Last modified on 6 October 2009, at 21:05

Disk drives

Revision as of 21:05, 6 October 2009 by MacDeath (Talk | contribs)

The Disk Drive is a common Mass Data storage from the 80's.

Alongside other technologies :

  • ROM used in Cartridges or Hardwired... Faster but so expensive.
  • Cassettes (sames as Audio Cassettes), awfully slowler and not that reliable.


In modern day, the Cassette port can easily be replaced by any modern audio device : MP3 or CD readers.

Despite this, Disk are one of the easiest way to read softwares on Amstrad 8 bits.

Amstrad 464 (Plus or OLD) lack the extra ROM needed to use a Disk Drive. That's why external Disk Drive for CPC include such ROM.



Abbreviations in French :

  • K7 = cassettes ("Ka Sept")
  • D7 = Diskettes ("Dé Sept")


  • Virtual disk Drive : cards emulating Disk Drives, using modern Flash memories or USB connection to a PC