>> I've even tried dumping with the Kryoflux unit (http://kryoflux.com)
>> It does not recognise the disk either - and hence it can only produce
>> a "flux" preservation dump - which it a sort of recording of the
>> magnetic fluxuations on the disk surface.
>>
>> The fact that Kryoflux doesn't give me anything can mean a number of
>> things:
>>
>> 1) the disks are damaged - not very likely - the disks have been
>> stored correct all the years.
>>
>> 2) the drive I'm using with kryoflux (5.25" DS/DD 83 tracks) is not
>> the right type.
>>
>> 3) the disks are not encoded with either FM/MFM/GCR
>>
>>
>>
>> From various sources on the net I've read that the CBM-900 contains a
>> drive that is SFD-1001 compatible and an MFM disk controller.
>>
>> Quoting zimmers.net: (http://www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/c900.html)
>>
>> Addition hardware:
>> 1.2 megabyte 5.25" disk drive (SFD-1001 compatible)
>> 20 megabyte hard drive
>> C900 Series: Prototype UNIX System, dropped after Amiga acquisition
>> Zilog Z8000 CPU, Runs Coherent 0.7.3, UNIX 7 clone,
>> Built-In Floppy, HD, IEEE-488. MFM Disk Controller, 1MB
>> 9600 bps, 500 units made. Came in two versions.
>>
>> But what does the above actually mean ?
>>
>> 1) is it only the mechanical parts of the disk drive that is similar
>> to the SFD-1001 ? or does CBM-900 contain a complete SFD-1001 with
>> comtroller board etc ? (I think not)
>>
>> 2) The MFM disk controller ? is it for the harddisk or the floppy or
>> both ?
>>
>> Could someone give me some info on what disk format/encoding to expect
>> on those Coherent disks.
>>
>> Now I could take the CBM-900 apart and have a look inside - but it is
>> kept in a storage room - and is unaccessible at the moment.
>>
>> I'd be thankful for any information :-)
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> /Uffe
>>
>>
>>
>> Message was sent through the cbm-hackers mailing list
>
>
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Received on 2011-10-23 00:00:07

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