---
title: "Reading MSDOS Disks on the QL – Part III: The Boot Record and File Allocation Table"
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published_at: "2026-02-08T01:14:17+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-02-08T01:14:17+00:00"
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excerpt: "Parts I and II implicitly assumed a 40-track disk being used on an 80-track drive. Examining the boot record will be primarily useful in determing whether this is, in fact, the case. All the MSDOS disks I have so far examined have been the 40_track (720 sector) type but others are possible. In fact, there…"
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model:
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indiv:
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publication_r:
  id: 33740
  title: "International QL Report"
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volume: "2"
issue: "3"
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    title: "International QL Report V2 I3"
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pages: "105-112"
pubdate: "September/October 1992"
archive_link: false
---

# Reading MSDOS Disks on the QL – Part III: The Boot Record and File Allocation Table

Parts I and II implicitly assumed a 40-track disk being used on an 80-track drive. Examining the boot record will be primarily useful in determing whether this is, in fact, the case. All the MSDOS disks I have so far examined have been the 40_track (720 sector) type but others are possible. In fact, there are six “standard” floppy-disk formats in the IBM PC zoo, covering the range from 320 to 2400 total sectors per disk.