Floppy Disk Conversion - Revision history

Rpeters: /* Getting Technical */

2013-10-06T03:48:22Z

Getting Technical

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 === Getting Technical ===
-Windows PC generally can't read Macintosh floppies.  Macintoshes were able to convert between the two formats - however PCUG does not hold a Macintosh computer.
+*Windows PC generally can't read Macintosh floppies.  Macintoshes were able to convert between the two formats
 [[Category:Technical Info]]

Rpeters: /* For General Users */

2013-10-06T03:32:48Z

For General Users

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:32, 6 October 2013
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	*many contemporary PC have neither floppy disk drives nor facility to install them		*many contemporary PC have neither floppy disk drives nor facility to install them
	*PC up to about 8 years old might support 3.5" floppy drives but not 5 1/4"		*PC up to about 8 years old might support 3.5" floppy drives but not 5 1/4"
			*early personal computers used a plethora of formats on 5 1/4" floppies and few of those computers remain servicable



	==== Facilities at PCUG Centre ====		==== Facilities at PCUG Centre ====
			Computers at PCUG are set up to use floppies only in the MSDOS format (also called PC or FAT12 format)

	Some computers in the Main office at PCUG can be used to transfer data between:		Some computers in the Main office at PCUG can be used to transfer data between:
	*3.5 inch floppy disks and USB devices (memory sticks/portable HDD)		*3.5 inch floppy disks and USB devices (memory sticks/portable HDD)

Rpeters: /* For General Users */ restructured

2013-10-06T03:24:55Z

For General Users: restructured

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:24, 6 October 2013
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	=== For General Users ===		=== For General Users ===
			Time is running out for anyone needing to recover data from 5 1/4" floppy disks, for several reasons:
⚫	~~Many modern PC have neither floppy disk drives nor facility to install them.~~ Some computers in the Main office at PCUG can be used to transfer data between:
			*data on lower density magnetic media is retained less reliably in the longer term (although this might seem counter-intuitive)
			*many contemporary PC have neither floppy disk drives nor facility to install them
			*PC up to about 8 years old might support 3.5" floppy drives but not 5 1/4"


			==== Facilities at PCUG Centre ====
		⚫	Some computers in the Main office at PCUG can be used to transfer data between:
	*3.5 inch floppy disks and USB devices (memory sticks/portable HDD)		*3.5 inch floppy disks and USB devices (memory sticks/portable HDD)

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	Members need to ask the Staffer's permission to set up the older PC for use.		Members need to ask the Staffer's permission to set up the older PC for use.


	=== Getting Technical ===		=== Getting Technical ===

Rpeters: added guidelines for conversion between formats and transfer to contempory (USB) media

2013-09-11T05:51:21Z

added guidelines for conversion between formats and transfer to contempory (USB) media

New page

=== For General Users ===
Many modern PC have neither floppy disk drives nor facility to install them. Some computers in the Main office at PCUG can be used to transfer data between:
*3.5 inch floppy disks and USB devices (memory sticks/portable HDD)

Floppy disks can be converted at PCUG, via a different, older PC that is held in store and has the capability to read/write:
*5 1/4 inch floppies of MSDOS format in 1.2MB (HD), 360 kB (DS) and possibly 180 kB (SS) capacities
*3 1/2 inch floppies of 1.44 MB (HD) and 720 kB (DD) capacities

Members need to ask the Staffer's permission to set up the older PC for use.

=== Getting Technical ===
Windows PC generally can't read Macintosh floppies. Macintoshes were able to convert between the two formats - however PCUG does not hold a Macintosh computer.

2.88 MB (ED) floppy drives have a different cable interface and cannot readily be fitted to PC. Anyone needing to recover data from them would need to ask in another forum. Essentially, a 1990 vintage IBM PS/2 computer is required.

One rule of thumb is that lower density magnetic media has poorer durability than higher density. Anyone needing to recover data from 5.25 inch floppies is advised not to delay.

--[[User:Rpeters|Rpeters]] 15:51, 11 September 2013 (EST)
[[Category:Technical Info]]