How to transfer data from old computer

[PLAZ]

I have an old IBM computer from the 1980's. It has a 5.25 inch floppy drive in it and consequently, I have a lot of 5.25 inch floppies full of very important data.

I want to transfer the data from the old 5.25 floppies to a current hard drive and eventually on to a disc. I know there are people out there who offer this service, but I would like to do it myself.

Can someone tell me how to do it?

[EzyStvy]

Might want to consider taking the drive out of the old machine and installing into the new one;) I believe you'll have to enable drive B in the bios.

[glc]

Not all newer motherboards support a 5.25" floppy drive or a second floppy.

[phigdon]

if you can get on the internet with the old system attach the info in an email and email it to your account. if not spend a few dollars an put in a PCI ethernet adapter and network the systems.

[rjfvillarosa]

If the data is that important to you why not just buy an external floppy/USB drive?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821103402

[EzyStvy]

Mr rjfvillarosa missed the part about the floppies being 5.25" ;)

[glc]

I think phigdon missed that too. If the info were on the hard drive it could be removed and connected through USB which is a lot easier than emailing.

[rjfvillarosa]

I have an old IBM computer from the 1980's. It has a 5.25 inch floppy drive in it and consequently, I have a lot of 5.25 inch floppies full of very important data.


If the data is that important to you why not just buy an external floppy/USB drive?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821103402



Mr rjfvillarosa missed the part about the floppies being 5.25" ;)

oops........:o sorry....:rolleyes:

[PLAZ]

I am not bvery familiar with computer terminology or the function of various parts but I would like to ask a question without much detail provided.

Is it possible to connect somewhere in the back of the old computer an adapter cable that has a USB receptacle on the other end in to which I can connect an external 3-1/2 inch floppy or external hard drive to record the data off the 5.25 inch floppy?

Other than the USB I am not familiar with what kind of connectors these would be or what I should look for on the back of the old computer. I need help badl;y.

Thank you so much for your time.

[glc]

I'm afraid not. Not with a computer that old. You can copy them to the IBM internal hard drive, then if it's a standard IDE drive, remove it and use a USB adapter to copy its contents to a newer computer. You are going to have to do all that using DOS.