Date   : Sun, 03 May 2009 18:01:08 +0100
From   : mike@... (Mike Tomlinson)
Subject: Preservation of information (floppy discs, etc.)

In article <49FB759D.5020707@...>, Philip Pemberton
<philpem@...> writes

>Basically, the idea was to have a completely open-source hardware "pod" that 
>anyone who could wield a soldering iron could build and use to image whatever 
>discs they had. Then people can send those images to each other, without 
>needing XYZ Machine Type 12345 to make a copy of the disc - you just need the 
>"pod".

It was done some years ago (not with open source software though).  Have
a google for Central Point's CopyIIPC software and Option Board.

and look at:

http://retro.icequake.net/dob/

<http://stason.org/TULARC/pc/io-cards/C-D/CENTRAL-POINT-SOFTWARE-INC-
Floppy-enhancer-COPY-II.html>

I understand where you're coming from - taking an image copy of a disk
without needing any reference to layout, formatting, disc controller,
density, copy protection, etc.  But if you can create a precise copy of
a disc and reproduce that disc using common PC hardware (most PC floppy
controllers will write DFS FM discs with a little persuading), why
bother?

-- 
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