XPost: comp.os.linux.advocacy, comp.os.linux.misc   
   From: robin_listas@es.invalid   
      
   On 2024-09-22 20:02, Mark Lloyd wrote:   
   > On Sat, 21 Sep 2024 19:34:31 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:   
   >   
   > [snip]   
   >   
   >>> Millions of people bought the 8088: the original IBM PC and its clones   
   >>> used it. Interestingly, the Amstrad PC used the 8086. And Olivetti, but   
   >>> dunno if all models.   
   >>>   
   >>>   
   >> My PC clone had an NEC V20 and a hard drive of a monumental 20MB IIRC.   
   >> It was all I could afford   
   >   
   > I had a V20 too, and (at least where I bought it) I could get a 30MB (RLL)   
   > for only $20 more than the 20MB. It was one where you could still do a   
   > low-level format. Enter DEBUG and a command like "G=C000:000C". I first   
   > got Spinrite because it could change the interleave,   
      
   I had an Amstrad PC 1512 DD, ie, dual floppy. I later bought a HD   
   mounted on a card, 32 megs which apparently was the maximum that could   
   be done. Friends of mine had a 10MB HD and complained it was full. So I   
   went for bigger.   
      
   Yes, I remember the low-level format thing. The program in my case asked   
   for an interleave factor, and there was a recommendation for 3. I tested   
   several values, and something like 12 got double speed. Amazing at the   
   time. There was also a table of bad sectors to enter manually, but it   
   did not work right because the format found bad sectors and marked them   
   as such in the FAT.   
      
   I still have that machine, should still run. Walk.   
      
   --   
   Cheers, Carlos.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)