Edenyard said:
>> A 'computer supplies' outfit called Inmac which
was around at the time released a type of disk known
as a 'flippy'. This had two access holes in the sleeve
for the 'offset' index hole to see through so that
the disk would work in the single-sided drives either
way up - effectively doubling the amount of storage
on a single-side.<<
Some 5-1/4" drives didn't use the index hole (e.g., Commodore), but some
did, and users found they could punch their own holes to make flippies.
After all, the extra hole is in the jacket, not the magnetic media, so laser
precision or fancy equipment wasn't needed. You'd create a form by cutting
the media out of a jacket, flip the jacket over, use that as a guide to mark
the intended location of the new access hole on the target floppy, then take
a single hole paper punch, and from the center ring slide it between the
media & jacket to the marked spot and, presto! your own flippy. One might
think you would scratch up the media or confuse the drive if the access hole
wasn't in exactly the right spot, etc., but actually the process worked
every time I tried it.
