Table 3-2. 3Xhch drive/diskette compatibility

Drive type

Diskette types it can read from and write to

720KB

720KB

 

1.44MB

720KB,

1.44MB

If you have any combination of the above drives (360KB, 1.2MB, 720KB, and 1.44MB), you can copy files from one drive to another (using the COPY command) as long as the correct diskette type is in each drive. You can also copy files between a hard disk and any type of diskette. You cannot use the DISKCOPY command to copy from one drive to another if the two drives are not the same type.

If you have two drives of different types and want to copy from one diskette to another of the same type, you need to use MS-DOS to change your system’s drive configuration. You do this by inserting the MS-DOS command DRIVER.SYS in a configuration file. See your MS-DOS manual for instructions.

You can copy files between a hard disk and any type of diskette. See your MS-DOS or other software manual for instructions on how to copy files.

Caring for your Disks and Disk Drives

To avoid damaging floppy and hard disks, you need to care for them properly. Take these precautions to avoid losing data:

Keep disks away from dust and dirt. Small particles of dust or dirt scratch the magnetic surface and can destroy data. Dust can also ruin the read/write heads in a disk drive.

Keep disks away from magnetic fields. (Remember that disks store data magnetically.) There are many sources of magnetism in your home or office, such as electrical appliances, telephones, and loudspeakers.

Keep disks in a moderate environment. They work best at room- temperature and in normal humidity. Never leave diskettes sitting in the sun, or in extreme cold or heat. The temperature in a car in the middle of summer or winter can cause severe damage.

User’s Guide

3-3