Copy a Floppy

This will deal with making a copy of an existing floppy and copying to and from a floppy. This is important because you should keep a back-up of any important floppy disk. Many programs still come on floppies. Even though you may move the write protection button to lock it so you won't accidentally write over it. That does not protect it from all the other causes of disk damage. As with most other operations in a PC, there is more than one way to do it.

The first method we will cover is to copy from a floppy to a floppy is by inserting the floppy to be copied into your "A" drive and go to windows explorer. (Start/programs/windows explorer). Select "3 1/2 Floppy [A:]" at the top of the left window. The contents of the floppy will be displayed in the right window. You already have two folders that you made. However, if you did not have the folders you already know how to make one. I keep a folder under C: drive for moving files and folders around. You can name it what ever you want but I found it easier to find if I name it using my initials plus "temp". In my case I use "HMF temp". You can not use just "temp" as windows has one labeled that. When you are ready with a floppy that you want to copy and an empty formatted floppy.

Insert the floppy to be copied into your "A" drive, then open windows explorer. (Start/Programs/Windows Explorer) Select 3 1/2 Floppy [A:] at the top of the left window. This displays the contents of your floppy in the right window. Since we are going to copy all the files and folders in the floppy. Select the "Edit" pull down menu in the upper left of the window. Find "Select All" in the menu and select it. Note that all the files in the right window are highlighted. Also, note that the top file has a faint dotted line around the file name. Right Click that dotted lined file. This will give you a pop up menu. Select "Copy" from the menu. (remember that Cut or copy sends the selected files to the "Clipboard") so it didn't look like anything happened. Now, Right Click the folder that you want to store it in. Select "Paste" from the pop up menu. A window will pop up showing you two folders with paper flying from one to the other. Also you will see the name of where the files are coming from and going to. In a bar window you can also see the names of the files being transferred. When it is finished, select that folder in the left window to display all the files in the right window again. Remove the floppy from the floppy drive. Warning! NEVER remove a floppy from the drive when the small light is lit on the "A" drive. This may damage the drive and for sure will damage the data on the floppy

Insert the empty floppy into "A" drive. Select "Edit" pull down menu. From the menu, select "Select All". Right Click the file with the dotted line around the name. (usually the top file) From the pop up menu, select "Cut". Right Click "3 1/2 floppy [A:]"at the top of the left window. From the pop up menu, select "Paste". Again, note the paper files flying from one folder to the other. When it is finished, remove the floppy and you now have the original and a copy.

 As you can see, you used your folder as a storage area to move files from one disk to another. You can use this process to just transfer some of the files from one floppy to another floppy even though you only have one floppy drive. When you only want to transfer some of the files is when you will use this method.

The second method is used only when you want to transfer all the files.

Insert the copy floppy you just made into the "A" drive. Right Click "3 1/2 floppy [A:]". From the pop up menu, select "Copy Disk". The "Copy Disk" window will pop up. Two small windows will have "3 1/2 floppy [A:]" in each window. One is labeled, "Copy From" and the other is labeled, "Copy To". (have another blank formatted disk handy) Select the "Start" button just below the two small windows. Sit back and wait for it to prompt you to insert the empty floppy. The bar graph will go about half way across. Switch floppies and select the Start button just below the two small screens. The bar graph will then continue on across to the end. Wal-la! Finished.

Don't say it! Why didn't we just do this in the first place. Because you wouldn't want to know how to do it the long way if you seen this first.