From fdavies@flash.Lakeheadu.Ca Tue Apr 8 09:09:05 1997 Subject: flip side copy with myutil Hello Bill, I recently read parts of your Atari 8-bit New User and Emulator FAQ and appreciated the information. This note refers to the section "Getting Atari files to an IBM." I noticed you asked for input on the topic. I tried the program util.exe from the archive myutil.zip and it worked beautifully to copy files from Side A of my DSDD disks. But I also wanted to get what was on Side B. My old Atari drive died, so I couldn't copy the files to Side A of another Atari formatted disk. Here's the solution: (Perhaps others have done this too, but I haven't seen it mentioned in anything I've read.) 1. Carefully -- very carefully -- open the flap of the black disk cover on the side opposite the oval opening, i.e., the side you hold when placing it in the drive. I used a sharp Exacto knife to cut through the "welded" spots. While doing this, continue to keep as much of the disk as possible protected inside its paper envelope. 2. Once the black cover is open, bend back the flap to get it to stay open. Then carefully slide the disk out of the cover and into the paper envelope. Try not to touch it with fingers. I used the dull end of a ball point pen first to push the edge of the center hole and then the edge of the disk itself. Once a good portion is in the paper envelope, you can use the envelope to grab and pull the disk gently out the rest of the way. 3. Once it's out, still using the envelope as holder, simply flip the disk and slip it back into its cover. Then tape down the flap with a bit of packaging tape. 4. Put it in the IBM floppy drive. Run util.exe and Voila! - You can access and copy the files from Side B (now Side A) to the PC. Another way, if you need to keep using both sides of the disk, would be to make a new hole in the black cover while you have the disk out of it. You'd need a sharp hole puncher and would have to make the hole a precise mirror image of the existing litttle round hole off to the side of the large central one. Then the disk could be put back in the same way it came out and be accessible on both sides with the PC floppy drive. I didn't try this, but I have some disks originally sold as "SSDD Reversible" and their covers had holes made this way. The IBM was able to access both sides of those disks. I don't see why the hole punching method wouldn't work as long as the holes were cut cleanly and didn't leave bits of debris that would damage the disk. I suppose it might be easier said than done. Hope this helps some people. Cheers, F.L. Davies