Disk archival techniques

Jim Leonard trixter at oldskool.org
Tue May 17 17:09:24 CDT 2005


Tom Jennings wrote:
> * a byte stream copy (note 1) of the diskette image, say 256256
>   8-bit-bytes long. Even printed on paper. Who knows what OCR will
>   be like in 20 years?
> 
> * A scrap of paper upon which is written:
>     "Copied from a Shugart 801, 8", single-sided, soft-sectored,
>     WD1771 FM format. CP/M-80. 128 byte sectors, 26 spt, 77
>     tracks."

This only works if the data is consistently laid out over the entire disk.  Mac 
disks store less sectors on the inside tracks and more on the outer ones so the 
scrap of paper would have to be longer.  For personal computers of the 1980s, 
copy-protection would not work with this method since it's all over the map 
without consistency.
-- 
Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org)                    http://www.oldskool.org/
Want to help an ambitious games project?             http://www.mobygames.com/
Or check out some trippy MindCandy at             http://www.mindcandydvd.com/


More information about the cctalk mailing list