Copy That Floppy: A Cambridge Guide to Preserving Data from Fragile Disks

Copy That Floppy – Cambridge guide for preserving data from fragile floppy disks

I created this guide to help practitioners image 8-inch, 5.25-inch, 3.5-inch, and 3-inch floppy disks for long-term preservation. Drawing on expert interviews and workshops from the Future Nostalgia project, I outline how to identify carriers, acquire compatible hardware, and clean damaged media. My focus is on creating accurate disk images rather than just extracting files, ensuring these fragile digital artifacts survive for future generations.

"Regional differences will be present and will affect the hardware and possible software needed to image and analyse disks."