[Coco] Formatting HD floppies w/ modified controller.

[Robert Gault]

Before you do more testing, at least get the latest 3.02.05 version so
we lock in the specific modules being use. I'm quite willing to accept 
that rb1773 is causing a problem, but without a known platform for 
testing, no fix is likely. It looks like v3.02.04 does not use the 
rb1773 which slows during format.

By the way, the actual hardware I just used to test the code is the 
Disto SCII which is a 1773 controller (but not Tandy's) and a Tandy 1793 
controller. The controllers were connected to the Coco3 via an MPI and 
the 3.5" drive is a modern high density drive. Disks were MF2DD type.

The disks were formatted for double sided, 40 tracks per side at TPI 96.

Just as a point of information, rb1773 slows down only during the track 
write command, not during any data read/writes.

RESULTS
The success of the format procedure was dependent on the disks rather 
than the controllers. Any errors that showed up during the verification 
step, changed track number when disks were changed. Errors were all 243, 
CRC error.

Repeated formats on the disks that gave errors, eventually resulted in a 
full format of $B40 sectors without any errors.

COMMENTS
The above is not a high density format in a modern sense as these disks 
should be capable of 135 TPI, 80 tracks. Still the normal Coco density 
is 48 TPI.

On my system, NitrOS-9 v3.02.05 will format 3.5" disks at 96 TPI but the 
disks must be in good magnetic condition. I have not bought new disks 
for many years and did encounter errors. These appear to be caused by 
degraded magnetic material on the disks rather than hardware or software.

Paul T. Barton wrote:
> Mark,
> 
> OK, boot reads v030204.
> 
> How can I access this
> "version info" internally,
> without rebooting?
> ---
> 
> I can format/read 80tks normal density,
> no problem. Cannot format/read
> hi-density (double-datarate) using
> the 1793 controller, with rb1773.
> 
> Paul - idezilla
> 
> --- Mark Marlette <mark at cloud9tech.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>>Paul,
>>
>>At the top of the boot screen will indicate the
>>os version.
>>
>>I'm using all version 030205 components. Most
>>times I get a CRASH after
>>less that three track steps.
>>
>>I did put my 1793 controller into slow mode and
>>did do a good format
>>last night. Same procedure done on a 1773
>>(FD501) controller, different
>>machine and it crashed every time I tried it.
>>
>>So with Roberts fix of slow mode doesn't fix
>>the problem on my end.
>>There is something else causing this. Puzzled.
>>
>>Mark
> 
> 
> --snipped--
> 
> 
> 
> 		
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