How do I save the data from 15 year old hard drives?

Question

I have a 15 year old desktop computer [running Windows 3.1] laying around. It had two hard drives in it - 1.0 GB and .5GB. I'd like to get the data off, but I'm not sure how.

I've tried plugging the drives into a modern system [running Windows XP] to just copy the files, but the computer won't recognize the drives. Unfortunately, the floppy drive on the old system is broken. Even if it weren't broken, none of our modern computers have floppy drives, so using floppies appears to be out of the question.

Is there some way to make an XP system recognize the old drives or are they just too old? Are there any other options you can think of?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Answer 1

You'll need an older computer if you want to do it yourself. But, considering the expense involved, paying a tech to do it would likely be best.

Part of the problem is the way the drives were partitioned. That plus the fact that XP will not recognise 98 or earlier versions of Windows. (Although, if you can make the older computer connect to the newer, you can force the files through from the older, as it would be able to see the XP computer even though it could not see the older.)

Your only other real option would appear to be to have a new floppy installed on the old machine, and buy yourself a USB floppy drive for the new one.

Answer 2

We'd probably need more information to be of too much help here. Back in the old days (i.e. 15 years ago), pretty much everything needed a driver to work with the computer. Nowadays, hard drives are just plug and play. You may be able to contact the manufacturer to see if they have any drivers, but I think you'll find that they won't.

Best bet: Take the drives into a local computer shop and have them do it. They'll have better tools and resources, and a better success rate. Good luck!

Answer 3

The working device shops fairly some data and data interior the non everlasting folder. in case you're on line, the device shops data, cookies, sessions data with regards to web content and so on interior the temp folder and thats why you loose area of the not easychronic. you could do away with that data via a application 'Disk Cleanup'. it somewhat is the variety you locate the applying start up menu >courses > upload-ons > device equipment > Disk freshen up pick thechronic for the freshen up and ok, thats accomplished.

Answer 4

Dude just let go. Windows 3.1 are you serious. Or I guess you could email yourself files you really need. Maybe get a new floopy if it's really worth it to you.