Why 1.44Mb Equals 1.38Mb On A Floppy

Q. Why, oh why, are there only 1.38 megabytes of usable space on a 1.44-megabyte floppy disk? And is there any way around this limitation? I think it has to do with a disk registry file of some sort, but if every single disk in the civilized world has this little bit on it (sorry about the pun), then maybe the question should be why aren't they sold as 1.38-megabyte disks? Jason Meininger scalefigure@myspaceonline.com

A. You've pretty much answered your own question. Yes, the usable space on 1.44-megabyte floppy disks for PCs is only about 1.38 megabytes in size. That's because a certain, relatively small amount of space is required for storing format information and file allocation tables, which are small files that tell the operating system where on the disk the specific files you've saved are located. Also, in some instances you may want to format a disk with system files, making it a bootable disk - that is, a disk that can be used to boot your computer's operating system.

The fact is, not every single disk in the civilized world has the same amount of usable space on it. If you format the disk with a different operating system or if you format it with system files, the amount of usable space will be more or less than the 1.38 megabytes of space you have on your own disks. That's why the disks are sold with a reference to their total capacity, including space used for formatting and initialization data.

Q. I'm writing with respect to your recent column about free software that will decode MIME and other compressed files that are attached to e-mail messages. Now I have downloaded both Eudora and the Aladdin programs so I can finally translate three MIME e-mails I have received and have stored. One problem: How do I use either of these systems to translate my stored messages? Sherry Fitzgerald, Mercer Island

A. For readers who didn't catch the earlier column, the original question was from a reader who had received e-mail with a MIME file attached. MIME, by the way, stands for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, an encoding method developed for sending nontext data over the Internet as attachments to e-mail messages.

Generally, an e-mail program that supports MIME, such as Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes and the freeware Internet e-mail program Pegasus, will automatically handle decoding MIME attachments.

If your e-mail program doesn't automatically decode MIME messages, you may want to turn to a stand-alone program, such as the freeware Aladdin Expander package from Aladdin Systems. (You can download Aladdin Expander at http://www.aladdinsys.com/expander /index.html.) To open a MIME attachment with Aladdin you must first detach it from the e-mail message and save it to disk. The commands for detaching attachments from e-mail depend upon your specific e-mail program.

Then either drag the attachment and drop it on the Aladdin Expander window, or select File/Expand on the Aladdin menu and then specify the location of the attachment.

Another reader, by the way, asked recently how to go about decoding TIF files attached to messages. TIF files are not actually encoded files. They are, rather, image files and must be opened by an image editor that supports the TIF format, such as Adobe Photoshop. The Imaging for Windows application from Kodak that is installed with Windows 98 can also be used to open TIF files.

Q. Can you give me the best way to send letters using Microsoft Word to an e-mail address? Is there some way to use Favorites for a more direct approach? Chuck Hart

A. What could be more direct? Assuming you're using a recent version of Word and you've installed a compatible e-mail program, when you're working on a Word document all you have to do is click on the File menu, select Send To, then choose Mail Recipient. A menu will pop open that allows you to specify the recipient. Click on Send and the missive is on its way. Q&A by Patrick Marshall appears Sundays in the Personal Technology section of The Seattle Times. Questions can be by e-mail to ptech@seatimes.com or pgmarshall@uswest.net or by postal mail at Q&A/Technology, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle WA 98111.