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We work with images of FDI iS-DOS and TASiS floppy disks

In this article I will try to show how you can work with FDI images under iS-DOS.

So, all conditions are met, you can start :)

In addition to the utilities from the basic iS-DOS kit, you will need the following programs: sv_image.com, img2fdi.com, cutter.com. They can be downloaded.

First, let's make sure that the floppy disk you need is generally recognized normally by the system (details about possible problems according to compatibility). If everything is in order and the floppy disk is recognized normally, you need to check one more condition - the floppy disk must be formatted with a volume of no more than 3200 blocks. Anything larger than this volume belongs to the area located behind the 80th physical track of the drive, and may not be readable on all drives. Typically, the vast majority of floppy disks are formatted correctly.

The total capacity of a floppy disk can be found by calling the fileshow.com utility for it:

Let's create an IMG image of a floppy disk using the sv_image.com utility. To do this, open the device where the image will be written and call the utility via the command line: [path to the utility]sv_image.com /a.

If the floppy disk from which the image is taken is not in drive A, then instead of the /A key we indicate the key with the corresponding drive (/B, /C, etc.). The output will be an img file.

The program will begin work on creating the image, after which we will receive a file up to 3200 blocks long.

 

The resulting image must be converted to FDI using the img2fdi.com program. But there is one point - the program requires a certain amount of free memory. And if there are no problems in iS-DOS Chic and TASiS systems, then in iS-DOS Classic when starting the program you can sometimes get error 130 (“not enough memory”):

This problem can be solved. To free up memory, you must first reduce the cache size to the minimum level possible for the system - 6 blocks. To do this, use the cache.com utility:

If reducing the cache is not enough for normal launch of img2fdi.com (which is very unlikely), you can free up memory by removing unnecessary residents or drivers from it. To do this, call the eliminat.com utility. It will first display a menu with a list of drivers and residents installed on the system:

Some of this list will have to be sacrificed to free up memory. From the above list I have removed the unnecessary one this moment driver for Slave hard drive (lba_s) and print driver for 64 characters per line (ty64). I don’t know exactly what you will have to sacrifice in your case, see for yourself. Naturally, you should not remove the Master hard drive driver, the floppy drive driver (sys_driv) or the 42-character-per-line print driver (ty42). The rest can be removed. You should not be afraid that something in the system will become corrupted when you remove residents - after a reboot, the system will be back with the old set of drivers and residents. This is what I got after removing lba_s and ty64:

After that, launch img2fdi.com. The program has its own GUI and does not require any input data to be passed through the command line. We point in the program to the desired IMG image and begin the conversion. The output file is created on the same device where the IMG file is located:

 

After running the img2fdi.com program, we will receive an FDI file:

The image must be somehow transferred to the IBM PC (otherwise why did we create it?). If the original img file was large (about 700K or more), the disk drive capacity is not enough to transfer such a file in one pass large file(MS-DOS 720K floppy disk holds 713K of data, and the FDI file takes up more than 800K). Don’t worry, for this I wrote a clever program cutter.com. It allows you to split any file into parts of any length. We launch cutter.com, indicate which file needs to be split and the size of the parts into which the file will be split. So, for example, for a 720K MS-DOS floppy disk, the default value of 640K is sufficient. The program can also calculate a CRC32 file for subsequent control of file merging on an IBM PC. Having a turbo mode on your computer would be useful, because the process of breaking down and calculating CRC32 is quite slow.

Don't forget to set the numbering type for the output files: when you select "extension", the numbering will be carried out through the file extension. When you select "name", the numbering will be in the last three characters of the file name. If you intend to transfer files to an IBM PC using MS-DOS floppy disks, then it is better to select the “extension”. If the transfer will be on TR-DOS floppy disks, then you should select “name”. The fact is that when writing files to a TR-DOS floppy disk, the file extension is partially lost, and numbering the files in the extension does not make sense.

 

After splitting, we get files with extensions in the form of numbers (*.001, *.002, etc.) and one file with the extension *.crc (if the CRC32 counting mode was enabled):

In the case of numbering through the file name, the list of files will be slightly different, but this is not important.

These files need to be transferred step by step to the IBM PC using MS-DOS floppy disks (for example). In the case of MS-DOS floppy disks, copy files to them using the to_msdos.com utility:

After transferring all the files to the IBM PC, they can be “glued together”, for example, in Total Commander:

The resulting FDI file can be checked in the emulator and then used for its intended purpose :)

Method No. 2 - if you need to remove an image from any floppy disk

In fact, you can’t get a working fdi image from just any floppy disk. The floppy disk must have (how to put it more precisely) the correct format. Those. there should be no unreadable sectors and any other nonsense that makes copying difficult even with ordinary track-by-track copiers with automatic disk format recognition (Omega Copy, SoftCopy, UFO, etc.). Of course, floppy disks with copy protection, which uses information in the intersector space (such protection was on branded disks with Spectrofon electronic magazines), are no longer needed.

To create an FDI image from any floppy disk, I wrote the program makefdi.com:

The program runs on iS-DOS Classic/Chic. Understands DS DD floppy disks (80 tracks, 2 sides). Works on computers with 48K memory and higher. In short, the program is not demanding on the computer. Having a hard drive is highly desirable (otherwise where will you save the fdi file?). The program also allows you to enter a text commentary for the image being created and indicate the number of tracks that will be scanned.

The program works in two passes - first it scans all the tracks of the floppy disk and compiles a table of sectors, and then directly copies the information from the floppy disk into the image.

After obtaining the fdi image, it can be transferred to MS-DOS floppy disks and then to the IBM PC.

Burning an FDI image to a floppy disk on the ZX-Spectrum

To write the contents of an FDI image to a floppy disk, use the fdi2disk.com program:

The program interface is similar to the makefdi.com program. System requirements- the same as for makefdi.com.

When calling the program, we indicate to it the path to the fdi file, then select “START” - and let’s go!

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This may seem surprising to some, but many organizations still use floppy disks. We have several programs installed in our accounting department that require electronic digital signatures (EDS) to work with. These digital signatures are located on floppy disks. But, since floppy disks are a rather unreliable medium (they can fail at any time), you have to make backup copies of them.

For this purpose I use the program. Using it, you can make a copy of a floppy disk (image), and then, if necessary, write a new floppy disk from this image.

You can download. Run the downloaded file Floppy Image.exe - the program window will open. Its upper part is intended for creating a copy of a floppy disk, and the lower part is for writing a new floppy disk from a saved copy.

So, insert the floppy disk with the digital signature key into the computer - click on top of the window button Browse”(1).
Next, select the folder in which the floppy disk image will be saved - write any Name and click “Save”. Then click the “ Start”(2) in the main program window and wait until the process of writing data from the floppy disk to the file is completed. That's all!

Now, if your key floppy disk suddenly fails, you will need to insert a blank floppy disk into the floppy drive and run the program again. Then click in bottom of the window program button “ Browse”(3).
Find the file with the floppy disk image on your computer - select it and click “Open”. Then click the “ Start"(4). A window will appear warning you that all data on the media will be overwritten - click “Yes”.
Wait until the process of writing data to the floppy disk is completed.
After this, close the program. Now the floppy disk can be used as a key disk.

In this article I describe various ways creating floppy (FDD) images using various emulators (for prevention), although it is best to work only with Anex86. Formatting a floppy image.

In fact, there is no special need to create floppy images yourself. You can simply take any unprotected floppy image of the game, delete all files from it and format the floppy disk. Blank floppy images may only be required to install some games on HDD. Or to create a user disk (USER DISK). Moreover, several features should be taken into account for each game. Since some games just need a blank and unformatted disk. Some people only need a disk of a certain size and format. Some people need a disk containing some files necessary for the game. Etc. There are quite a lot of options. And figuring out what’s what is quite difficult. Since all error messages are displayed in Japanese. And all the instructions for installing the game that are sometimes found on floppy disks with games are also in Japanese. And please note that working not in the graphical DOS shell, but through the command line, is a more reliable way not to receive any error messages from the game being installed.

Part one: Creating a floppy image.

Anex86 emulator:





Select the size of the floppy image. 1.44M disks are not supported by Neko Project II and Virtual98 emulators.

Click the button to create a blank disk (Blank Disk), and indicate the name of the disk and where to create a blank disk.



That's it, an empty unformatted disk has been created. The Anex86 emulator makes all disks only in its FDI format.





Neko Project II Emulator:

Launch the emulator, select Emulate, then NewDisk.




Enter the name of the disk and save. Discs are created only in D88 format. Next, select the disk format. Choose 2HD format. All empty disk is created. Disk Label is optional. An empty disk is created with a very small size of 688 bytes in total. It will return to normal size only after formatting. And for its normal use, it must be formatted in the format in which it was created, 2HD (1M).





Emulator T-98 NEXT:

Launch the emulator, click the NEW button opposite the FDD slot.




We leave everything as is and press START.



Enter the name of the disk and save. Disks are created in the T98-NEXT emulator standard, NFD format. Moreover, as in the case of the Neko Project II emulator, the size of the created disk is still small, only 66.5kb. In the Setting menu you can change the name of the disk (not the image file itself). Everything that is written for the T-98 NEXT emulator can also be applied to the T98vmm emulator.

Part two: Formatting a floppy image.

For example, we will format the floppy disk in the Anex86 emulator, the floppy disk size is 1.20 MB. In addition to the floppy disk, we also need a system floppy disk with MS-DOS 6.2 (You can get it in the software section.) Place the floppy disk with MS-DOS 6.2 in the FDD1 slot, and place the image of the floppy disk that you want to format in the FDD2 slot. And launch the emulator.




Boot into MS-DOS in the graphical interface.




Press the Esc or Q key on your keyboard and then the Enter or Y key to unload GUI and end up at the DOS command line.




To run a program to format a floppy disk, simply enter the command format/f and press enter.




The program will load and we can start formatting the floppy disk. In paragraph one, we indicate the words in which we have a floppy disk for formatting. In this case, we have it in slot B.




In order for the floppy disk to be auto-bootable, you need to allow the program to copy system files from the MS-DOS system floppy disk to our floppy disk.




In step three, you can set the name of your floppy disk. But this is not necessary. In step four, we choose in which format we will format our floppy disk. Since our floppy disk is 1.20 MB in size, it should be formatted in 2HD (1 MB) format.




All the necessary parameters are set, you can start formatting. Set the marker to point five and press enter.




The floppy disk will be formatted.




That's all, cursor to the last menu item and press enter to exit the program.




We check the result obtained, reboot the emulator after removing the system MS-DOS floppy disk from it, we no longer need it. Well, if you did everything correctly and I explained everything clearly to you, then you will see this result on the screen. There is absolutely no need to set the date and time, just press enter several times. And now you can work quite comfortably with the DOS command line, performing the operations you need.

Copyright © 2005-2007 al32gabby

© 1993-2002 Gilles Vollant
Partially © Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler (ZLib)
Partially © Christoph H. Hochstätter
Partially © François Liger
Partially © Microsoft™

www.winimage.com

The documentation was translated into English with the help of Joll Demay, Michael Segall, Peter Sohn, Matthew Gardiner and John Buettner.
Translation of documentation into German was carried out with the help of Walter Scheffel.
The Spanish version was translated with the help of Diana M. Galindo P. and Amando Senra.
The Italian version was translated with the help of Roberto Paterlini.
Translation of the Portuguese version was done with the help of Nuno Dionçio and Vötor Bueno.
The Brazilian version was translated with the help of Marcello Elston.
The Dutch version was translated with the help of Geldof Georges and Pyra Lucien.
The translation of the Russian version of the program and quick (sorry!) editing of the help was carried out by Dmitry Erokhin.
The translation of the certificate (and, it seems, with the help of an automatic translator and almost without subsequent editing) was carried out by Vilis Eglitis.
Converting help to HTML format completed

WinImage 6.10 is fully Year 2000 compatible.

Work in Global network assumes that the user has certain knowledge relating not only to the features of personal equipment used software, but also safety rules. There are often situations when users neglect to install antivirus programs, which causes the system to block and lose important information. As practice shows, attempts to cope with the problem on your own do not give the desired result. In this case Professionals with many years of experience will help you unlock Windows.

It should also be noted that the safety of information is always in the hands of the user himself. So, you can save a disk image in advance to then painlessly restore lost data.

- ASP member -

WinImage is a shareware program. Its author is a member of ASP. You may copy and distribute WinImage provided there is no charge for doing so. It is permissible to charge only a small amount for the cost of floppy disks and delivery. WimImage must be distributed in its entirety and include all original files.

Extract files You can do this in three ways: using the "Image" menu or the toolbar icon, connecting the file by double-clicking on it, or by dragging it into another application.

WinImage allows you to drag and drop an image file from WinImage into another application. Press and hold the left mouse button, move the pointer to another application (the drag-and-drop client), and then release. In this way you can add an image to ZIP archives or ARJ if you are using the WinZip utility, or attach the image to a message Email, created with using Microsoft™ MS-Mail, Lotus™ Notes, or ccMail.

You can run WinImage with the following options
"WINIMAGE [source [destination] [options]]"
"WINIMAGE file.ima" : Load file file.ima
"WINIMAGE file.ima A:" : Load file file.ima, write to drive A: and exit
"WINIMAGE A: file.ima" : Load from floppy disk in drive A: and save file.ima
"WINIMAGE /MAKESFX imagefilename.??z imagesfx.exe<опция команды>: Create a file using .wlz or .imz file and here<опция команды>-- this is a standard option for an SFX file.

Options:
/F: Format when writing to a floppy disk from command line
/E: Extract (second parameter can be destination)
/X: Extract with subdirectories (second parameter can be destination)
/Q: Always exit after an operation from the command line
/H: Hide the main WinImage window
/NX: Do not exit the command line after the operation
/Nxxx: Create new image(where xxx -- DMF1024, DMF2048, 144, 120...)
/Txxx: Convert image size (where xxx -- DMF1024, DMF2048, 144, 120...)
/I xxx: Insert file or directory xxx
/NOASPI: Disable ASPI device checking at startup (this disables the option to create a CD image under Windows 95/98/Me)

On the "Disk" tab in the program settings under Windows 95/98 there are the following options:

If both options are selected Use DMF formatting technology And Use DMF technology to record data, WinImage will use the default new code formatting 3.0 DMF.
- If both options are not selected And Use new technology DMF for data recording, WinImage will use a slightly revised version of the 2.5 DMF formatting code.
- If the option is not selected Use new DMF formatting technology, WinImage uses the same formatting code as version 2.20.

Some DMF related issues can be corrected by adjusting the disc clearance. To change settings you must edit the registry. Be careful! To do this, you need to change the value of the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WinImage\iGap\Dmf. A value of "0" indicates the standard DMF clearance. WinImage users should set the 2.88 drive to "17".

Please report any problems related to gap adjustment (GAP).

Close image

Closes the current image.

Seal
Set up the printer

These options are only available in . They allow you to print the directory of the current image.

Delete a file

Removes files from the current image after prompting for confirmation.
If no file is selected, WinImage by default removes all files from the image. Otherwise, only the selected files are deleted.

File properties

Change the file date (pro version only), attributes and name. You can only rename a file if one file is selected.

Change label

Change the volume label of the current image.

Boot sector properties

To edit the properties of the boot sector you need. With this option you can change the OEM string of the drive, serial number or select boot sector Windows systems NT, MS-DOS 6.22, Windows 95/98 or WinImage ("Reset" button). When you select the WinImage boot sector, you can enter the text that appears when the floppy disk is loaded.

Change format

Resizing the current image.
The new size must be larger than the total size of the files in the image.
For example: a 1.44 MB image can be changed to a 360 KB image only if the size of all files contained in it does not exceed 360 KB.

Defragment the current image

Defragment the current image files.

Image information

Display information about the current image and the ability to edit a comment for the image.

Disk formatting

Formatting an empty floppy disk.

Create an ISO CD image

Creation and opening ISO image file from a CD drive.

Compare disk with image

Compare the current image with the disk.

Burn image to disk

Write the current image to disk.

Format the disk and burn the image

Formatting a floppy disk and writing the current image to it.

In Windows 95/98 environment the following options are available:

- UseIOCTL: Tells WinImage to use 32-bit IOCTL operations (excluding DMF formatting, which is not affected by this choice). Enabled by default.

- Use DMF technology: If the option is not selected, WinImage formats the DMF in the same way as in version 2.20. If the option is selected, the new formatting code is used.

- Quick format to 1.44 MB before DMF: If the option is not selected, WinImage performs quick formatting to 1.44 MB before formatting to DMF. Sometimes it is difficult to format an empty floppy disk in DMF without first formatting it as 1.44 MB.
For additional information about DMF see.

Image tab

- Selecting a floppy disk format for the image: If this option is enabled, WinImage selects the floppy type that matches the image in memory. (If you are loading a 360 KB image, WinImage selects the 5.25 inch floppy format.)
- Cut off the used part of the image: If the option is selected, WinImage reduces the image size when writing to an image file that is not full.
- Incrementing file names when opening/saving: When this option is selected, WinImage increments file names by 1. For example, after opening (or saving) "DISK01.IMA", WinImage suggests the next disk name as "DISK02.IMA".
- Check the contents of the disk before writing an image to it: If this option is selected, WinImage will ask you to confirm writing to a disk that already contains data.
- Allow files in the CD image to be updated (same file name and size): If this option is enabled, WinImage allows files in CD images to be updated, provided that the new versions have the same names and sizes as those present in the image.
- Compression: Select the compression level when saving a compressed image file.

Extract Tab

- Path for extracted files: This is where you specify where the files should be extracted from the image.

The following options determine the extraction of subdirectories.
- Skip subfolders: When this option is selected, WinImage will not extract the subdirectory(s).
- Extract all files into one folder: WinImage will extract all files into the image subdirectory of the target path.
- Extract files with full paths: WinImage extracts files from the image subdirectory to a subdirectory of the target path.

The following three options control whether a confirmation dialog is shown when extracting files.
- Confirm overwrite when extracting: If this option is selected, WinImage will ask you to confirm the write before starting the operation if there is a risk that the file will be overwritten.

File Tab

The first two options allow you to enable/disable the appearance of a dialog box when inserting files. The third option asks for confirmation when replacing files.
- Confirm file deletion: This option controls whether a confirmation dialog is shown when deleting files in the image.

Notification tab

Selecting sound and message
With this option you can configure WinImage to play sound signal from a .WAV or .MID file. In Windows 95/98 and NT environments, you can also use .AVI files.

General Tab

- Standard Viewer: Specifies the viewing application that is connected when double click on a file without an association.
- Use New Item to Browse Folders: Select the control to use when searching the directory.
- Allow dragging in Explorer: Allows the user to extract files by dragging and dropping them from the WinImage window into Explorer (and the Desktop).
- Show icon in taskbar when working: When WinImage is running in floppy mode or batch mode, it displays an icon in the Win9x/NT taskbar. When user input is required, the icon flickers.
- Automatically show WinImage window when user intervention is required: When user intervention is needed (floppy change, error, etc.), the WinImage window automatically pops up on top of other windows. This option allows you to minimize the WinImage window during long operations (floppy disk...) and do not forget about it!
- Options for registered users: cm. .

Free floppy drive emulator for modern computers, which do not have connectors for connecting this device.

Background

I'll start with a real case. Currently, I am working part-time in one organization as something like a system administrator.

Recently, the accounting department bought two new computers, since the old ones could no longer cope with the requirements of more and more new programs for reporting to all sorts of ministries. System and everything necessary programs installed without problems, so I connected both “computers” to the Internet and with the words: “Use it to your health!”, I went home with a clear conscience :). But it was not there:))).

Literally a couple of hours later they called me back and said that, well, so and so, but they were unable to transfer some kind of payment. When I arrived, it turned out that the new computers DO NOT have FLOPPY DISK DRIVES!!!, and without them, the cunning ministerial program does not want to issue a payment document file :).

Naturally, I immediately tried to get the required file, bypassing the requirements, but except for a floppy disk, the utility completely refused to give it out. Without hesitation, I decided to move the disk drives from the old machines to the new ones, but when I opened the case of one of the new computers, it turned out that there was nowhere to connect the flop drives, since motherboard There was no connector for FDD :(.

I was already completely upset, but a removable floppy drive that I saw in one of my acquaintances popped up in my memory. It was this device that was requested at the time of submitting the report.

But the situation was saved only for a while, so I was instructed to buy the same portable FDD for the accounting department. And everything would be fine, but it turned out that this is a very scarce piece of goods, which not even all computer stores have heard of :).

In short, when I got home, I decided to search on the Internet alternative options solution to the problem that had arisen and after a long fruitless search, it finally dawned on me that there might be a software emulator for “flopik”!

The search result was a small utility called Virtual Floppy Drive. Weighing less than 200 kilobytes, the program can create up to two full-fledged virtual drives for floppy disks of different capacities and form factors.

Key features of Virtual Floppy Drive:

• full integration of the virtual drive with Windows (up to Vista);
• the ability to create virtual “floppy disks” with data;
• the ability to quickly change virtual “floppy disks”;
• support for 3.5 and 5.25 inch form factors;
• support for virtual floppy disk capacities from 160 KB to 2.88 MB;
• the ability to format virtual “floppy disks”;
• availability of a console version of the utility.

Starting the program

Virtual Floppy Drive does not require installation, so download the archive and unpack it into any convenient folder and we can start using the program. In the unpacked folder you will find two executable files: vfd.exe And vfdwin.exe.

The first one launches the console version of the emulator, so we will not consider it (if necessary, you can read about managing this version in the file vfdhelp.txt), but the second one is exactly what we need. Launching vfdwin.exe You will see the Virtual Floppy Drive program window:

Interface and launch of Virtual Floppy Drive:

There are six tabs in this window, but the default one is the Drivers tab. This is where we should start our work. Here we need to install the virtual drive driver and run it. The driver itself is usually detected automatically in the “Driver File” window. If this does not happen (the window remains empty), click the “Browse” button, find the file in the folder with the program vfd.sys and specify it as the driver.

The next step is to select the program launch type. Manual (“Manual”) and automatic (“Auto”) launch of the application along with the system is available. If you constantly need to work with a flop, then I recommend choosing the “Auto” mode. Confirm your choice by clicking the “Apply” button.

When everything is configured, click the “Install” button to install the Virtual Floppy Drive service, and then “Start” to start the emulator (if you click “Start” right away, the service will still be installed;)). If you wish, you can always disable the virtual drive by clicking “Stop” and remove the program service with the “Uninstall” button.

The service is running, the emulator is running, but no changes seem to be happening - why? Because now it’s the turn to configure the virtual drive itself. To do this, let's go to the “Drive0” or “Drive1” tab and perform some manipulations. Namely, click the “Change” button at the very top and in the window that appears, indicate the letter (preferably A or B) for our virtual drive.

Now, after confirming your selection, in the My Computer folder you will find a new floppy drive with the letter you just specified:

If you double-click on the new virtual drive, then, like a real one, it will ask you to insert a floppy disk, but where can you get it... The next step has come - creating an image of the floppy disk.

Creating a virtual floppy disk

Click the “Open” button in the drive control window and in the window that opens, set the type and capacity of our virtual “floppy disk”. We will leave the “Image File” field empty for now, and in the “Disk Type” section it must be “RAM” (that is, we create the first “floppy disk” in the virtual memory of our PC):

Click the “Create” button and look at the changes in the drive control window:

We have activated three new buttons: “Save”, which allows you to save virtual image"floppy" to a file, "Close" to "extract" the image and "Format" to format the virtual "floppy" in the FAT system. By the way, format the image floppy disk possible using standard Windows tools: through context menu floppy drive or through the appropriate console command.

Now, if you try to open the created drive, an empty window will open in front of you, into which you can move files up to 1.4 megabytes.

Virtual floppy drive settings

Let's leave the drive management tab for a while and look at those that have so far remained unattended. The first of them is “Association”. With its help, you can set the Virtual Floppy Drive to associate with files of a certain type as virtual “floppy disks” (although this is not necessary). Here you can choose from existing types or even create your own by clicking the “New Extension” button:

Another option is the “Shell” tab. With its help, we can add new entries to the Windows context menu, as well as create shortcuts for drives on the desktop. The first option is only needed for old Windows versions, since, starting with XP, entries for sending files to a new drive and others are created automatically, so you don’t have to mark anything here either (unless you need shortcuts):

Working with a virtual drive

Now let's work with a virtual floppy drive in practice. You can open the floppy disk image and try dragging it into open window any small file. Happened? Congratulations! This means that support for the Drag&Drop function works for you. If the file is not copied, return to the “Shell” tab and check the first box.

The following test will allow us to check whether the drive can be accessed through the context menu. Let’s select a small file and, by calling the “Send” item in the context menu, activate the item with the name of our “flop”. If the file was not copied or the corresponding entry in the menu is missing, you again need to activate the above item in the settings:

If everything went well, then when you open the “floppy disk” you will find on it the file you copied:

Now you can do everything except save and change virtual “floppy disks”. But before saving, we need an empty file that will be used as an image. Creating one is not particularly difficult. Let's go to the folder where our “floppy disks” will be stored and create any file (context menu - “Create”).

Now let’s simply change the file extension to one of those listed in the “Association” tab (if the extension is not displayed for you, go to the “Tools” menu of any folder, select “Folder Options”, in the window that opens, go to the “View” tab and deactivate the item "Hide extensions for registered file types"). That's it - the future image is ready:

Now we return to the drive management tab (the first one) and click the “Save...” button. In the window that opens, indicate the newly created image file, check the “Overwrite an existing file” checkbox and click “Save”:

Our virtual floppy disk is now saved, the files from it will not go anywhere, and they can be read at any time.

The last thing you need for work is to be able to change “floppy disks”. As I said above, to “remove” it, just press the “Close” button, after which only the “Open” button will light up again. We press it and in the window that is already familiar to us, we now select the saved image of the desired “floppy disk” using the “Browse...” button. Next, specify the “Disk Type” as “File” and click “Open”.

Congratulations! The floppy disk has been loaded successfully!

conclusions

Of course, Virtual Floppy Drive emulates a floppy drive only on program level, so work with it outside Windows environment(for example, booting from it into the BIOS) will not work :(.

However, if you encounter a problem similar to mine, when a “flopik” is required for the successful operation of specific applications, then with the help of this small utility you will save about 200 hryvnia (about 800 rubles) on the purchase of an external USB-FDD!!! Good luck to you in all your endeavors and may your computers bring you less trouble ;).

P.S. Permission granted to freely copy and quote. this article provided that an open active link to the source is indicated and the authorship of Ruslan Tertyshny is preserved.

P.P.S. In Windows, you can emulate not only floppy drives, but even create full copies of real CD/DVD drives. If you need this, I advise you to pay attention to one of the most popular utilities of this kind:

P.P.P.S. If you already have a physical floppy drive and decide to install this program, be prepared for the fact that your physical floppy drive will disappear from the list of logical drives. This happens if you assign the letter of an existing drive to a virtual drive. That is, the real disk is replaced with a virtual one, and the real one disappears.

The following actions will help correct the situation:
1. Delete from the equipment manager:
a) Floppy disk drive,
b) Floppy disk controller.
2. Delete the branch from the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\ACPI\PNP0700\4&1e2bbe8d&0
3. Reboot.