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Backing up PC Booter disks?

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First post, by telecommand

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I have a couple of old PC booter 3.5" disks I want to back up, as I'm terrified they'll become unreadable any time now. Since you can't just read the files in Windows/DOS etc. is there a way to copy the disk into an image file, or at the very least duplicate the disk to a newer floppy to use when I want to play them (thus preserving the originals for a little while longer?)

I did a little searching and saw there was a program called "CopyIIPC" - is this the best route to go? Or is there a newer/better method to use? I read that CopyIIPC doesn't run well on anything faster than a 286..?

Reply 1 of 4, by Nullsweat

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I haven't tried this program but it looks it can make clones (exact copies) of 3.5 inch disks

https://www.altap.cz/salamander/features/disk … y-clone-images/

edit: Here is an entire page devoted to digital preservation of floppy disks-- https://www.archiveteam.org/index.php/Rescuing_Floppy_Disks

edit 2: this program also seems very promising- http://www.tavi.co.uk/os2pages/rawrite.html

Reply 2 of 4, by telecommand

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Thanks for the links. Tried altap disk clone and it's the same issue I had before with it saying the disk isn't formatted properly. Raread/rawrite gives me an error about not being able to get info on the disk drive.

I'll give CopyIIPC a go later on and report back!

Update: Can't get Copy II PC to work either 😢

Reply 3 of 4, by SuperDeadite

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The Kryoflux is probably the best option for the long term, not cheap though.
https://www.kryoflux.com/

Modules: CM-64, CM-500, SC-55MkII, SC-88 Pro, SY22, TG100, MU2000EX, PLG100-SG, PLG150-DR, PLG150-AN, SG01k, NS5R, GZ-50M, SN-U110-07, SN-U110-10, Pocket Studio 5, DreamBlaster S2, X2, McFly, E-Wave, QWave, CrystalBlaster C2, Yucatan FX, BeepBlaster

Reply 4 of 4, by Jo22

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You're right, it may a bit overkill for a few booters, though. 😀
There's another one, too, FC5025, by Device Side Data.
http://shop.deviceside.com/prod/FC5025

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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