Memory Depot

Floppy Disk Transfer

Floppy Disk to USB

Fairfax County Public Libraries are now able to offer you the ability to take files saved to a floppy disk and transfer them to a USB thumb drive or a DVD. The disk converter can be used at any public access computer or on your own laptop (recommended). Keep in mind that the maximum capacity the converter will recognize is a 32 GB USB Flash Drive. Please come to the Information Desk to check in and pick up the disk drive. 

Accessing your floppy disk files

This external floppy disk drive is meant for 3.5 inch diskettes only. We do not have a disk drive for the older (and floppier!) 5.25-inch floppy disks.

1. Place the floppy disk drive flat on the desktop. It is important to keep the drive level and stable.
2. Connect the drive by plugging its USB cable into one of the computer's USB ports.
3. Place your floppy disk face-up into the drive.
4. Click on This PC or My Computer. Look for the floppy disk drive icon.
5. Double click on the icon or right click on the icon and select Open. The list of files on the disk should display on the screen.

Note: The floppy disk drive will allow you to see the file names and copy them, but you will need the specific application to open the files. For example, if you have a WordPerfect file, you will be unable to open it in Microsoft Word. You may need to look online to find a conversion service to convert the files so that you can open them with your current version of the software. 

6. Copy the files on the floppy disk.
7. Plug in your USB drive.
8. Open the USB drive and paste your files.
9. Remove your floppy disk from the drive and return the equipment.