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Formatting Floppy for Rainbow/DEC Pro using RainDOS

A

AndrewZ

Experienced Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2023
Messages
203
Hi Folks, I would like to use RainDOS to format 5.25" floppies on a 386 PC to use on a DEC Pro.
I need the correct track and sector count: FORMAT a: /T:80 /N:??
Probably other parameters are required.

Any assistance is appreciated.
 
Well, drat. format a: /t:80 /n:10 results in error: Parameters not supported by drive. I swapped in a second floppy drive with the same results.

Can anyone recommend a different utility to format and write DSDD Rainbow/DEC Pro floppies on a 386?
 
I did put a Rainbow formatted boot floppy into the drive, did a DIR. The output was a little scrambled.
 
MSDOS on the Rainbow is not your standard PC DOS. (I wrote RainDOS eons ago, BTW). Would an IMD of a real Rainbow floppy help? You should be able to use ImageDisk and run off as many copies as you need.
 
Chuck(G) said:
MSDOS on the Rainbow is not your standard PC DOS. (I wrote RainDOS eons ago, BTW). Would an IMD of a real Rainbow floppy help? You should be able to use ImageDisk and run off as many copies as you need.
Click to expand...
Chuck, you are a hero for writing RainDOS. Yes, I understand that Rainbow DOS is different and the floppies have a different format. I stuck it in just for a data point. I am trying to format DSDD floppies on this 386 Dell for compatibility with a DEC Pro. I also have a Rainbow 100A but it wouldn't access the RX50 drives.

I am thinking of getting a GoTek floppy emulator, and trying that on the DEC Pro and Rainbow. I just watched a youtube video of a guy who successfully revived his Rainbow using one. Next question, which GoTek floppy emulator works with the Rainbow and Flashfloppy?
 
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