Around 04-Dec-97, D NICKEL typed:


>                Hi,

>Ok; does windows 95 read msdos disk?

Of course...  MS-DSO is FAT 16... Windows95 formats disks as FAT32 but works
with FAT16 just fine.


>Because I've been using it an formatted a 1.44mb disk with it,
>and when I slip it in a 95 machine at the library (Windows 95),
>an start to down load the programs I want it states the disk isn't,
>formatted. Why?

I think you meant to ask if Win95 machines can read AMIGADOS formatted disks?

If so, the answer is no.  The Amiga formats at a higher sector/track than
Clones are capable of (without special hardware).



> Is it because my Amiga can't read a 1.44mb,
>disk an the Windows computer can?

Depends on which Amiga you have and what kind of floppy you have.  Amiga HD
floppies are very rare.  Only some A3000's and A4000's came with them stock. 
They have to be added to A500 and A1200's... and you have to have at least OS
2.x and the correct version, patch, and software support software to use one
then.

What kind of mahcine do you have?


>I would like to state that it works fine with a wb1.3 disk I formatted.

You are not very clear.  I can understnad some of what you are asking but am
not sure... Look at these questiona ans answers for clarification:


-Are you trying to read a DSDD Amiga formatted disk on an IBM? 
      Can not be done without special hardware (catweasle)

-Are you trying to read a DSHD Amiga formatted disk on an IBM? 
      Can not be done without same special hardware

-Are you trying to read a DSDD IBM formatted disk on an Amiga?
      Can be done, but you can not use the Win95 FAT32 format.  Use DOS 6.x,
      Also, you must have either 2.1 (stock) or greater on the Amiga to read
the 
      DOS format OR have DOS2DOS OR MessyDOS device software installed on 
      your amiga (aminet)

-Are you trying to read a DSHD IBM formatted disk on an Amiga?
      Must have the same as above but also must have a high density Amiga
drive on
      the amiga as well as ROM/PATCH level to support HD disks (I think
2.04+patches)


I hope this clarifies things for you.

Tom D Tek
-- 
  __________________________________________________________________________
 /      Thomas W. Weeks        |Team AMIGA  Commodore Amiga 500/030 40MHz   \
|   A&M EET/Telecom Grad '95   |      ///   Hacked Into Black Tower Case,    |
| Authorized Amiga Tech (7yrs) | __  ///    9M RAM, SyQuest 44M, 700M-o-SCSI |
|        Contact Me @          | \\\///     IBM 286 Hardware Emulator,       |
|       o------------o         |  \XX/      Home Brew Audio A/D, HP48GX      |
|   Email: tweeks@texas.net    |"Amiga, The Computer for the Creative Mind"TM|
|Web:lonestar.texas.net/~tweeks|"Mac, The Computer for the Rest of Us"TM     |
 \_____________________________|____________________________________________/

Around 05-Dec-97, D NICKEL typed:


>                        Hi,

>Sorry about the mess I sent you .
>Here's the real an hopefully clear version.

>When I formatte a 1.44mb disk to 720k using CrossDos,
>the Windows95 machine states it's not formatted when I,
>download a file to the CrossDos formatted disk.
>Is this because it can read the tracks my 880k drive can't?

Ahhhh.. ok...  you need to place a piece of tape over the HD hole
(not the write protect hole) before formatting it as a 720k on the 
Amiga...  THAT's the problem...  Leave the tape on...  If you have 
probs with errors in your data or reading.. THAT is the result of using
HD disks on a DD drive... not supposed to.. but some people get away 
with it.

The tape makes the IBM HD drive think it is looking at a DD disk...
if you do not.. it defaults to the HD format and of course it can not
understand this "hybrid" format....

The tape keeps a swicth on the HD drive (IBM) from recognizing what kind
of disk is inserted...  and of course.. the Amiga drive could care less as 
it does not HAVE the HD sensing switch.  

Get it?

View inside of a DD drive (disk door flipped open)

+------------------------+
| ,     ____x____        |
+------===========-------+
  ^
  R/W sensor


View inside of a HD drive (disk door flipped open)
+------------------------+
| ,     ____x____      , |
+------===========-------+
  ^                    ^
  R/W sensor      HD disk sensor

So as you can see.. if you place a HD disk, formatted as a DD into a HD drive,
the drive sees what kind of disk it is and assumes the type of format that is
used.  This same problem can be found on amiga 4000's and 3000's with HD disks
formatted as DD's.


Hope this helps...

Tom D Tek
-- 
  __________________________________________________________________________
 /      Thomas W. Weeks        |Team AMIGA  Commodore Amiga 500/030 40MHz   \
|   A&M EET/Telecom Grad '95   |      ///   Hacked Into Black Tower Case,    |
| Authorized Amiga Tech (7yrs) | __  ///    9M RAM, SyQuest 44M, 700M-o-SCSI |
|        Contact Me @          | \\\///     IBM 286 Hardware Emulator,       |
|       o------------o         |  \XX/      Home Brew Audio A/D, HP48GX      |
|   Email: tweeks@texas.net    |"Amiga, The Computer for the Creative Mind"TM|
|Web:lonestar.texas.net/~tweeks|"Mac, The Computer for the Rest of Us"TM     |
 \_____________________________|____________________________________________/