On Sat, May 2, 2020 at 3:56 PM Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Jeff Brace suggests:
https://www.howtogeek.com/669331/how-to-read-a-floppy-disk-on-a-modern-pc-or...
A link to a literally geeky article, mostly on using USB devices that happen to operate certain floppy drives. Then it gets to real methods: find an old PC or Mac, read your disks, transfer the results (somehow). The article finishes up its review of USB devices to read common PC 3.5 / 5.25 diskettes and Mac 3.5" diskettes, with this wise advice for REAL floppy diskettes:
"Luckily, there are other resources if you require something more complex, like accessing an 8-inch floppy drive that contains CP/M files. http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/s_drives_howto.html
Herb Johnson maintains an impressive site full of technical data on various floppy disk systems if you’d like to learn more about how they work."
http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/s_drives.html
I couldn't have said it better myself. ;) The real meat on floppy drives and diskettes is:
http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/drive.html
I was going to post a more considered response to the article Jeff linked to. But Jeff only posted a link, why should I post a lecture in reply?
Part of my charm is simplicity. It often inspires discussion. One thing I was hoping was for people to chime in on the fact that there are vintage computer enthusiasts that have the original machines and artifacts to retrieve from floppies instead of modern emulators and devices.
I'll just say, that description and the modern items it references, versus the ancient things it references; simply reminds me of the gulf between 21st century consumer-digital-users, and 20th century computer owners and those who restore those systems and objects today. And, the kinds of junk that's sold which pretends to be some kind of "USB to floppy drive" device. I'm glad to find, my Web site still has utility; and why that's so.
Well said Herb!
Regards, Herb
-- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info
-- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member, VCF East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey@vcfed.org