XPost: comp.os.linux.advocacy, comp.os.linux.misc   
   From: not.email@all.invalid   
      
   On Wed, 25 Sep 2024 09:51:36 +0200, Carlos E.R. wrote:   
      
   [snip]   
      
   >> 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.   
      
   32MB was the largest partition size supported by the early version of   
   FAT16 (16-bit sector count * 512-byte sector size). The disk could be   
   larger, but then you'd need more partitions.   
      
   The drive I had was actually a little larger than the maximum, so I could   
   create a small second partition.   
      
   BTW, there is a later version of FAT16 with a 32-bit sector count.   
      
   > 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.   
      
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   Mark Lloyd   
   http://notstupid.us/   
      
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   with him through the ceiling, since which time nothing has been heard of   
   [him]." [Martin Luther]   
      
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