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Need a 5 1/4 DOS Disk - Where Can I Get One?

W

WLABOB

Junior Member
My dad uses an old Leading Edge computer with 2 floppy drives, and he damaged his 5 1/4 DOS disk. He is devastated because without the DOS disk, you cannot boot up the computer. He loves using this computer. None of my friends have 5 1/4 computer stuff anymore, and I can't find a store that still sells it. Where can I get one now? Any suggestions? Does anyone have one gathering dust?

Please don't suggest that he buy a new computer. He has a new computer with Word, but he likes the word processing better on the Leading Edge.

Thank you.
 
A machine that old isn't worth its weight in doorstops, but. If the drive works, you can get a basic boot disk for DOS 6.22, at bootdisk.com. It won't contain all of DOS, but will give you enough to boot the machine.

You'll need another working machine with a 5.25" drive to create it. If the machine supports 3.5" a floppy drive, it may be easier to boot it will be to install a $10 floppy drive on your dad's machine.

The bigger question is, why bother? 😕
 
I don't think that old as hell PC would even support a 3.5" disk. Why on earth does your dad prefer using that ancient hulk? If its the program you could always get an emulator for the more modern PC and use it to run it instead.
 
Originally posted by: nsafreak
I don't think that old as hell PC would even support a 3.5" disk. Why on earth does your dad prefer using that ancient hulk? If its the program you could always get an emulator for the more modern PC and use it to run it instead.
Click to expand...

It will support a 3.5 floppy just fine. $10 and you're good to go OP.
 
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nsafreak
I don't think that old as hell PC would even support a 3.5" disk. Why on earth does your dad prefer using that ancient hulk? If its the program you could always get an emulator for the more modern PC and use it to run it instead.
Click to expand...

It will support a 3.5 floppy just fine. $10 and you're good to go OP.
Click to expand...

Checking on the date of manufacture for the op's PC I guess it looks like it will support a 3.5" floppy. Personally not something that I'd consider worth my time since I'd also have to go and find a 3.5" floppy somewhere, put the drive in my newer PC, write the floppy and then put the drive in the old PC. I sure hope it's worth your time op.
 
Since nobody sells something that old + this is probably a replacement for a legal copy of DOS, I would probably just "downloaded off the net". To get the actual files onto the 5.25" floppies, you would have to attach the disc drive to another computer.
 
I know I can probably download this software off the internet, however, I still have a problem. Once downloaded, how do I get I get it on a 5 1/4 disk.

I do not know anyone who still owns a computer with a 5 1/4 drive. That's why I was hoping someone online would have a copy of the DOS disk already on the 5 1/4 disk.

Another issue is that I live in a different state than my dad, and he is not computer savvy. Anything more than popping the DOS disk in will be too confusing for him.

Any additional suggestions would be appreciated.
 
You would obviously need to purchase a 5.25" floppy drive & some disks for yourself. Then you would have to mail him the copy. By the way I just looked on ebay, and someone is selling IBM DOS 3.3 for $21 shipped. Pretty sure that an IBM version should work on his Leading Edge, but am not absolutely positive about that. Item on ebay is 250514867036.
 
Originally posted by: nsafreak
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nsafreak
I don't think that old as hell PC would even support a 3.5" disk. Why on earth does your dad prefer using that ancient hulk? If its the program you could always get an emulator for the more modern PC and use it to run it instead.
Click to expand...

It will support a 3.5 floppy just fine. $10 and you're good to go OP.
Click to expand...

Checking on the date of manufacture for the op's PC I guess it looks like it will support a 3.5" floppy. Personally not something that I'd consider worth my time since I'd also have to go and find a 3.5" floppy somewhere, put the drive in my newer PC, write the floppy and then put the drive in the old PC. I sure hope it's worth your time op.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it could seriously interfere with the OP's neffing time. 🙂
Any local mom and pop computer store/repair will have a 3.5 drive and floppy disk on hand. Hell, if you explain the situation, they will probably put DOS on the floppy while you wait for free. 'Enough with the negative waves already.'

I deal with older folks and support their computers all the time. Most older folks don't care how much better the latest and greatest is, they just want to continue using what works for them and the tech they're comfortable with. Your current situation is a walk in the park compared to some I've dealt with.
 
for DOS
http://www.emsps.com/oldtools/msdos.htm

for the floppy drive
http://abcresellers.com/store/page3.html

i have a new/unused copy of DOS 3.3 laying around - and i actually know where it is. i also have some 5.25" drives - now i just have to find them.

i'm actually reluctant to part with the DOS 3.3 but now may be the time.

looking at the prices on the websites it looks like $100 for the both might be a fair price.

when i used to sell computers i would always do some sort of testing before shipping. that would be hard to do in this case.
 
Funny.
I have all kinds of DOSes (6.22, 6.0, 5.0, etc. with the 51/4 ones being image files). Then I have quite a few 51/4 disks as I use them with my old SX64 machine. I have a friend who has an old AT machine with the 51/4 drives.

Actually, if I had your address I could send you a couple of blank 51/4s, but you can just buy what you need (ie, the whole DOS OS some even still in never opened packages). See:

http://www.agreatserver.com/cg...arch.pl?S=DOS+&C=11226

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...Item&item=250514859054
 
A friend found a copy of the DOS disk on a 3 1/2 disk that was originally used on a machine like my dad's. I have no clue where he got his hands on it.

The question is where can I get it transferred onto a 5 1/4 disk?

If somebody has a computer with both a 3 1/2 and a 5 1/4 drive, and they are willing to copy it on to the 5 1/4 disk for me, I can put this all behind me. Also, it will my dad's month.

Please let me know. Thank you.
 
Originally posted by: WLABOB
A friend found a copy of the DOS disk on a 3 1/2 disk that was originally used on a machine like my dad's. I have no clue where he got his hands on it.

The question is where can I get it transferred onto a 5 1/4 disk?

If somebody has a computer with both a 3 1/2 and a 5 1/4 drive, and they are willing to copy it on to the 5 1/4 disk for me, I can put this all behind me. Also, it will my dad's month.

Please let me know. Thank you.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm just grumpy today but, given the information already provided, are you willing to do anything yourself?
 
Not only have I followed up on every lead provided, I have probably called 25-30 different computer repair shops, consultants... etc. on this. This is not as easy as it sounds.

The majority of the places cannot help me because they don't have the drives or the software. The balance are asking for crazy amounts of money with no guarantee that their disks or services will work.

If I knew what I was getting myself into, I wouldn't had gotten my dad's hopes up. I figured how hard could this be. I know now.

Again, I would like thank everyone who has, at least, tried to help. I will continue to move forward.





 
The best solution would be to locate a "combo floppy drive". One that has both: 5 1/4" AND 3 1/2" floppy drives in a single height mechanism + single connector cable. Then whenever you go for a visit, you could migrate all of your dad's obsolete 5 1/4" floppies to "modern" 3 1/2" floppies. Keep looking on eBay, they'll show up there sooner or later.
Note: if your Dad's not up to installing a floppy drive, maybe he could just take it to a local Office Depot/Staples/Best Buy/etc. to get the work done.

Edit: http://cgi.ebay.com/TEAC-FD-50...0QQitemZ260490943328QQ
 
I'm curious as to what your father does on that computer. Computers back in the day were kind of boring...
 
Concerning the statement "If somebody has a computer with both a 3 1/2 and a 5 1/4 drive, and they are willing to copy it on to the 5 1/4 disk.

Ive recently made a custom bootable DOS disk on CDROM for a friend. Note that It is not a matter of merely copying a 31/2 bootable disk to another media type such as a 51/4 as bootable implies that the geometry of the media is involved. Whoever does this for you will need to install the 31/2 DOS then create the 51/4 by transfering the system using the /S command line option.

Your best bet is to just buy your dad a commercial DOS from "agreatserver" or urge him to buy it himself.


WARNING: Floppy drives & particularly 51/4 ones when using aged/well worn disks become dirty with the result that they damage the disks. Usually a piece of trash gets between the head & the disk or oxide builds on the R/W head. The drive needs to be cleaned from time to time & there is a special cleaning disk for this (I actually still have one, but it can be cleaned manually but some disassembly of the drive is then required). Carefully inspect the damaged DOS disk in bright light (preferably sunlight) & look for the presence of any circumferential ring. If you see one then it is a "score" where the oxide was eroded away because of contamination of the R/W head. THE DRIVE MUST BE CLEANED/SERVICED BEFORE USING ANY NEW PURCHASED DISKS OTHERWISE FRESH DISKS COULD BE INSTANTLY DAMAGED
 
I made a fully bootable MSDOS CD, It would auto setup a ramdrive as well, It also contains a folder with the Files/folders of a floppy installable MSDOS.
I also had a ESIA and A PCI floppy HD cards with the ribbons CD drive that could be dropped into any machine just for these perposes, Sadly dumped the cards but I still have the CD.

Why I have this CD still?, Well you just never know and it sits in the back of a disk holder with Win95, Win98, Win98SE, Win98ME Im sure they will be joined with the WinXP as well.
 
Originally posted by: WLABOB
Not only have I followed up on every lead provided, I have probably called 25-30 different computer repair shops, consultants... etc. on this. This is not as easy as it sounds.

The majority of the places cannot help me because they don't have the drives or the software. The balance are asking for crazy amounts of money with no guarantee that their disks or services will work.

If I knew what I was getting myself into, I wouldn't had gotten my dad's hopes up. I figured how hard could this be. I know now.

Again, I would like thank everyone who has, at least, tried to help. I will continue to move forward.
Click to expand...

Several people, myself included, have suggested getting a 3.5" floppy drive at a mom & pop for $10 dollars. All you have to do is plug it in. As already mentioned, the store you get the 3.5" drive at will be happy to make a boot disk on a Win98 machine. It will most likely be DOS 6.0 or higher but, it will still allow your dad to run his software just fine. They might even do it for free. After all it only takes typing "FORMAT A: /S" to create a boot disk.

This is not a difficult thing. Every mom & pop computer store I've ever been to has old Win98 machines around. The key is to go there in person instead of calling around, nobody wants to go the extra mile if you tell them the whole sad story on the phone. This will require $10 for the drive and $1.79 for a 3.5" floppy if you don't have one. It will also require you to forgo some neffing time to drive to the store in person. Do it. Do it now! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: nsafreak
I don't think that old as hell PC would even support a 3.5" disk. Why on earth does your dad prefer using that ancient hulk? If its the program you could always get an emulator for the more modern PC and use it to run it instead.
Click to expand...

You would be surprised. I know a local shop that still fixes typewriters for old ladies that refuse to use computers. The amount of money they spend on these typewriters... and some of them actually have computers. They just, for some strange reason, prefer a typewriter/word processor to a computer.
 
Wow, I remember those computers from when I was a sophomore in High School and I'm almost 40 now.

The OP's story is actually kind of plausible, I only say that because years ago I used to work in an appliance store and I used to have little old ladies come in wanting to buy refrigerators and washing machines that had not been made in 30 or 40 years. stuff like this: http://www.eaglerockappliances...ges/R-114g-430x427.jpg
 
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