8" floppy discs - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

woodchips · 20th Jan 2023, 12:13 pm

Sorting through my collection of floppy discs, finally decided I don't need the 8" ones I have kept.

Were used on my Motorola Exorciser computer. So many have the MDOS 2.1, 3.0 and 3.1 operating system on them, no idea if readable. Also some other DEC etc discs.

Also used a office computer so lots of letters etc, these will need to be wiped with a magnet.

There are 5 boxes, both soft and hard sectored.

No charge, will post, any expense required to be a donation to the Sally Army, not worth refunding me.

Lucien Nunes · 20th Jan 2023, 1:08 pm

Yes please! We have some machines (not least a theatre lighting console) with 8" drives.
Will PM.

Pamphonica · 20th Jan 2023, 2:56 pm

Could I also have a few (a box, soft sector?). I need 8" for the earliest drives on my HP85 system.
Many thanks
Jeremy

wireman · 20th Jan 2023, 2:57 pm

I would really like one floppy, I'm hoping to organize an 'old technology' event at work and this would be great to include.

Dave Moll · 20th Jan 2023, 9:30 pm

My I also make a bid for some for if I get my Cromemco up and running, though I'll need to check which sectoring it uses.

woodchips · 21st Jan 2023, 9:40 am

Well, more interest than expected!

There must be about 50 discs, BASF, Control Data etc. Didn't realise some were hard sector because I had formatted them for the Exorciser which uses soft sector, perhaps the drives could handle it, can't remember.

Jeremy definitely wants soft sector, wireman could do with one of each? Lucien and Dave, fussed?

Can't post until at least Tuesday, mobile PO.

wireman · 21st Jan 2023, 9:49 am

One of each would be nice yes, thanks. I will PM details.

Dave Moll · 21st Jan 2023, 9:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodchips

Jeremy definitely wants soft sector, wireman could do with one of each? Lucien and Dave, fussed?

I'll let you know later today once I've checked the Cromemco documentation.

wireman · 21st Jan 2023, 9:58 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Moll

I'll let you know later today once I've checked the Cromemco documentation.

I used a Cromenco once, in a local technical college at the time I was at school. I can't remember if I had to load the OS or a compiler from floppy. Would it have run CP/M?

pjmarsh · 21st Jan 2023, 1:44 pm

Hi there, I do quite a lot of restoration of old computers, and would really appreciate it is you could send me 2 or 3 each of hard sectored and soft sectored disks, if you have some left that is.

thanks and regards,

Paul
M0EYT.

Dave Moll · 21st Jan 2023, 1:57 pm

Yes, it's definitely CP/M.

ScottishColin · 21st Jan 2023, 4:23 pm

If it is possible to have one, I'd like to put my name down.

Appreciate it's easier for you to send 1 parcel than loads though.

Colin.

Dave Moll · 21st Jan 2023, 7:16 pm

From a quick scan of the disc drive manual I cannot find any direct reference to the type of sectors, but presumably I should assume from the presence of of a data pin designated "index/sector" that the discs are hard-sectored and this is the output from detecting these.

Lucien Nunes · 21st Jan 2023, 7:27 pm

Checking with the experts my end re. formatting requirements. There are various applications, the Galaxy lighting desk, a CNC machine tool controller, a workstation (we are as much or more interested in industrial embedded computing as in desktop computers themselves.)

jamesat · 22nd Jan 2023, 12:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Moll

From a quick scan of the disc drive manual I cannot find any direct reference to the type of sectors, but presumably I should assume from the presence of of a data pin designated "index/sector" that the discs are hard-sectored and this is the output from detecting these.

All of my Cromemco 8" diskettes are soft sectored (Memorex 3090 and 3M DS051111). An 'Index' pulse is still needed for track beginning but the reference to 'Sector' is perhaps only for those controllers which are designed for hard sectored diskettes?

Dave Moll · 22nd Jan 2023, 12:49 pm

Thanks for the clarification. So it looks as though it is soft-sectored that I need, please.

TonyDuell · 22nd Jan 2023, 3:52 pm

Another 'gotcha' is that siingle and double sided 8" floppies have the index hole in the jacket in different places.

_Most_ double head drives have 2 index sensors and can use either type of disk. They will detect which type it is and there's a signal on the interface connector to tell the controller when a double-sided disk is in the drive.

Single head drives have only one index sensor and in most cases can't use double-sided disks at all. You can't even format a blank one single-sided.

Dave Moll · 22nd Jan 2023, 5:08 pm

Thanks, Tony. Given that the index holes are differently placed, it makes sens that a single-sided drive can't use one side of a double-sided disc.

Yes, Ive confirmed from the manual that there are signals to indicate whether single- or double-sided discs are in use.

Denis G4DWC · 23rd Jan 2023, 9:31 am

I also have 8" Disks left over from the WW SC84 Computer I built many years ago.

Some of the single sided disks had the magnetic coating both sides but as said there was only one index hole.

I made a non magnetic punch from two Stainless steel strips one with a punch and the other a hole. The Assembly was aligned on a base board. The Punch part was slipped under the cardboard sleeve and punched
a new index hole from the inside outwards. It worked well and of course doubled the disk capacity. I've probably still got it somewhere...

Denis

Courtney Louise · 23rd Jan 2023, 9:52 am

If there are any left I would love one of each please for my vintage museum.

Kindest

Courtney

20th Jan 2023, 12:13 pm	#1
woodchips Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 1,087	8" floppy discs Sorting through my collection of floppy discs, finally decided I don't need the 8" ones I have kept. Were used on my Motorola Exorciser computer. So many have the MDOS 2.1, 3.0 and 3.1 operating system on them, no idea if readable. Also some other DEC etc discs. Also used a office computer so lots of letters etc, these will need to be wiped with a magnet. There are 5 boxes, both soft and hard sectored. No charge, will post, any expense required to be a donation to the Sally Army, not worth refunding me.

20th Jan 2023, 1:08 pm	#2
Lucien Nunes Nonode Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,431	Re: 8" floppy discs Yes please! We have some machines (not least a theatre lighting console) with 8" drives. Will PM. __________________ Three anodes good, six anodes better!

20th Jan 2023, 2:56 pm	#3
Pamphonica Nonode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Water, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,628	Re: 8" floppy discs Could I also have a few (a box, soft sector?). I need 8" for the earliest drives on my HP85 system. Many thanks Jeremy __________________ Jeremy, G8MLK, BVWTVM Friend, VMARS, BVWS Secretary. www.pamphonic.co.uk www.bttt.org.uk Last edited by Pamphonica; 20th Jan 2023 at 3:05 pm.

20th Jan 2023, 2:57 pm	#4
wireman Hexode Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Posts: 434	Re: 8" floppy discs I would really like one floppy, I'm hoping to organize an 'old technology' event at work and this would be great to include.

20th Jan 2023, 9:30 pm	#5
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 5,916	Re: 8" floppy discs My I also make a bid for some for if I get my Cromemco up and running, though I'll need to check which sectoring it uses. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

21st Jan 2023, 9:40 am	#6
woodchips Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 1,087	Re: 8" floppy discs Well, more interest than expected! There must be about 50 discs, BASF, Control Data etc. Didn't realise some were hard sector because I had formatted them for the Exorciser which uses soft sector, perhaps the drives could handle it, can't remember. Jeremy definitely wants soft sector, wireman could do with one of each? Lucien and Dave, fussed? Can't post until at least Tuesday, mobile PO.

21st Jan 2023, 9:49 am	#7
wireman Hexode Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Posts: 434	Re: 8" floppy discs One of each would be nice yes, thanks. I will PM details.

21st Jan 2023, 1:44 pm	#10
pjmarsh Diode Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Wimborne, Dorset, UK. Posts: 1	Re: 8" floppy discs Hi there, I do quite a lot of restoration of old computers, and would really appreciate it is you could send me 2 or 3 each of hard sectored and soft sectored disks, if you have some left that is. thanks and regards, Paul M0EYT.

21st Jan 2023, 1:57 pm	#11
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 5,916	Re: 8" floppy discs Yes, it's definitely CP/M. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

21st Jan 2023, 4:23 pm	#12
ScottishColin Octode Join Date: May 2012 Location: Perth, Scotland Posts: 1,108	Re: 8" floppy discs If it is possible to have one, I'd like to put my name down. Appreciate it's easier for you to send 1 parcel than loads though. Colin.

21st Jan 2023, 7:16 pm	#13
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 5,916	Re: 8" floppy discs From a quick scan of the disc drive manual I cannot find any direct reference to the type of sectors, but presumably I should assume from the presence of of a data pin designated "index/sector" that the discs are hard-sectored and this is the output from detecting these. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

21st Jan 2023, 7:27 pm	#14
Lucien Nunes Nonode Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,431	Re: 8" floppy discs Checking with the experts my end re. formatting requirements. There are various applications, the Galaxy lighting desk, a CNC machine tool controller, a workstation (we are as much or more interested in industrial embedded computing as in desktop computers themselves.) __________________ Three anodes good, six anodes better!

22nd Jan 2023, 12:49 pm	#16
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 5,916	Re: 8" floppy discs Thanks for the clarification. So it looks as though it is soft-sectored that I need, please. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

22nd Jan 2023, 3:52 pm	#17
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 4,795	Re: 8" floppy discs Another 'gotcha' is that siingle and double sided 8" floppies have the index hole in the jacket in different places. _Most_ double head drives have 2 index sensors and can use either type of disk. They will detect which type it is and there's a signal on the interface connector to tell the controller when a double-sided disk is in the drive. Single head drives have only one index sensor and in most cases can't use double-sided disks at all. You can't even format a blank one single-sided.

22nd Jan 2023, 5:08 pm	#18
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 5,916	Re: 8" floppy discs Thanks, Tony. Given that the index holes are differently placed, it makes sens that a single-sided drive can't use one side of a double-sided disc. Yes, Ive confirmed from the manual that there are signals to indicate whether single- or double-sided discs are in use. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

23rd Jan 2023, 9:31 am	#19
Denis G4DWC Pentode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brackley Northamptonshire, UK. Posts: 233	Re: 8" floppy discs I also have 8" Disks left over from the WW SC84 Computer I built many years ago. Some of the single sided disks had the magnetic coating both sides but as said there was only one index hole. I made a non magnetic punch from two Stainless steel strips one with a punch and the other a hole. The Assembly was aligned on a base board. The Punch part was slipped under the cardboard sleeve and punched a new index hole from the inside outwards. It worked well and of course doubled the disk capacity. I've probably still got it somewhere... Denis __________________ If you take something apart often enough, eventually you'll have two of them....

23rd Jan 2023, 9:52 am	#20
Courtney Louise Octode Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire. UK. Posts: 1,248	Re: 8" floppy discs If there are any left I would love one of each please for my vintage museum. Kindest Courtney __________________ *33, 45, 78, around and around they go...*