Removable Disk Storage

Removable disk storage had many uses: backup of some other storage,
moving files between computers, distribution of software, a bootable disk.
This last use could be a rescue disk. When a computer is powered on
the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) in ROM (Read Only Memory) on the
mother board takes control and tries to boot an operating system.

Until quite recently it first tried the floppy disk drive, then the CD ROM,
and finally the hard disk drive. Trying in this order meant that if a computer
failed to boot from the hard drive, a rescue disk could be inserted in the floppy
or CD drive.

The Newcastle collection is by no means comprehensive
and these are just a selection of eight of what we have.

Click on a thumbnail to see more.

8inch floppy 8 inch floppy disk.
1977 237KByte.

5inch floppy 5 inch floppy disk.
1983 800 KByte.

3.5inch floppy 3.5 inch floppy disk.
1995 1.44MByte.

3.5inch super disk 3.5 inch LS120 Super disk
1995 120MByte.

Zip Drive 3.5 inch floppy disk.
1994 250MByte.

EZDrive 3.5 inch EZDrive.
1995 135MByte.

removable hard disk 3.5 inch optical disk.
1996 640MByte.

1.3GB removable disk 3.5 inch optical disk.
1999 1.3GByte.

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