Restoring data from an old version of Windows

[Sitara Lal]

I urgently need to transfer some data files from an old PC, vintage 1992,
which is mainly used to run a DOS programme. This PC came with Win 3.1
loaded and has two drives - one for 5.25" floppies and the other for 3.5"
floppies. There is no CD drive (and it is not possible to attach an external
drive) and no USB port of course.

Does anybody have any idea on how I could transfer the data files, all of
which are of course well over the 1.44MB capacity of the 3.5" floppies?

I tried backing up the files using the Windows 3.1 backup utility, but these
backup files (named CC21021A.001, CC21021A.002 etc) cannot be read by the
Win XP backup utility.

Any bright ideas?

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

1. If you can connect the old machine to the internet, get some free web
space from the usual places, upload from the old machine and download to the
new. Or email them.

2. If the data cables match, which probably isn't the case, pull the hard
drive from the old machine, put it in the XP machine.

3. Use a serial crossover connection. http://tinyurl.com/ywm7pf

4. Look for a ZIP utility that will run on Win 3.1. Most "data" files are
highly compressible and you might then be able to fit them onto a 3.5"
floppy.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I urgently need to transfer some data files from an old PC, vintage
1992, which is mainly used to run a DOS programme. This PC came
with Win 3.1 loaded and has two drives - one for 5.25" floppies and
the other for 3.5" floppies. There is no CD drive (and it is not
possible to attach an external drive) and no USB port of course.

Does anybody have any idea on how I could transfer the data files,
all of which are of course well over the 1.44MB capacity of the
3.5" floppies?
I tried backing up the files using the Windows 3.1 backup utility,
but these backup files (named CC21021A.001, CC21021A.002 etc)
cannot be read by the Win XP backup utility.

Any bright ideas?

Take out the hard disk drive (fromt he older system), put it in the new
system as a slave, boot up and access/copy the files...

Buyt an external drive case, put the hard disk drive from the old system
into the case, hook it to your new system and copy the files off it that
way...

Install an internal ZIP or other large media format drive that you can also
use in the new system to transfer your data. Even installing a network card
could get you access to said data.

Null modem cable also comes to mind.

Don't think of the machine as an all-encompassing box - think of it in its
component form...

 

[Malke]

I urgently need to transfer some data files from an old PC, vintage 1992,
which is mainly used to run a DOS programme. This PC came with Win 3.1
loaded and has two drives - one for 5.25" floppies and the other for 3.5"
floppies. There is no CD drive (and it is not possible to attach an external
drive) and no USB port of course.

Does anybody have any idea on how I could transfer the data files, all of
which are of course well over the 1.44MB capacity of the 3.5" floppies?

I tried backing up the files using the Windows 3.1 backup utility, but these
backup files (named CC21021A.001, CC21021A.002 etc) cannot be read by the
Win XP backup utility.

Any bright ideas?

With data transfer from very old machines to new ones, it isn't only the
size limitations that cause problems. Many older hard drives have
physical architecture incompatible with newer machines that makes it
impossible to just slave the drive in a modern computer. I would start
by opening the case and taking a look. If the hard drive can be attached
to an IDE connector, that's what I'd do.

If the drive cannot be moved and used as above, you're in the same
situation as one of my clients was recently. I called DriveSavers
(professional data recovery company) and they gave me the name of this
marvelous man - Steve Burgess - who does exactly what was needed. This
isn't his main line of business so he was extremely reasonable.

http://www.burgessforensics.com/index.html


Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I urgently need to transfer some data files from an old PC, vintage 1992,
which is mainly used to run a DOS programme. This PC came with Win 3.1
loaded and has two drives - one for 5.25" floppies and the other for 3.5"
floppies. There is no CD drive (and it is not possible to attach an external
drive) and no USB port of course.

Does anybody have any idea on how I could transfer the data files, all of
which are of course well over the 1.44MB capacity of the 3.5" floppies?

In addition to the other good suggestions I see you've gotten, you
could E-mail the files to yourself as attachments from the old
computer and read them on the newer one.

 

[HeyBub]

I urgently need to transfer some data files from an old PC, vintage
1992, which is mainly used to run a DOS programme. This PC came with
Win 3.1 loaded and has two drives - one for 5.25" floppies and the
other for 3.5" floppies. There is no CD drive (and it is not possible
to attach an external drive) and no USB port of course.

Does anybody have any idea on how I could transfer the data files,
all of which are of course well over the 1.44MB capacity of the 3.5"
floppies?
I tried backing up the files using the Windows 3.1 backup utility,
but these backup files (named CC21021A.001, CC21021A.002 etc) cannot
be read by the Win XP backup utility.

Any bright ideas?

Put both machines on a network. Transfer away.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I urgently need to transfer some data files from an old PC, vintage 1992,
which is mainly used to run a DOS programme. This PC came with Win 3.1
loaded and has two drives - one for 5.25" floppies and the other for 3.5"
floppies. There is no CD drive (and it is not possible to attach an
external drive) and no USB port of course.

Does anybody have any idea on how I could transfer the data files, all of
which are of course well over the 1.44MB capacity of the 3.5" floppies?

I tried backing up the files using the Windows 3.1 backup utility, but
these backup files (named CC21021A.001, CC21021A.002 etc) cannot be read
by the Win XP backup utility.

Any bright ideas?

easy and cheap if the PC has a hard disk drive.

Buy an inexpensive USB hard disk enclosure, remove the hard disk from the
old machine, and attach it to the USB enclosure circuitry (you don't have to
fully assemble the case). Usually set the jumper to MASTER, but
requirements vary. Attach this to your XP PC, and copy the files. You'll
be done in no time. Cost will be udner $30.

Then, if there is data on floppies, clear space on the hard disk and put it
back in. Make folders, copy the floppies to them, and repeat the process
above.

HTH
-pk

 

[Malke]

easy and cheap if the PC has a hard disk drive.

Buy an inexpensive USB hard disk enclosure, remove the hard disk from the
old machine, and attach it to the USB enclosure circuitry (you don't have to
fully assemble the case). Usually set the jumper to MASTER, but
requirements vary. Attach this to your XP PC, and copy the files. You'll
be done in no time. Cost will be udner $30.

Then, if there is data on floppies, clear space on the hard disk and put it
back in. Make folders, copy the floppies to them, and repeat the process
above.

This is good advice if the old drive is IDE. Many of them are not. See
my previous post on how to deal with older drives with obsolete connectors.


Malke