Making copies of key diskette

I'd like to make a data backup copy of my floppy, recently my wife spilled coffee on it, and though it still works i'm worried it might die sooner or later. is there anyway i can make a backup of the data on it? i'm worried there might be a protection on it since it's a key diskette? i don't know i hope i can make a backup as i do not want to lose this.

 

>> I'd like to make a data backup copy of my floppy, recently my wife spilled coffee on it, and though it still works i'm worried it might die sooner or later. is there anyway i can make a backup of the data on it? i'm worried there might be a protection on it since it's a key diskette? i don't know i hope i can make a backup as i do not want to lose this. Blade897 <<

Well, there's certainly a way to find out... Simply pop it in the floppy drive and copy it the files on the floppy to your desktop. Then pop in another floppy or CD and copy it from the desktop.

Good Luck!

 

hello COMPUABLE does the new diskette will work after you simply copy files from the old one to it?

 

Yes it will. You can always compare both floppies to see the files on them.

 

>> COMPUABLE does the new diskette will work after you simply copy files from the old one to it? Plaphon <<

If the old floppy disk is "undamaged" the answer is yes; the new floppy disk (that the old data is copied to) should work just fine. That's the whole idea behind keeping data files on a backup disk; so you can have the files that are backed up for future reference.

If for any reason; you cannot copy the 'entire' file (as a whole) directly; you can always open the file from the floppy and "copy & paste" them to say, a WORD or EXCEL document.

Note: Most 'newer' computers do not even have floppy disk drives installed; because so few people actually currently use "floppy" disks. Therefore it is probably a good idea to keep all important files on CD and/or DVD as a backup. Besides, you can keep WAY more information (files, etc.) on either CD or DVD as opposed to floppies.

A floppy disk should never be trusted as a sole back up. Also floppy's have a much shorter "life-span." With regular use their average life span is only about 6-12 months. They are far more susceptible to damage (than CD/DVDs) from: Magnetism, Mobile telephones, Electric Motors, Televisions, Hi-fi speakers, Temperature, Sun light, Radiators, Rapid temperature changes, Rain, Dust, Hair, Food.

Good Luck!

 

No it won't work, it has some sort of protection, it's a key disc, it has a number of uses before it shuts it self down, is there some program, because copying and pasting it won't work.

 

Try this, http://majorgeeks.com/WinImage_d4737.html, and I believe that it will do what you are wanting.

 

Do you think this program will work of making a copy of a key disk? Apparently, which is what i'm worried about, it says that if the disk is going to be copied it will "dissolve" and be no longer usable, this is pretty bad/strange because i don't want to buy a whole new floppy because of the coffee. I hope there is some way i can make this backup.

 

Yes, WinImage will do what you want, if your floppy disk isn't already unreadable or damaged. It doesn't copy your disk, but makes an image of it. This image can be used to make an identical copy of your floppy. I believe that the program has help files included. I use it at work because most of the software that is used requires an activation/key disk and when a hard drive dies, the original activation is lost. I've had no problems with it and use it, but like anything else, things can and do go wrong, so make your own decision about whether or not to use it. I provided the link to WinImage because it is offered for download on MajorGeeks, but here is a link that will allow you to explore the other options available, http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...num=1&ct=result&cd=1&q=floppy+imaging&spell=1

Hope this helps!

 

thanks very very much for the help, it seems to work put, the disc isn't a full 1:1, i get a couple errors when i install the backup as opposed to the real disc, my steps are very simple in copying the disc though, i wonder if thats the problem.
I insert the real disc. File>New. then Disc>Read Disc. Then after it is done reading, i insert a new blank floppy and press Image>Extract to A: and then my floppy is now composed of the contents of the original copy, i just don't know why it's not a 1:1.
I followed the help files i believe, is there any steps i should do?

 

I don't know of any steps that you're missing! As you didn't mention your OS, you could try this program, I've used it on everthing from Win95 to Windows 2000, http://www.sharedirect.com/copystar/index.htm, and see if it does any better than WinImage.

Your key disk may have a bad sector intentionally made by the manufacturer of the software to prevent this. Might help if I knew what type of application that you are using!

 

it's a software for scoring protocals, and it has a key disc that has the number of applications on it, and in this case its 25 scorings. After 25 scorings the program stops working. It's basically a cilent management program for psychologists. it is called MHS, it's a lite version of SQL.

Also, the floppy discs are for unlocking purposes only, to install the software, i use a regular CD disc, and start the process to install, as it gets ready to install, i insert the Floppy disc to unlock the installation process, after the floppy disc is inserted, the installation begins. Where i run into a problem is when i insert the floppy, it unlocks the installation, but at the end of the installation, like at 99%, it says there is a Error, and then the program uninstalls itself (this is the protection they have in their program) The only way i was able to actually install this software was when i used the real disc of course.


So knowing this, and there probably is bad sectors, how would i by pass these? And again the program is called MHS.
http://www.mhs.com

 

I'm a wee bit late, but there is a floppy disk program built into all versions of windows, called diskcopy.

Simply, click START, RUN, then type in CMD press enter (or command press enter).

Next insert your floppy into the A: drive.
Type in the following:

diskcopy a: a: /v

the /v is for varification.

Also, (I believe, since one can run a chkdsk on a flash drive), you can run a chkdsk on the a: drive for bad sectors, using the /r switch.

 

Did you try the CopyStar link that I sent? If so, and it didn't help the please try this one, http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Backup_and_Copy_Utilities/DiskDupe.html,
as it is used by professionals to duplicate disks.

As for bypassing the bad sectors, they can be bypassed but the application may not install properly as you have experienced, and it could ruin your key disk, if it is altered. I have seen applications that look for this bad sector(s) on key/activation disks and will not work if it isn't present. Seimens uses this method on their activation disks for PLC software.

 

ok, i'm going to try both of those, thanks for all your help novice, but i just want to make sure that these new programs work the same as the first one you sent me, where it makes an image copy so it doesn't deal with the protection on the disc's.

 

Neither of the two will damage your original disk, just read the options carefully.

 

ok, i used copystar that seemed to work fine, i'm about to test it out, but i wanted to get diskdupe on my computer just in case, but i'm having trouble installing it, the link you gave me, gave me to this free download center, and the n when i recieved the diskdupe link in my email, the page i was trying to access wasn't working. I tried looking it up on google but i didn't get very far, is there a different download link i could use for diskdupe? thanks again novice for your help.

 

Send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you the latest in a zip file!