FLOPPY DISK DRIVES AND DISKETTES SX/DX
Floppy disk drives are so called because they use flexible diskettes that can be inserted and taken out as
required. They can be broadly divided into two types – 5.25” and 3.5”. This measurement refers to the
size of the diskette that is used with each type, though your 486SX/DX-WinBook uses only the smaller
3.5” drive. This does not impose any limitation on the software you can use, since all popular software
packages are available in both 5.25” and 3.5” packages.[SX/DX 3-1]
Fig. 3-1 Locating the Floppy Disk Drive
3.5" Disk Drives and Diskettes
3.5” floppy disk drives are smaller and have a larger capacity than 5.25 disk drives. 3.5” disk drives come
in two capacities – 720Kbytes and 1.44M. The floppy disk drive installed in your 486SX/DX-Winbook is
a 1.44M drive. In order to be able to take advantage of the full 1.44M capacity, high –density diskettes
must be used. Such diskettes are marked 2HD. The WinBook may also use 720K floppy disks which are
normally labeled DD.
Functionally, 3.5” drives operate in exactly the same way as 5.25” disk drives, though the diskettes used
are different in many respects.
3.5” floppy diskettes come in a hard plastic case and are therefore far less susceptible to damage. The
magnetic surface of the diskette is not exposed, being covered by a sliding metal cover that is
automatically opened when inserted into the disk drive. Rather than having a notch which must be
covered by a sticker to make them read only, they come with a tab which can be set as read only or
read/write.[SX/DX 3-2]
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FLOPPY DISK DRIVES AND DISKETTES SX/DX
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