[ewales]

Hello
Hope this doesn't sound ridiculous, but I have an old PC that is going to be retired and would like to know if there is a way to extract the Dos and Windows back on to floppy disks. The original disks have long since disappeared. I don't know if these programs will ever serve a purpose again, but would like to keep them
Thank You

 

[JohnWill]

Other than making an image copy of the hard disk, there isn't really a way to "uninstall" it to the original distribution floppies.

 

[Praetorian01]

Like what JohnWill said, there's no way for you to unpack DOS X.X or Windows 3.11 back to Disks in their Original "form" from a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) after you've installed them.

But you could try one of the following to achieve the same goal of just preserving the Data:

1. Use a Hard Disk Drive Imaging Software to make an Image File replica of your Old Machine. (Simple & Expensive -because you need to buy the Software)
2. Copy Everything from the Old Machine's HDD to another media and extract the Boot Sector of the old HDD to a file. :up: (The media could be a Floppy Disk, another HDD or a USB Flash Drive/UFD (if it has one), etc.)
3. Simply Keep the Old HDD before you dispose the Old Machine! (You only need to open the case & get the HDD)
4. Restore/Refurbish/Repair the Old Machine if you can afford or have the skill to do so :up: (Techincal Experience required - or look for someone who can do it)

State your 2 Most Preferred Method and a flood of responses & help will appear in this thread...

Good luck!

Mark

 

[Alex Ethridge]

Unlike Windows NT, 2000, XP and 2003, installed DOS through versions 6 and Windows 3x can be copied from the hard disk onto any storage media and then back to any other hard disk, placed in a compatible machine and it will run. You would have to load drivers for the new system, though.

The method I would use would be to remove the hard disk and connect it in a newer machine. Then burn a CD of the entire disk contents. To preserve the boot files, format a floppy disk using the /S option (transfers boot files, FORMAT A: /S) and then place a copy of SYS.com on the floppy. Later, you can SYS (transfer the boot files) another hard disk by placing the floppy into the new machine and typing SYS A: C: from the A:\> prompt.

Personally, I would make several system floppies; you never know when one will simply deteriorate and quit working.

 

[Alex Ethridge]

Oops, very important: You have to format the floppy in the old system (FORMAT A: /S).