# Need to copy a floppy "master" **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [October 5, 2009, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432 "2009-10-05T08:22:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/1 "2009-10-05T08:22:16Z")
I have a 3.5" floppy master disk for some software that is a PITA. I had a disk go bad and get replaced my the manf. but I want to make a copy of it for safe keeping so that I can avoid such delays in the future. The entire purpose of the floppy is copy protection, so what software would be best to duplicate it? I found a copy of “copyQM” but I have not tried it yet. Anything that might be better for this? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/2 "2009-10-05T08:30:04Z")
What software is it? Is it a key disk or does the disk use a method of changing the address marks? ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/3 "2009-10-05T08:40:37Z")
The disk holds the license file and transfers/removes it from one PC so you can put it on another. Its Allen badley software. I’m trying copyqm now… Silly dos programs. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/4 "2009-10-05T08:53:27Z")
nope… apparently copyQM does not see the disc. ---
**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 9:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/5 "2009-10-05T09:35:46Z")
Do you want me to order you one? I am an Allen Bradley distributor. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/6 "2009-10-05T10:00:59Z")
I can get free replacements when they go bad, but I would rather have an extra stashed away in my desk if I need it. ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 11:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/7 "2009-10-05T11:37:07Z")
[quote=“drvnkd,post:6,topic:74432"”] I can get free replacements when they go bad, but I would rather have an extra stashed away in my desk if I need it. [/quote] I would be more worried about finding another computer with a floppy drive if that goes bad. I haven’t seen a computer with one in years. What can you put on a 1.5 MB drive now anyways? :lol: ![http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/1501131768_d0a1da189a.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/6/7/67b8ebf25e4f9cecd7ca1c063aa8875bb49d2011.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![\_Karu](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/_karu/32/7602_2.png) [@\_Karu](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/_Karu)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 11:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/8 "2009-10-05T11:40:53Z")
you can try DOS command called “diskcopy.” it’s pretty low level, so, it might work. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/9 "2009-10-05T12:28:07Z")
I had to steal… I mean borrow Fry’s usb floppy for my shenangans. Any other software that might let me make an image of the drive? ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/10 "2009-10-05T12:37:31Z")
Ya create a direct bit copy of the floppy. You can do it with CDs and I am sure you can do it with a floppy. This way you can keep the image on your PC and make a new floppy when needed. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/11 "2009-10-05T12:39:05Z")
And how might one do that? ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/12 "2009-10-05T13:05:31Z")
I’ve always done it in Linux and its: dd if=/dev/fd0 of=somefile.img Would need to research how to do it in Windows. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/13 "2009-10-05T13:26:04Z")
can I do it with Knoppix? ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/14 "2009-10-05T13:31:51Z")
Ya. If you load up the linux live cd just open a terminal as root and run it. Point the “if” to the device of your floppy drive and then point “of” to where you want the image. Post the results becuase I am interested if it will copy it bit for bit which should catch the file system bit key changes. ---
**Author:** ![Muckman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@Muckman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Muckman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/15 "2009-10-05T18:00:26Z")
I used to use WinImage to make an disk images. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-to-copy-a-floppy-master/74432/16 "2009-10-06T06:25:23Z")
I was going to try winimage, but I the site is blocked @ work ☹