MSGID: 2:20/228 0195450c
In a message on Wednesday 11-30-16 Kai Richter said to Holger Granholm:

Hello Kai,

KR> 28 Nov 16, Holger Granholm wrote to All:

 HG> Is there a diskcopy function available on a *nix system??

KR> Yes, it's called dd. Check

KR> man dd

KR> for details. dd is a file copy program but within *nix everythings
KR> could be seen as a file. If you read the device name directly it's
KR> just like reading a file, including FAT and other data.

Thanks for the comprehensive explanation.

KR> If you have two floppy drives, they are usually /dev/fd0 and
KR> /dev/fd1

Actually I have even three in my office machine. I have one of those
Teac double disk drives, with a 5,25" floppy and 3,5" diskette drive,
intended to be A: and B:.

I did however rewire the pin block, and added a switch, so that I can,
switch either of them to be an A: drive.

In addition I have a 3,5" drive as B:.

KR> dd if=/dev/fd0 of=/dev/fd1

KR> would copy directy from drive 0 to 1.

KR> of (=out file) could be a file name if you don't have two drives.

KR> dd if=/dev/fd0 of=floppy.img

KR> then you have to change the disk and find out how you bring the file
KR> image back to the disk.

KR> If you want to copy the files only, try cp or rsync.

I'll have to save this message for future use.
I have nothing against learning a new operating system, but the only
thing I hated and didn't like about *nix was the case sensitivity.

KR> There is no fresh media for floppy disks anymore. The error rate for
KR> new ones is aprox. 5 to 10% or you have to pay industry prices. Take
KR> the signs as a reason to backup all data of all your remaining
KR> disks. More failures will follow.

So far I have recirculated the old Windows and OS/2 installation
diskettes, and reformatted them. There are plenty of them.

I know that a safer media is USB sticks, as long as you don't abuse them
by writing too many times on them.

KR> Well, buy a Win10 ready computer, you will be surprised, there isn't
KR> a floppy drive in there either.

Yes I know, that's why I bought a machine with Win 7, and upgraded it to
Win10.


Have a good morning,

Holger


.. Information deteriorates upward through bureaucracies.
-- MR/2 2.30



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