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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:	AMIGA NOTES
Notice:	Join us in the NEW conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:	HYDRA::MOORE

Created:	Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:	Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5378
Total number of notes:	38326

2871.0. "A2000 And the RX23" by MLNOI1::RONCAGLIONI (Luca IW2BQB in Milan) Mon Aug 28 1989 14:44

   I'm in trouble installing a Dec RX23 on the A2000 as drive 1 (DF1:). 
The problem is this:

	- When I'm booting the Amiga, without any disk in the DF1: drive
 the Workbench reports a "DF1:BAD" error.

	- When I change a disk in this drive, the operating system does not 
recognize the new volume. The only way to continue after a disk change 
operation, is using the DISKCHANGE utility.

  I've seen that forcing the CHNG signal on the drive bus, forces the system to 
load the new disks correctly.

Anyone had experience with this drive? Any help?

Thanks in advance.

Luca -Italy-

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2871.1	feeble help :-)	WJG::GUINEAU	In the calm calculus of reason	`Mon Aug 28 1989 19:06`	13
	I believe RX23 is a high density 2MB floppy. I'm pretty sure that on DEC systems it is read/write 2MB, read ONLY on 1MB. I't might not work on an Amiga. As for diskchange, there is some support circuitry that Amiga floppies use to deal with this signal (I think) and also to let the DOS know it's a 3.5" as opposed to 5.25" drive. Sounds like AmigaDOS thinks you have a 5.25 floppy attached.. John
2871.2	Perhaps you meant 1.2 Meg?	MQOFS::LEDOUX	Reserved for Future Use	`Mon Aug 28 1989 19:16`	10
2871.3	yes 2.0 MB	WJG::GUINEAU	In the calm calculus of reason	`Mon Aug 28 1989 21:46`	22
	Yes, RX23 is 2.0 megabytes unformatted. It's 1.44 MB formatted. It will also operate in 1.0 MB mode (700KB formatted). It will read/write 1.4 MB but is READ ONLY for 700KB mode. I doub't this will work on an Amiga. From the specs: standard density(700KB) High density (1.4MB) peak xfer rate 250KB/S 500KB/S ave. access time 194MS 194MS (fast, huh? :-) tracks/disk 160 160 sectors/track 9 18 bytes/sector 512 512 rotational speed 300RPM 300RPM John
2871.4	more feeble help	DPD03::ANDERSONA	This space for rent	`Tue Aug 29 1989 00:22`	6
	In the Cross to Dos manual it mentions that 1.2Mb 5.25 inch and 1.44 MB 3.5 inch floppys cannot run on the Amiga due to hardware limitations. I am just reporting what the book says. Alan
2871.5	Should work...	FRAMBO::BALZER	Christian Balzer DTN:785-1029	`Tue Aug 29 1989 07:25`	14
	Re: * Well, I plead guilty to total ignorance what kinda drive hides behind the RX23, but if it can be put into an 1 MB unformatted mode (that's 720 KB in IBM mode and 880KB in Amiga mode), by the means of jumpers or otherwise, it _should_ work. I also plead guilty to the fact that I still didn't upload the schematics and docs to my disk drive interface, which should solve this problem. I promise that this thing will be available on thursday. Really. :-) Regards, <CB>
2871.6	Some other informations....	MLNOI1::RONCAGLIONI	Luca IW2BQB in Milan	`Tue Aug 29 1989 14:07`	12
	The drive, as drive DF1:, works well in read and write operations. This with the Workbench (1.3) or other program (like NIBBLE copier). The compatability with the other (original) drive seems to be good. The MIRROR copier reports an error when it tries to use DF1:. It reports a "DISK REMOVED" error and aborts the operation. The RX23 is a SONY drive. I think the problem is that the O.S. is never informed by the drive when the disk has removed or inserted. I think that the O.S. see the drive always ready even without the disk (remember that at startup without disk in DF1:, it reports a DF1:BAD error). Luca