This is a list of different floppy disk formats.
Size | Density | Sides | Tracks | tpi | bpi | Sectoring | Coercivity | Unformatted capacity per side |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 inch Video Floppy | 52 | 256 | >800 kB or 50 fields of analog video [1] | |||||
2 inch LT-1 | double | 80 | 245 | |||||
21⁄2 inch | Single | 16 [2] [3] | 48 [2] | 64 kB | ||||
3 inch QuickDisk | ||||||||
3.25 inch | single | 1 | 80 [4] | 140 | 4,625 | 250 kB | ||
double | 9,250 | 500 kB | ||||||
31⁄2 inch | Single | 2 | 40 [5] | 67.5 | 8,650 | soft | 665 Oe | 250 kB[ citation needed ] |
Double | 80 | 135 | 8,717 | 665 Oe [6] | 500 kB[ citation needed ] | |||
High | 80 | 135 | 17,434 | 720-750 Oe | 1 MB | |||
Extended | 80 | 135 | 34,868 | 900 Oe | 2 MB | |||
Triple [7] | 240 [8] | 406.5 [8] | 36,700 [8] | 6.5 MB | ||||
4 inch DemiDiskette | 1 [9] | |||||||
51⁄4 inch | Single/Double | 2 | 40 | 48 | 5,876 | soft or hard | 300 Oe | 250 kB |
Quad | 77 | 100 | 300 Oe | 500 kB (Micropolis-compatible) | ||||
Quad | 80 | 96 | 5,922 | 300 Oe | 500 kB | |||
High | 80 | 96 | 9,646 | soft | 600 Oe | 833 kB | ||
EH [10] | 104 | 125 | 29,560 | 6.5 MB [11] | ||||
51⁄4 inch Apple FileWare | Double | 2 | 80 | 62.5 | soft | 851 kiB [12] | ||
8 inch | Single | 77 | 48 | 3,268-3,408 | soft or hard (inner edge) | 300 Oe | 1 MB | |
Double | 6,816 | 1 MB | ||||||
HD [13] | 154 | 96 | 20,560 | 600 Oe | 9.6 MB [14] | |||
8 inch Memorex FD | 650 | 1 [15] | 50 [15] | 2,400 | hard (outer edge) | 1.5 Mb [15] | ||
651 | 64 [16] | 3,100 | 2.5 Mb [16] [17] | |||||
8 inch Burroughs | Double | 2 | 139 | 150 | 7,100 | 2 [18] |
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, many different logical disk formats were used, depending on the hardware platform.
Platform | Size | Density | Sides | Tracks/ side | Sectors/ track | Bytes/ sector | Sectoring | Capacity | rpm | Encoding | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acorn | 51⁄4 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 10 | 256 | soft | 100 kB | 300 | FM | |
80 | 200 kB | ||||||||||
Double | 1 | 40 | 16 | 256 | 160 kB | MFM | |||||
80 | 320 kB | ||||||||||
2 | 640 kB | ||||||||||
31⁄2 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 16 | 256 | 640 kB | 300 | MFM | Format L: MOS (Electron, Master Compact) | ||
5 | 1024 | 800 kB |
| ||||||||
High | 10 | 1,600 kB | Format F: RISC OS 3 and later. Archimedes models before the A5000 require an upgraded floppy drive. | ||||||||
Agat | 51⁄4 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 21 | 256 | 840 kB | 300 | MFM | [NB 1] | |
Amstrad CPC/PCW | 3 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 9 | 512 | 180 kB | 300 | MFM | Single head drive, but double-sided floppy discs (total of 360 kB per floppy) | |
Amstrad PCW8512/9512 | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 9 | 512 | 720 kB | 300 | MFM | 720 kB mode uses both sides - ensure disc inserted correct way up. | |
Apple II | 51⁄4 inch | Double | 1 | 35 | 13 | 256 | soft | 113.75 kB | 300 | GCR | [NB 2] |
1 | 16 | 140 kB | |||||||||
31⁄2 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | Variable (8-12) | 512 | 400 kB | 394 - 590 | GCR | [NB 3] | ||
2 | 800 kB | ||||||||||
High | 2 | 80 | 18 | 512 | 1,440 kB | 300 | MFM | [NB 4] | |||
Apple Lisa | 51⁄4 inch FileWare | Double | 2 | 46 | Variable (15-22) | 512 | soft | 851 kB | 218 - 320 [19] | GCR | |
Apple Lisa 2/Macintosh XL, Macintosh | 31⁄2 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | Variable (8-12) | 512 | soft | 400 kB | 394 - 590 | GCR | |
Apple Macintosh | 2 | 800 kB | |||||||||
High | 2 | 80 | 18 | 512 | 1,440 kB | 300 | MFM | ||||
Atari 8-bit | 51⁄4 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 18 | 128 | soft | 90 kB | 288 | FM | [NB 5] |
Dual | 26 | 128 | 130 kB | MFM | |||||||
Double | 18 | 256 | 180 kB | ||||||||
Double | 2 | 18 | 256 | 360 kB | 300 | ||||||
Atari ST/TT/Falcon | 31⁄2 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | 9 | 512 | soft | 360 kB | 300 | MFM | |
2 | 720 kB | ||||||||||
High | 18 | 1,440 kB | |||||||||
Coleco ADAM | 51⁄4 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 8 | 512 | soft | 160 kB | 300 | MFM | |
Commodore 64 (8-bit) | 51⁄4 inch | Double | 1 | 35 | Variable (17-21) ZCAV | 256 | soft | 170 kB | 300 | GCR | [NB 6] |
2 | 340 kB | ||||||||||
Quad | 1 | 77 | Variable (23-29) ZCAV | 521 kB | |||||||
2 | 1,042 kB | ||||||||||
31⁄2 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 10 | 512 | 800 kB | MFM | ||||
Commodore Amiga | 51⁄4 inch | Double | 2 | 40 | 11 | 512 | soft | 440 kB [NB 7] | 300 | MFM | [NB 8] |
Quad | 80 | 880 kB [NB 9] | |||||||||
31⁄2 inch | Double | 880 kB | |||||||||
High | 19 | 1,520 kB | GCR | [NB 10] | |||||||
22 | 1,760 kB | 150 | MFM | [NB 8] | |||||||
Commodore 900 | 51⁄4 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 13-16 | 512 | Soft | 1,200kB | ? | GCR | https://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Commodore/C900/C900%20Floppy%20Specification.pdf |
IBM 33FD | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 26 | 128 | 240.5 kiB | 360 | FM | Diskette 1 [20] | |
15 | 256 | 277.5 kiB | |||||||||
8 | 512 | 296 kiB | |||||||||
IBM 43FD | 2 | 26 | 128 | 481 kiB | Diskette 2 [20] | ||||||
15 | 256 | 555 kiB | |||||||||
IBM 53FD | Double | 26 | 256 | 962 kiB | MFM | Diskette 2D [20] | |||||
15 | 512 | 1.08 MiB | |||||||||
8 | 1,024 | 1.16 MiB | |||||||||
DEC RX01 | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 26 | 128 | 250 kB | 360 | FM | ||
DEC RX02 | 8 inch | Double | 1 | 77 | 26 | 256 | 500 kB | 360 | FM/MFM | ||
DEC RX50 | 51⁄4 inch | Quad | 1 | 80 | 10 | 512 | 400 kB | 300 | MFM | ||
IBM PC compatibles [21] | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 26 | 128 | soft | 250.25 kB [NB 11] [21] [22] [23] | 360 | FM | [NB 12] |
2 | 500.5 kB [NB 11] [21] [22] [23] | ||||||||||
Double | 1 | 8 | 1,024 | 616 kB [NB 11] [22] [23] | MFM | ||||||
2 | 1,232 kB [NB 11] [21] [22] [23] | ||||||||||
51⁄4 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 8 | 512 | 160 kB [NB 11] | 300 | MFM | |||
2 | 320 kB [NB 11] | ||||||||||
1 | 9 | 180 kB [NB 11] | |||||||||
2 | 360 kB [NB 11] | ||||||||||
Quad [NB 13] | 1 | 80 | 8 | 320 kB [NB 11] | 300 | ||||||
2 | 640 kB [NB 11] | ||||||||||
High | 2 | 80 | 15 | 1,200 kB [NB 11] | 360 | ||||||
31⁄2 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | 8 | 512 | 320 kB [NB 11] | 300 | MFM | |||
9 | 360 kB [NB 11] | ||||||||||
2 | 8 | 640 kB [NB 11] | |||||||||
9 | 720 kB [NB 11] | ||||||||||
High | 18 | 1,440 kB [NB 11] | |||||||||
21 | 1,680 kB [NB 11] | DMF [NB 14] | |||||||||
82 | 1,720 kB [NB 11] | ||||||||||
Extended | 80 | 36 | 2,880 kB [NB 11] | ||||||||
MGT SAM Coupé | 31⁄2 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 10 | 512 | 800 kB | 300 | MFM | ||
NEC PC98 | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 26 | 128 | 250.25 kB [NB 11] | 360 | FM | ||
Double | 2 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | 1,232 kB [NB 11] | MFM | |||||
51⁄4 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 8 | 512 | 640 kB [NB 11] | 360 | MFM | |||
9 | 720 kB [NB 11] | ||||||||||
High | 15 | 1,200 kB [NB 11] | |||||||||
77 (80) [NB 15] | 8 | 1,024 | 1,232 (1,280) kB [NB 11] [NB 15] | [NB 15] | |||||||
31⁄2 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 8 | 512 | 640 kB [NB 11] | 360 | MFM | |||
9 | 720 kB [NB 11] | ||||||||||
High | 15 | 1,200 kB [NB 11] | 3-mode [NB 16] [NB 15] | ||||||||
77 (80) [NB 15] | 8 | 1,024 | 1,232 (1280) kB [NB 11] [NB 15] | ||||||||
80 | 18 | 512 | 1.44 MB [NB 11] | 300 | |||||||
Triple | 240 | 38 | 512 | 9,120 kB | 360 | NEC PC-88 VA3 2TD drive only [8] [7] | |||||
Osborne 1 [24] | 51⁄4 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 10 | 256 | soft | 100 kB | 300 | FM | |
Double | 5 | 1,024 | 200 kB | MFM | |||||||
Sega SF-7000 | 3 inch | Single | 2 | 40 | 16 | 256 | 160 kB | ? | ? | Expansion unit for SC-3000 home computer. Capacity is per side. | |
SHARP X68000 | 51⁄4 inch | High | 2 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | 1,232 kB [NB 11] | 360 | MFM | ||
31⁄2 inch | |||||||||||
SHARP CE-1600F, CE-140F | 21⁄2 inch [2] [3] | Single | drive: 1, diskette: 2 (flippable) | 16 | 8 | 512 | 2× 64 kB | 270 | GCR (4/5) | Internally based on FDU-250 Micro Floppy Disk Drive Unit [2] | |
Thomson | 51⁄4 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 16 | 128 | 80 kB | 300 | FM | Thomson UD90.070 | |
Double | 2 | 256 | 320 kB | MFM | Thomson DD90-320 [NB 17] | ||||||
31⁄2 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | 16 | 256 | 320 kB | 300 | MFM | Thomson TO9, Thomson DD09-350 | ||
Double | 2 | 640 kB | Thomson TO8D, TO9+, Thomson DD90-352 [NB 18] | ||||||||
Victor 9000 / ACT Sirius 1 [26] | 51⁄4 inch | Single | 1 | 80 | 11-19 (variable) | 512 | 612 kB [27] | 252-417 (variable) | GCR | Disks varied sectors / track and disk speed to keep consistent bit density across tracks [26] | |
Double | 2 | 512 | 1,196 kB [27] | ||||||||
Tandy TRS-80 | 51⁄4 inch | Single | 1 | 35 | 10 | 256 | soft | 88 kB | 300 | FM | Model 1/3/4 |
51⁄4 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 18 | 256 | 180 kB | MFM | Model 1/3/4P | |||
51⁄4 inch | Double | 2 | 40 | 18 | 256 | 360 kB | MFM | Model 4D | |||
8 inch | Double | 1 | 77 | 26 | 256 | 500 kB | MFM | Model 2 | |||
31⁄2 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 2 | 1,280 | 100 kB [28] | FM | Tandy Portable Disk Drive (aka Brother FB-100, knitking FD-19) | |||
31⁄2 inch | Single | 1 | 80 | 2 | 1,280 | 200 kB [29] | FM | Used only in Tandy Portable Disk Drive 2 | |||
51⁄4 inch | Double | 1 | 35 | 18 | 256 | 157 kB [30] | MFM | Color Computer | |||
HP 9114A | 31⁄2 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 16 | 256 | 128-710kB [31] | 600 | MFM | Used with HP 110 and Portable Series 40 & 70 | |
HP 9895A | 8 inch | Double | 2 | 77 | 29 | 256 | 1.18 MB [32] | 360 | MFM | ||
HP 9130K | 51⁄4 inch | Double | 2 | 35 | 16 | 256 | 286 kB [33] | 300 | MFM | ||
Burroughs MD122 | 8 inch | Double | 2 | 139 | 44 | 256 | soft | 6.26 MB [18] | 524 | MFM | |
Memorex 650 | 8 inch | single | 1 | 50 | 8 | 3,500 b | hard | 1.4 Mb [15] | 375 | FM | |
Memorex 651 | single | 64 | 32 | 1.056 b | 2.2 Mb [17] |
Platform | Size | Density | Side | Track | Sector | Byte | Sectoring | Capacity | RPM | Encoding | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commodore 128 (CP/M) | 5 1/4 | Double | 2 | 40 | 26 | 128 | Soft | 260K | 300 | MFM | Commodore 1571 |
16 | 256 | 320K | |||||||||
9 | 512 | 360K | |||||||||
5 | 1,024 | 400K |
https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Commodore_1571
https://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Commodore/C900/C900%20Floppy%20Specification.pdf
The Commodore 1581 is a 3½-inch double-sided double-density floppy disk drive that was released by Commodore Business Machines (CBM) in 1987, primarily for its C64 and C128 home/personal computers. The drive stores 800 kilobytes using an MFM encoding but formats different from the MS-DOS, Amiga, and Mac Plus formats. With special software it's possible to read C1581 disks on an x86 PC system, and likewise, read MS-DOS and other formats of disks in the C1581, provided that the PC or other floppy handles the "720 kB" size format. This capability was most frequently used to read MS-DOS disks. The drive was released in the summer of 1987 and quickly became popular with bulletin board system (BBS) operators and other users.
A floppy disk or floppy diskette is a type of disk storage composed of a thin and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium in a square or nearly square plastic enclosure lined with a fabric that removes dust particles from the spinning disk. The three most popular floppy disks are the 8-inch, 5¼-inch, and 3½-inch floppy disks. Floppy disks store digital data which can be read and written when the disk is inserted into a floppy disk drive (FDD) connected to or inside a computer or other device.
86-DOS is a discontinued operating system developed and marketed by Seattle Computer Products (SCP) for its Intel 8086-based computer kit.
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The Tandy 2000 is a personal computer introduced by Radio Shack in September 1983 based on the 8 MHz Intel 80186 microprocessor running MS-DOS. By comparison, the IBM PC XT used the older 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 processor, and the IBM PC/AT would later use the newer 6 MHz Intel 80286. Due to the 16-bit data bus and more efficient instruction decoding of the 80186, the Tandy 2000 ran significantly faster than other PC compatibles, and slightly faster than the PC AT. The Tandy 2000 was the company's first computer built around an Intel x86 series microprocessor; previous models used the Zilog Z80 and Motorola 6809 CPUs.
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A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a thin and flexible magnetic storage medium encased in a rectangular plastic carrier. It is read and written using a floppy disk drive (FDD). Floppy disks were an almost universal data format from the 1970s into the 1990s, used for primary data storage as well as for backup and data transfers between computers.
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