Need to retrieve files from a very old 8088 PC.

[Meadowlark]

Years ago I used an 8088 PC to do my college work and now I'd like to retrieve all the docs and upload to my current PC. The docs were created using PFWrite software so I think the files need to be saved in .txt format before they can be transferred to another media. My 8088 has only one 5 1/4" floppy drive but does not have a second 3 1/2" drive.

Maybe this is as simple as finding some old 5 1/4" floppies, and saving the files in .txt format. Then finding another old computer that has both 5 1/4" and 3 1/2" drives to transfer the .txt files from the 5 1/4" floppy to the 3 1/2" floppy.

I'd appreciate any feedback or other ideas as to how I can do all this.

8088 Specs:
640mb
30mb hard drive
1 floppy drive - 5 1/4"

Thank you.

Deb

[Rootstonian]

Well, first off, congrats if that old 8088 even powers up and runs!

Secondly..PFWrite? Wow, that brings back some memories , but I googled it a bunch and coulndn't find a decent link. LOL

Yeah, this is tough. I would, as a first step, get them transferred to .txt (if you even can!) to the floppy drive. If not, at least save them in PFWrite native format. You almost might have to build a pc from scratch that you can toss in a 5" floppy drive. At that point, you could go from the floppy to a USB drive.

Alternatively (harder probably) is if you had a printer for that old 8088...print the docs off and scan them into PDF files!

Good luck...keep me posted as I'm of the age that my first computer was an IBM PC jr (I couldn't afford the IBM PC 8088 back in '79...it was over $3,000!!!). I'm a programmer now and may (and that's a big MAY, be able to convert native PFWrite data file to .txt). I would just have to find out how PFWrite stored it's native files Fun Stuff!!

[Meadowlark]

Thanks for the feedback, Rootstonian! And, yes, the old thing still powers up and runs quite well. In fact, if I do an "alt -" it "cranks" from 4mhz to 10mghz into "turbo" mode!!! Totally impressive, don't you think??? Plus a light turns on in turbo mode!!!! Awesome!

I, too, googled PFWrite with lackluster results. Oh well.

I have considered the print and scan to .pdf solution but, ugh, I really dread doing so. Would you believe I have the original printer, purchased at the same time I bought the 8088, an Epson LX800 with tractors for the continuous forms plus all the bells and whistles available at that time . Total price in 1987 for 8088 PC plus Epson printer plus tax = $1706.60.

Ah, yes...the good ol' days. I first wrote programs using 80 column cards starting around 1965 using old, original RPG for an IBM "mainframe". I believe it was a System 360/20...but, alas, my memory is just not quite as good as it used to be. I also wrote RPGII for an IBM System III using 96 column cards! I could go on....too many details and too many systems that I can't even remember them all.

I'll let you know how this all plays out....I just might have to do a "build from scratch" to house both the 5.25" floppy drive and the 3.5 floppy drive. Woe is me

[Rootstonian]

You could look at doing a serial or parallel port transfer. I used to use a null modem cable and do serial file tranfers all the time.

[Steve R Jones]

It'd be easier to add a 3½ drive to the old beast then getting a 5¼ to work in a newer machine.

[Big_Daddy]

Couldn't you just plug in a USB drive?

Oh I kill myself. I had a Swan XT-10 at one time.

I would unplug the 5 1/4 and plug in the 3.5. Good luck getting that 30mb drive to spin up. We have an XT at work and the drive is toast.

[Theophylact]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve R Jones

It'd be easier to add a 3½ drive to the old beast then getting a 5¼ to work in a newer machine.

If it's old enough, the BIOS may support only a 720K 3.5" drive. I think a Laplink parallel cable may be your best bet.

[Theophylact]

If you have an external serial modem, you can do an FTP file transfer.

[PoonDoggy]

Why not add the the old HDD as a slave to your new PC and transfer documents from the old to the new?

I have done that to a 1 gig HDD to my Vista PC and it worked flawlessly.