Your computer uses the read/write heads in a disk drive to store
and retrieve data on a disk. There is one head above the
diskette and one below, so the drive can write to both sides of
the diskette. To write to a disk, the computer spins it in the
drive to a position where one of the read/write heads can access
the diskette through the read/write slot. The read/write slot on
a diskette exposes the diskette’s magnetic surface so the read/
write head can write on the appropriate area.
Because data is stored magnetically, you can retrieve it, record
over it, and erase it-just as you play, record, and erase music
on a
Cassette
tape.
Choosing Diskettes
Your computer uses diskettes that are 5 1/4-inch, double-sided,
double-density, 48 TPI (tracks per inch) and have a capacity
of 360KB. The diskette boxes are usually marked DS-DD or
2S-2D, soft sector, 48 TPI. Each. 360KB diskette can hold
approximately 150 pages of text. For best results, choose only
high-quality diskettes with reinforced hub
rings.
These diskettes are the same type used on IBM-compatible
computers with 5 1/4-inch drives; so you can use diskettes in
your computer that were prepared and used on another IBM-
compatible computer.
Note
Some computers have 5 1/4-inch diskette drives that have a
capacity of 1.2MB. You cannot use 5 1/4-inch diskettes that
have been formatted for 1.2MB in your 360KB drive.
Additionally, if you are using a 360KB diskette that has been
formatted in a 1.2MB drive, your computer may have trouble
reading that diskette,
2-8
Using Your computer
