Board:   [DoveNet] Hardware/Software Help
Subject: Re: 3.5 Floppies
From:    Dumas Walker
Date:    Wed Feb 25, 2026 15:51

@VIA: CAPCITY2
>  MP> I found some 8" install diskettes, for some long retired software
>  MP> package, while cleaning out a storage area at work.  Not even sure what
>  MP> platform... mainframe or PC... they were for.  We had no drives in the
>  MP> office for that size, and I have never seen one in the wild.

> The oldest thing I ever maintained at work was a Northern Telecom PBX
> from the mid-70s, and it took 5 1/4" floppies.

Hmmm... I don't know (or remember?) how old these were.  I don't remember
seeing a year on them but they didn't seem that old in the sense that the
pre-printed labels were not crumbling off or yellowing.

> The building it was in had the power shut down for 6 hours, so I needed
> to come in and shut the system down. I came back in around 6am to bring
> it up. I was warned it might take a while. Inserted the floppy, flipped
> the power switch, and NOTHING.Waited. Waited some more. Was about to
> call the HQ to figure out what to do, when 14 MINUTES LATER, I heard the
> floppy headseek and saw a green light.

> Longest 14 minutes of my life.

Oh goodness, I'd have figured it was deader than a doornail by then!  :O


 * SLMR 2.1a * Tip: Never take a beer to a job interview.
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