[Hidden-tech] 5" disk Re: accessing files off a floppy

Don Lesser dlesser at ptraining.com
Thu Mar 15 15:12:42 EDT 2018


5 1/4"  The problem you're going to have is that any machine that can read a
5 1/4" is likely not to have a USB or an Internet browser. 

I found a WSJ video that linked to Retro Floppy
(http://www.retrofloppy.com/) who will read disks for $6.95 per disk. The
narrator got back a CD with the files, plus her floppies. She seemed to
think that was expensive but I think that is money well spent given the time
you're likely to need to get them off yourself.

There is another issue. When you get the data, what format is it in? If it
is a Word or WordPerfect file, probably OK.  But a 5 1/4" era floppy may
mean WordStar, XyWrite, Ami Pro, or about 30 other file formats. How will
you read these file formats? I have older versions of Word that have many
more file conversion formats than the current one, but I'd need to install
them on an older version of Windows, etc. Does the file exist as a printout
anywhere? It would be easier to scan it or even retype it. 



Don Lesser
Pioneer Training, Inc.
139B Damon Road, Ste 8
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 387-1040
dlesser at ptraining.com
www.ptraining.com

-----Original Message-----
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
<hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net> On Behalf Of Stacy
Kontrabecki
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 2:02 PM
To: jwerner at jwdp.com; HT-discuss <Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
Subject: [Hidden-tech] 5" disk Re: accessing files off a floppy

Sorry for the delay replying.

I just learned that the floppy is a 5". Ugh. Any local ideas?

I'll take a look on Amazon, but this is a one-time thing (I hope!)

Stacy


On 3/9/18 7:09 AM, Jan Werner wrote:
> You can buy USB external floppy disk drives that work with both PCs 
> and Macs for less than
> $15 on Amazon.
>
> If you are digging through old documents stored on disc, you probably 
> should have one of those around.
>
> Jan Werner
> __________
>
>
> Stacy Kontrabecki wrote:
>> I'm working on a guided walking tour project for Shelburne, MA's 
>> 250th celebration this year and there is a valuable document from a 
>> Berkshire historical society that no one has access to as it is on a
floppy disk.
>>
>> Do you have a PC set up that can access the file I need on this disk?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Stacy Kontrabecki
>>
>> PS: Anyone with experience in AR apps for tours - I'd love to speak 
>> with you.
>>
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