summary copying files

[York County Hospital]

As requested by subscribers here is a compilation of responses received for
the query on how to copy files larger that 1.4 megabytes from hard drive to
1.4 megabyte floppy disk:

- zip your file.  That compresses the data and enables you to store more
information on the same amount of space.  You can use Winzip or Pkzip to do
this

- use windows 95 (or Windows 3.1 etc) backup program or buy one of several
other backup utilities or create double-space (or drivespace) floppies,
and/or compress the file before copying using programs like Pkzip
(available for downloading on the Web

- depending on the size of the files you could either compress them with
something like WinZip or split them across several diskettes with
FileSplit.  Both these shareware apps can be found at http://www.download.com

- zip the files using Pkzip or any other shareware, freeware program.
There was also a tool called "Splice" that  I have used for several years
that does not compress files.  I don't know if it's still available for
downloading anywhere...  (try http://www.shareware.com)

- you still need a utility called Pkzip or Winzip.  This will allow you to
compress the file so that it will fit on the disk or allow you to save it
across multiple disks

- use a compression utility program such as Pkzip or WinZip (download at
http://www.tucows.phoenix.net

- try Winzip at http://www.winzip.com  (a compression program that allows
disk spanning, backing up files larger than 1.4M on multiple floppies)

- if you still have a little DOS partition on your source and destination
computers I have an old solution for you.  To transfer large files its
better to wire them with 3 cables: TxD, RxD and Ground.  But it is not
possible to make an inter-host compatible copy on floppy with data greater
than those1.44MB

- if the hard drive computer is a unix machine you can use the "split"
command to divide the files in parts <1.4 MB and to reunite the parts on
the PC you use the copy ... + ... command.  If you have at least access to
a unix computer you can copy the large file by ftp (binary) to that machine
and "split" it there

- if you can decode the attachment it's a set of Zipping programs that can
be used to compress and decompress files.  There's a windows version,
winzip but these are the original DOS file crunchers.  Put the file in your
root directory and execute it; it will produce a set of EXE files including
PKzip and PKunzip.  To shrink a file called MYFILE.TXT onto the a: disk you
would say PKZIP A:MYZIP C:\MYFILE.TXT and get a file on the a: drive called
MYZIP.ZIP.  To use the zip file you have to put it back on a hard drive and
PKUNZIP MYZIP C:\DIRECTORY.  PKzip is shareware but worth the $ - see if it
or WinZIP is what you need.

- File Splitter is a very useful utility for anyone who frequently needs to
copy large files or programs onto floppy disks.  The program offers a fast
and accurate method of dividing large files into smaller more manageable
file sizes that you can copy to floppy disks.  In use, you need only select
the specific file to be split and specify the number of pieces you desire.
The program then divides the file into sections you indicated.  A
reassemble option permits you to rejoin divided files to recreate the
original, large file or program.  File Splitter will allow you to divide
any file into up to as many as 99 separate sections.  This version is a
maintenance update that adds an automatic reassembly feature and a disk
space checker.  It is a shareware, free to try, $6.95.  If you decide to
keep it requirements Windows 95.  URL
http://www6.zdnet.com/cgi-bin/texis/swlib/hotfiles/info.html?link=1&fcode=00
0FMV

- Stuffit for MAC can split and rejoin files quite well.  Also the files
compressed to begin with?  If not you probably can compress them and then
transfer them to floppies

- Two ways: compress the file down to under 1.44Mg using WinZip or some
other similar program.  Split the file into separate less-than-1.44Mg
"sub"-files and copy each of those onto separate floppies.

- There are also utilities that allow you to format floppies greater than
1.44MB. One that I know of is the SAB Diskette Utility available through
ZDNet's Software Library.  There are others around too.  Using a
combination of zip files and these super-formated diskettes, you can fit
quite a lot.

Thanks to:

Jerry Kuntz, Jacques Presseault, Gilles Poitras,Anand T B, Stephen Hooley,
Dena Lahue,  Charles Anderson, Mark Ellis,  Linda Woods Hyman, Glen Davies,
Elisa Miller, Alan Withoff,, Werner Schultheiss, Johannes Stegmann    








kathy dedrick
york county  hospital
health sciences library
newmarket,ontario
ych at ican.net