Can I image an OLD computer running MS-DOS 4.0
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 10:48 pm
I searched a bit, but didn't see a forum posting on this subject. Forgive me if I missed it.
Been user of IFW/IFL for a decade on my Windows & Linux boxes, but I have a head scratcher.
I have an old, OLD 386SX with two 5.25" floppy drives, parallel port and 9 Pin RS-232 port and VGA that ran MS-DOS 4.0 when I mothballed it decades ago. Hard drive is ancient MFM/RLL unit. My kids want me to fire it up for nostalgia. Everything worked fine when I "put to pasture" years ago.
My question:
Assuming it works and I can get it to boot, are there any methods for making a "safety" image of the existing hard drive maybe using IFD? I'm anticipating the kids will accidentally trash it by accident.
I could also use the default MS-DOS backup/restore IF I had a stack of good 5.25" floppy disks, but that isn't a real choice anymore. Hard Drive capacity is roughly 100 MB (remember when that was considered BIG??)
Even if I installed a RS-232 to USB adapter, the BIOS & MS-DOS won't boot IFD/IFW from Serial Ports.
Been user of IFW/IFL for a decade on my Windows & Linux boxes, but I have a head scratcher.
I have an old, OLD 386SX with two 5.25" floppy drives, parallel port and 9 Pin RS-232 port and VGA that ran MS-DOS 4.0 when I mothballed it decades ago. Hard drive is ancient MFM/RLL unit. My kids want me to fire it up for nostalgia. Everything worked fine when I "put to pasture" years ago.
My question:
Assuming it works and I can get it to boot, are there any methods for making a "safety" image of the existing hard drive maybe using IFD? I'm anticipating the kids will accidentally trash it by accident.
I could also use the default MS-DOS backup/restore IF I had a stack of good 5.25" floppy disks, but that isn't a real choice anymore. Hard Drive capacity is roughly 100 MB (remember when that was considered BIG??)
Even if I installed a RS-232 to USB adapter, the BIOS & MS-DOS won't boot IFD/IFW from Serial Ports.