We've recently thrown out the last devices capable of reading the old "mini-floppies". I believe it's 5.25. Next thing you know there's a department chair coming with an envelope full of these saying it's invaluable data and we have to copy it into some readable format. The PC store across the streat would copy it to zips or floppies for $10 per disk. Should we look for a better deal?
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Read 5.25 floppies
- Thread starter dvornik
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Get a drive, but be aware there are multiple formats available and get the one you need. Low denisity, highdensity, quad density. Available but not neccessarily used in all applications are 35track, single side, low density, 40tssld, 40tdsld, 80tdsld, 80tdshd.
Earlier IBM stuff started with the 35 and 40 track and everything migrated to the 80t hidensity.
Also be aware that newer motherboards and controllers sometimes have problems handling some of the choices.
Also, read the stuff only, don't try to do anything that attempts to write to the floppies, changes in the track density and head design to accomplish it can make the disk unreadable if you write to them. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.
Earlier IBM stuff started with the 35 and 40 track and everything migrated to the 80t hidensity.
Also be aware that newer motherboards and controllers sometimes have problems handling some of the choices.
Also, read the stuff only, don't try to do anything that attempts to write to the floppies, changes in the track density and head design to accomplish it can make the disk unreadable if you write to them. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.
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- #5
Tell the department head if he wants to copy it He has to pay for it at $10.00 a copy and see how valuable the data really is. Maybe it will not be as valuable any more. If it hasnt been accessed in 10 years, how valuable can it be? If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.
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