Duplicating non-standard software media

From: Tony Eros <tony.eros_at_machm.org>
Date: Fri Sep 6 18:44:00 2002

At 04:10 PM 9/6/2002 -0700, you wrote:
>On Fri, 6 Sep 2002, Tony Eros wrote:
> > I want to back up some 5.25" Xerox ViewPoint installation diskettes, but I
> > don't have a working D-series system. Does anyone have a pointer as to
> the
> > best way to make this happen? I thought I remembered a utility out there
> > that did diskette bit-copies. Even better, if I could find a utility to
> > read the diskette and store it to some sort of image file that I could
> burn
> > onto CD, I could restore the software to diskette later.
>
>What do you know about the disk format? FM v MFM? Bytes per
>sector? Sectors per track?
>
>IFF it is MFM, then is is POSSIBLE to duplicate it using a PC plus
>appropriate software. Otherwise it will require significant hardware,
>such as Central point option board, Catweasel, etc.
>
>
> > I have a Victor 9000 system in the computer barn with a 5.25" drive. I
> > believe it's in running condition, though I haven't fired it up since I
> got
> > it. IIRC, it runs some early version of MS-DOS or possibly CP/M. Then
> > again, I think the Victor did some weird stuff with the diskette drive
> > speed to increase the amount of data it could write to a diskette.
>also GCR and 96 TPI
>
>If you want to try to copy Victor diskettes on a PC, FERGET IT!
>If you want to copy Victor 9000 diskettes, do it on a Victor. NOTHING
>ELSE.

That's what I recalled -- I guess I was thinking out loud about using the
Victor.

>There was one being offered on this list yesterday, by Gordon Zaft?
>
> > Hmm, I'm sure I can track down a box with a pair of 5.25" drives.
>for what?

For copying the ViewPoint diskettes. At minimum, I need a system with a
5.25 floppy drive, otherwise I can't read the diskettes.

Maybe I could use my Hyperion?

-- Tony
Received on Fri Sep 06 2002 - 18:44:00 BST