Creating Software Installation Floppy Disks in Windows 10

[Phil.c]

I had a quick read of the setup, apparently all the d8b HD is erased when transfering files?

[arjepsen]

Do you mean when installing?

When you install the OS, you can have the installation format the harddrive first - thus deleting everything.
When I made the images I chose this option, because I experienced trouble when I hadn't formatted first.
However, it still is an option you can choose yes or no to, during the installation.

If you're talking about the images I made for the CF cards - then yes, when you write the image to the cards, everything on there will be deleted.

[Phil.c]

Still not received the drive but a bit confused, I have the program downloaded to a stick, when the stick is inserted into the d8b, the HD files are transfered to it?

[arjepsen]

I assume you are talking about the floppy emulator drive, right?

You download the software to a computer, and use the software both to format/partition a usb stick, and also to write the installation images to the various partitions.

If you are trying to do a backup of your d8b HD, that is possible. You still have to format the usb stick with the software first.
Then you start the d8b, insert the usb stick in the drive, choose the partition number you wish, and then the computer sees it as any other floppy disk.

Did that help, or am I just making you more confused??

[Phil.c]

That helps thanks, basically all I need the floppy for is to save D8b projects, but it would be handy if v5.1 etc where on it in case it has to be re-loaded at sometime!

[arjepsen]

Since there's about 100 partitions on there, you could easily just put the installation images on partition 10,11,12 etc.
(if you've read through the guide I made, there should be a link to the images for the installation disk, including the plugins).
and then use the first 10 partitions (or maybe no more than just the first for backups.

Personally though, I do think the CF route is easier.
With that, you can just simply take the card to your pc (with a cf reader), and copy the files you wish.
(with the floppy emulator drive, you still need the ipcas software to read the different partitions.)
Re-installation also get's easier with the cf card - when you just have an image of the finished installation you like, including the templates you might wish to use.

Anyway, happy to help

[Phil.c]

Thanks, I'll have a better idea when it's plugged in.