Old 720k floppy discs

Zirax · 29-10-2006, 11:50

I am currently clearing out a load of stuff when I came across some 720k floppys. Did anyone else make 720k discs become 1.4mb ones by getting some scissors/sharp implement and adding the extra hole? It worked every single time and the 720k discs were a heck of a lot cheaper than 1.4mb ones.

There you go, a brief trip down memory lane, with some handy trivia should you ever come across 720k 3.5" floppy's

Will · 29-10-2006, 12:42

Ah yes single density discs I remember them!

I did do that modification, it was AMAZING! Doubled the space on a floppy disc - I felt so happy

I still have an optical disc when they were trying to get them introduced to PCs - this was before CDs were released for PCs. I'll need to see if I can fine it. It had 128mb on it!!

Feek · 29-10-2006, 14:48

The original IBM PS/2s didn't actually check the second hole, they just formatted them at 1.44Mb

petemc · 29-10-2006, 16:30

Ah the sounds of a corrupt disk grinding in the drive. Takes me back.

Desmo · 29-10-2006, 16:52

Yep, used to do that at college all the time

Mark · 29-10-2006, 17:58

Even more fun were the attempts to play tunes on them (although it was easier with hard disks due to the faster motors).

I still have lots of 720k floppies. I'll throw them out, eventually.

Admiral Huddy · 30-10-2006, 16:57

haha I have some old System 34 8" Floppies.. in mags of ten lol

Flibster · 30-10-2006, 23:57

I went the other way in the last days of the Amiga.

HD floppies were cheaper than DD - so formatted PC HD floppies from 1.44mb to 880kb *until I got my HD drive in my Amiga.

1.76mb per disk.

Still have thousands of floppies for the Miggy.

Simon/~Flibster

Zirax · 31-10-2006, 00:06

Actually you just reminded me, in the old Acorn machines you could format the disks to 1.6mb instead of the standard 1.44mb.

Still got my Acorn 3200 e-type, quazar, sensible soccer, hostages..... may have to be dug out now

Mondo · 31-10-2006, 02:21

I never knew about that hole trick

29-10-2006, 11:50	#1
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Old 720k floppy discs I am currently clearing out a load of stuff when I came across some 720k floppys. Did anyone else make 720k discs become 1.4mb ones by getting some scissors/sharp implement and adding the extra hole? It worked every single time and the 720k discs were a heck of a lot cheaper than 1.4mb ones. There you go, a brief trip down memory lane, with some handy trivia should you ever come across 720k 3.5" floppy's

29-10-2006, 12:42	#2
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	Ah yes single density discs I remember them! I did do that modification, it was AMAZING! Doubled the space on a floppy disc - I felt so happy I still have an optical disc when they were trying to get them introduced to PCs - this was before CDs were released for PCs. I'll need to see if I can fine it. It had 128mb on it!! __________________ *No No!*

29-10-2006, 14:48	#3
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	The original IBM PS/2s didn't actually check the second hole, they just formatted them at 1.44Mb __________________

29-10-2006, 16:52	#5
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Yep, used to do that at college all the time __________________

30-10-2006, 16:57	#7
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	haha I have some old System 34 8" Floppies.. in mags of ten lol __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

29-10-2006, 16:30	#4
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Ah the sounds of a corrupt disk grinding in the drive. Takes me back.

29-10-2006, 17:58	#6
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Even more fun were the attempts to play tunes on them (although it was easier with hard disks due to the faster motors). I still have lots of 720k floppies. I'll throw them out, eventually.

30-10-2006, 23:57	#8
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	I went the other way in the last days of the Amiga. HD floppies were cheaper than DD - so formatted PC HD floppies from 1.44mb to 880kb *until I got my HD drive in my Amiga. 1.76mb per disk. Still have thousands of floppies for the Miggy. Simon/~Flibster __________________

31-10-2006, 00:06	#9
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Actually you just reminded me, in the old Acorn machines you could format the disks to 1.6mb instead of the standard 1.44mb. Still got my Acorn 3200 e-type, quazar, sensible soccer, hostages..... may have to be dug out now

31-10-2006, 02:21	#10
Mondo Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,174	I never knew about that hole trick __________________ My Website / MSN / Email / Flickr / Blog