<html> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="Filingmethod" content="Atex"> <meta name="UnixSlug" content="../backfield/savekeep/07ASKK.W01"> <meta name="Date" content="99/10/07"> <meta name="Type" content="story"> <meta name="AtexNotes" content="07askk qna b'dorfer sh kf "> <meta name="AtexSlug" content="07askk "> <meta name="AtexHJ" content="y005.37/0040"> <meta name="AtexFrom" content="done-cir ;10/06,12:59 "> <meta name="AtexOp" content="saharv;10/06,12:58"> <meta name="AtexBy" content="jubier;09/30,14:08"> <meta name="section" content=""> <meta name="subsection" content=""> <meta name="End of header" content=""> <title>Q&A: Getting Files Off Old Disks</title> <script id="nyt-capsule-data" type="text/json"> { "lastTransform": "2018-04-09T15:10:55.364Z" } </script> <script src="https://archive.nytimes.com/_capsule/nyt-capsule.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://archive.nytimes.com/_capsule/nyt-capsule.css"></head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" vlink="#444464" link="#000066" background="https://static01.nyt.com/images/back.c.gif"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" width="600" valign="top"> <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/pixel.gif" border="0" width="600" height="1"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="60"><br></td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="480"> <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/1bantechcircuits.gif" border="0" width="468" height="40" alt="Technology - Circuits"> <br clear="all"> <map name="maintoolbar2"><area shape="rect" coords="0,0,75,16" href="https://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/" onmouseover="window.status='Click to go to the Home Page';return true"><area shape="rect" coords="76,0,154,16" href="https://www.nytimes.com/info/contents/siteindex.html" onmouseover="window.status='Click to see site contents';return true"><area shape="rect" coords="155,0,233,16" href="https://www.nytimes.com/search/daily/" onmouseover="window.status='Click to search the current site';return true"><area shape="rect" coords="234,0,312,16" href="https://www.nytimes.com/comment/" onmouseover="window.status='Click for discussion in the Forums';return true"><area shape="rect" coords="313,0,391,16" href="https://www.nytimes.com/archives/" onmouseover="window.status='Click to search the archives';return true"><area shape="rect" coords="392,0,468,16" href="https://www.nytimes.com/marketplace/" onmouseover="window.status='Click to visit the Marketplace';return true"></map> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/images/maintoolbar2.map"><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/maintoolbar2.gif" border="0" alt="toolbar" ismap usemap="#maintoolbar2" width="468" height="16"></a> <br> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <blockquote> <blockquote> <h5>October 7, 1999</h5><br> <h2>Q&A: Getting Files Off Old Disks</h2> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="147"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="10"><br> </td> <td width="137"><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/library/cyber/qa/qa.gif" width="137" border="0" height="239"> <p></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <a name="1"> <font size="+2">Q.</font> I have a number of files on old 5 1/4-inch diskettes that I'd like to retrieve, but I no longer have a computer with a floppy drive that will read them. Is there any way I can get these files onto my new computer? <p> <font size="+2">A.</font> Even though the 5 1/4-inch floppy disk -- the most common size for PC disks made before 1987 -- has pretty much gone the way of the eight-track tape, it might still be possible to get your files back. But if the documents were created in an old program that has also fallen by the wayside, you may also have to get your old files converted to a format that will work on your new computer. Data conversion companies can take many types of obsolete storage media and transfer the material onto the modern 3 1/2-inch floppies or CD-ROM's or Zip disks. In addition to 5 1/4-inch disks, conversions can also be done for more obscure storage media, like 8-inch floppy disks (the ones that were actually floppy), magnetic data tapes, optical disks and Syquest cartridges. </p> </a> <p><a name="1"> Prices for the service depend on the typeof files you have and the condition of the diskor tape. Some conversions can be as cheapas $5, while more elaborate jobs could costseveral hundred dollars. Some companies totry include Computer Conversions <br>(</a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/10/circuits/articles/07askk.html#2">www.computer-conversions.com</a>) and the National Data Conversion Institute (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/10/circuits/articles/07askk.html#2">www.ndci.com</a>). </p> <p> </p> <div align="right"><i>J. D. BIERSDORFER</i><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/reference/biersdorferbio.html"><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/bio.gif" border="0" alt="Bio" hspace="6"></a></div> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <b> <b>Q</b>&A appears in Circuits every Thursday. Click <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/reference/indexqa.html">here</a> for a list of links to previous columns.</b> </p> <p> </p> <hr size="1"> <p> </p> <p> Circuits invites questions about computer-based technology, by e-mail to <a href="mailto:QandA@nytimes.com">QandA@nytimes.com</a> or postal mail to Questions, Circuits, The New York Times, 229 West 43d Street, New York, N.Y. 10036-3959. 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