(*Completed with thanks*)Floppy Disks.

[ainslie]

I have a laptop with Win10 and various add-ons, and have (from a previous life) a quantity of used and unused floppy disks.
I also have a plug-in gadget which used to connect to my long-dead PC.
Should I be able to read the files which may be in XP format, or a forgotten even earlier version?
Would I be able to save to the unused disks?
Thank you for replies in plain language!
Ainslie

[Flattybasher9]

What size of "Floppy discs" 5.25" or 3.5" ?

Malky

[philipsearching]

You can save files of any format (new or old) to floppy disk but I wouldn't bother because of the storage size - much better to use CDs or external drives.

Philip

[ainslie]

Thanks for that. I may try that out for small files, for ease of access, or double-banking backup, but realise that few will be able to read them if they do not have the same bit of kit.
Still interested in access to old files.
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[ainslie]

Malky
Sorry but I missed your query earlier. The disks are 3.5”.
A

[Midase]

Plug the gear in and try it.

[Mart 'n' Al]

Ainslie, the data isn't 'XP format'  XP was the version of Windows that you once used.  The files will be in the format of the application software that you used at the time, to create the data.  The file name extension, the bit after the dot in the name, will help you know what format of data you have.  For example '.doc' will probably be a word processor document, '.xls' will be a spreadsheet.  Modern versions of the software that you used to create the data will usually open the older data.

Also consider using USB stick drives, they are large capacity and are getting very cheap.

Was your "plug-in gadget " for reading the 3.5" floppies?  It should probably work with your new PC if it uses a USB socket, the small flat type.

Martin

[ainslie]

Thanks to you both.  I'll give the old gadget a go, having been scared of blowing something!

[ainslie]

Plug the gear in and try it.

It worked.  Many thanks for all supporting comments.
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