disk imaging

[Gueguen, Gretchen (gmg2n)]

A question for anyone with more experience in disk imaging than me:

 

I’m imaging some rather old 3.5” floppy disks (late-80s to early 90s) using FTK Imager. A handful of them do not have a recognized file system. Imager can successfully create an image, but the data in the image is completely blank (the hex file just shows all zeros).

 

Am I correct in thinking then that these disks have been corrupted or wiped? Even though my operating system can’t recognize a file system, the imaging software should still image whatever data is still there (if there is any), correct? Or should I be using some other method to image these disks?

 

Thanks,

 

Gretchen Gueguen

Digital Archivist

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library

University of Virginia

PO Box 400110

Charlottesville, VA 22904

(434) 924-4073

 

[Mark A. Matienzo]

Hi Gretchen,

On Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 2:21 PM, Gueguen, Gretchen (gmg2n)
<gm...@eservices.virginia.edu> wrote:

> I’m imaging some rather old 3.5” floppy disks (late-80s to early 90s) using
> FTK Imager. A handful of them do not have a recognized file system. Imager
> can successfully create an image, but the data in the image is completely
> blank (the hex file just shows all zeros).
>
> Am I correct in thinking then that these disks have been corrupted or wiped?
> Even though my operating system can’t recognize a file system, the imaging
> software should still image whatever data is still there (if there is any),
> correct? Or should I be using some other method to image these disks?

If I recall correctly, FTK Imager ultimately relies on the controller
for the floppy drive to assist with interpreting the information on
the media. If you're using a USB floppy drive, it may be able to image
the disk "successfully."

I'd try imaging the disk using another solution (i.e. Catweasel,
KryoFlux, etc.) and see what you've got.

Mark

--
Mark A. Matienzo
Digital Archivist, Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library
Technical Architect, ArchivesSpace

[Kam Woods]

Slightly OT but if you're not currently a KryoFlux user (or dislike
closed hardware solutions) there's a new(er) open source project,
DiskFerret, that appears to be ramping up for distribution this
summer. Hardware, firmware, software all available via the project
page http://discferret.com/wiki/DiscFerret

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[Gueguen, Gretchen (gmg2n)]

It is an external 3.5 to USB drive...but I do have a catweasel card that is currently not in use. I'll see if I can dig up another drive and connect with that. Thanks Mark.

And thanks Kam for the reminder about DiscFerret, I haven't looked at it in a while...

-Gretchen