[Info-vax] 8" Floppies

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 1/1/19 3:33 AM, Hans Vlems wrote:
> Bill,
> Hardware support hardly ever got dropped in VAX/VMS is what I think. No doubt there still is a CRDriver in SYS$LDR :-)
> My Qbus experience is limited to the microVAX I and II, I cannot recall RX0x support on that bus let alone for BI or XMI.
> The only way to get your hands on a working RX0x drive under VMS is on a VAX11/7xx or 86x0. And you know that if you choose to run V7.3 on an 11/700 then that combination is unsupported (ROTFL)
> 
> Happy New Year !
> 

I have an adapter that handles all the necessary signal
modifications between the 5.25/3.5 floppy interface and
the 50 pin Shugart 8" interface.  I  have used it on
other hardware successfully.  The only reason it no
longer works on PC's is the change to a controller
chip that does not do Single Density.  I have used it
on 6809 and Z80 sysems with the WD 1771 and WD 1791
controllers.  I haven't looked at what is in the VS3100
(although I might the next time I have one opened up)
but it is of a vontage when the chip should support
the needed formats.  All that is needed is a device
driver that know how to do that.

If I get the chance over the next week or so, I will
let people know if it worked.

bill