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

Jan Werner jwerner at jwdp.com
Thu Mar 15 16:43:10 EDT 2018


If you want data from a 5.25“ floppy disk, you will definitely need to use a transfer 
service.  There are quite a few of them around, just Google “floppy disk transfer.”  They 
tend to be reasonably competitive but I’d be more concerned about how reliable a service 
is than what they cost (within reason).  Keep in mind that disks that old may not be in 
very good shape, particularly if they were not stored under ideal conditions, and should 
be handled with care.

Here’s a link to RetroFloppy’s current pricing page, which will give you a good idea of 
what to expect: http://www.retrofloppy.com/pricing.html

Note that they RetroFloppy includes conversion from most old word processing formats at no 
extra cost, but even if you ask for converted contents, you should be sure to get the 
original files back too.  Converting old software formats is not difficult. Programs like 
Quick View Plus can read almost anything you are likely to come across from that era, but 
if you don't keep the original data files, you might lose some valuable information.

Jan Werner
___________

Don Lesser wrote:
> 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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