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Write-protecting diskettes, Using a single floppy disk drive – Epson Equity II User Manual

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Write-protecting diskettes

As shown in Figure 3-1, the right edge of a diskette has a small, rec-

tangular notch. If this notch is visible, you can copy new data to the

diskette. If you cover the notch with an adhesive write-protect tab, you

can retrieve and copy data from the diskette, but you cannot store new

data

on

it or delete any files it contains. If you try to change data stored

on a write-protected diskette, an error message tells you the diskette is

write-protected. Write-protect tabs usually come with new diskettes

when you buy them.

Write-protect

notch

Figure 3-1. Write-protect notch

Using a Single Floppy Disk Drive

Usually, operating systems expect the computer to have at least two

physical disk drives and display prompts and messages accordingly

If your Equity II has only one floppy disk drive, turn on (up) DIP

switches

l-7

and 1-8 under the cover beneath the disk drives. When these

switches are on, the operating system treats your single drive like two

logical drives. This helps you perform operations that normally require

two floppy disk drives.

For example, if you give a command to copy from one drive to

another, MS-DOS copies from the first diskette you place in the drive to

the computer’s memory. Then MS-DOS prompts you to insert another

diskette and copies from memory to the diskette you place in the drive.

When copying is complete, you see a prompt to insert the original disk-

ette.

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