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[sim085]

Hello, I have a few new PC floppy disks which work fine on PC. I would like to format these in such a way that I can use them as Amiga floppy disks (not to transfer files between PC and Amiga, but to use them as if Amiga floppy disks).

I had a similar thread in the past but what was suggested then is not working. I have Windows7. I insert the floppy disk and then from command promt I enter the following command:

FORMAT A: /T:80 /N:9

However I get the following output

H:\>FORMAT A: /T:80 /N:9
Insert new disk for drive A:
and press ENTER when ready...
The type of the file system is RAW.
The new file system is FAT.
Formatting 720K
Invalid media or Track 0 bad - disk unusable.

Does anyone know if I can format a PC disk to use it as an Amiga disk? or this is not possible?

[VuData]

Maybe try using double density floppies (although I've used HD without issues in the past).

[amigean]

If you want to format floppies with an Amiga file system on a PC then you need a hardware solution such as the Catweasel. Otherwise it is just not possible. (You can always do that on an Amiga though...)

If you want to format floppies with a PC file system (e.g. FAT16) that you can then use on both the PC and the Amiga (with CrossDOS) then you need either Double Density floppies or High Density floppies with a sellotape on the second hole. It is simpler to just format them on the Amiga - if you have CrossDOS installed simply select to format the PC0: (instead of DF0.

[VuData]

I just re-read the part where you said 'not to transfer files'. As Amigean said, no way on a PC. I never had much luck with my Catweasel either to be honest.

[spirantho]

Originally Posted by VuData

I never had much luck with my Catweasel either to be honest.

That must be the software then - the Catweasel reads and writes Amiga disks just fine under OS 4.

[sim085]

Originally Posted by amigean

If you want to format floppies with a PC file system (e.g. FAT16) that you can then use on both the PC and the Amiga (with CrossDOS) then you need either Double Density floppies or High Density floppies with a sellotape on the second hole. It is simpler to just format them on the Amiga - if you have CrossDOS installed simply select to format the PC0: (instead of DF0.

I do not want to use the disks for the PC, just for the Amiga? does that change anything? Or I still need CrossDOS?

[carvedeye]

Originally Posted by sim085

I do not want to use the disks for the PC, just for the Amiga? does that change anything? Or I still need CrossDOS?

nope just format them on the amiga and you will be fine ive been using hd floppys for a while and had no problems. The only thing is you will only be using 880k of the 1.44 mb on the disks, But that is all the amiga floppy drive can do.

If you are wanting to transfer adf to real floppys might i suggest TSGUI it works brillianly for transfering ADF images back to real floppy disks.

[Bamiga2002]

Go for TransADF-GUI if you also want to use RAD: as a temporary floppy disk. TSGui can't do that.

[amiman99]

I dont have Win 7, so I'm not sure, but on Win XP I can't format disks as Double Density 720Kb. First try to cover the High Density hole (HD disks have 2 holes, cover them both)
The way I would do it is to format the disks in Amiga first. You will need OS3 with PC0: installed (or CrossDos). Insert the disk and click on the PC0:???? icon, then select format.
Even if you can't format on win XP, or maybe 7, you should be able to read and write to it on those Win machines.

[sim085]

Originally Posted by amiman99

You will need OS3 with PC0: installed (or CrossDos)

Originally Posted by carvedeye

nope just format them on the amiga

So is it just a question of cover the High Density hole insert in the Amiga and click format? Or I still need CrossDos or some other tool? My aim is to have disks which I can boot from. From what I found out on the net, using CrossDos to format a disk means you'll need CrossDos to read the content of that disk and therefore impossible to use such disks unless in Workbench.

[amiman99]

First you need to tell us what Amiga you have, what Workbench/Kickstart version and how much ram? Then we can find a proper solution.

[spaceman88]

Yes, just click format. No need to worry about the HD hole if your just using an A1200 (or any Amiga without a HD drive)

[sim085]

Originally Posted by amiman99

First you need to tell us what Amiga you have, what Workbench/Kickstart version and how much ram? Then we can find a proper solution.

A500+ with Workbench 3.1, 2MB ChipRAM, and 8MB FastRAM.

[amiman99]

You can not boot from PC disks, but you can use them to copy files from PC to Amiga. Mostly I used them to copy LHA files to Amiga.
To make your workbench read PC disks, go to "Sys:Storage/DosDrivers" folder and copy file labeled PC0 to Sys: Devs/DosDrivers, that's it.
Reboot the Amiga and it should work.
When you insert a disk you should see 2 disk icons, one an typical floppy icon and other PC0:????, when you click on that icon and select format, that disk will be readable on PC.

[sim085]

Originally Posted by amiman99

You can not boot from PC disks, but you can use them to copy files from PC to Amiga. Mostly I used them to copy LHA files to Amiga.
To make your workbench read PC disks, go to "Sys:Storage/DosDrivers" folder and copy file labeled PC0 to Sys: Devs/DosDrivers, that's it.
Reboot the Amiga and it should work.
When you insert a disk you should see 2 disk icons, one an typical floppy icon and other PC0:????, when you click on that icon and select format, that disk will be readable on PC.

Thank you that is good to know, I will try it out. Regarding booting from disk; the only option is pure Amiga Floppy disks then! Thanks again for the help and explanation.