Patent ID: 6449686
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computer system having a computer and a disk drive, a method for reading data from removable diskettes that are inserted into the disk drive, wherein said diskettes may have different formats, comprising:reading a first diskette in said disk drive, wherein said first diskette is read by reference to a chosen media type which indicates a format of said first diskette; reading a second diskette that has been inserted in said disk drive, prior to any writing to said second diskette, wherein said second diskette is read by reference to said chosen media type; determining whether a data error has occurred in reading said second diskette; if said data error occurred, setting a retry bit which indicates that the read of said second diskette was a first attempt; if said retry bit is set, determining an updated chosen media type which indicates a format of said second diskette for use during a subsequent read by sequentially stepping through the possible data transfer rates until a valid read occurs; reading said second diskette using said updated chosen media type; storing in a non volatile memory said updated chosen media type; and retrieving and utilizing said updated chosen media type upon a subsequent initializing of said computer system.