Saving Unix Files to Floppy Disks

Normally one transfers files between Unix computers using email, ftp, or fetch. Occasionally, it is desirable to transport or backup files on a floppy disk. There are at least two ways to do this, detailed below. Please contact consult@math.uic.edu if following the instructions below does not work.

First, determine which machine you are using. Type uname in an xterm and hit enter. Use the computer's response (Linux, SunOS or FreeBSD) to decide which set of instructions given below to follow.

For SunOS:

Insert your floppy disk in the floppy drive.

Start an xterm.

Type volcheck in the xterm and hit enter.

The files on your floppy will be in the folder /floppy/floppy0. Use the file manager or cd /floppy/floppy0 to view or change them.

When done, simply remove your floppy disk from the drive (using the eject command if there is no eject button) and log out.

For Linux:
  1. Insert the removable disk.
  2. Mount the removable disk's filesystem with the command given below: 
    Disk Type                       Command
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    MSDOS or linux floppy           mount /floppy
  3. The directory that you just used as an argument to the mount command will contain the files on your removable disk. For example, if you mounted an MSDOS floppy, the command ls /floppy should list the files on your floppy.
  4. When you are finished using your removable disk you must umount it to be sure that your files are correctly written to the disk. (Some of the files may be cached in the computer's memory and not yet written to disk.) Use the same directory in the "umount" command that you used in the "mount" command; e.g. if you typed mount /floppy when you mounted the removable disk, then you would type umount /floppy to unmount it.
  5. Wait for the light to go off and then pop out your floppy or zip disk.

From the Files file manager:

You should see icons in your home directory for the various types of removable media. Locate the one that matches your medium. For example, if you have an MSDOS floppy you would use the icon that is called "Floppy" and looks like a floppy disk. If you do not find any of these icons, you can create them by typing the command ~sysadmin/Scripts/linuxmounts.sh.
  1. Insert the disk.
  2. Drag the correct icon (e.g the one named "Floppy" in the case of an MSDOS floppy) to your desktop. A window should open showing the files on your removable disk. You can drag files to or from the window by using the middle button (or both buttons, if you have a 2-button mouse).
  3. When you finish using the removable disk, close ALL the windows that show files on the disk. (Be sure to check whether you have iconified one of these windows.)
  4. Wait for the light to go out, then pop out your removable disk.

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