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
<fdavies@flash.lakeheadu.ca>