How a Cambridge Project Rescues Fading Floppy Disk Data:
Knowledge about the medium is as valuable as the content on the disk
spectrum.ieee.org/floppy-disk-data-preservation-archives
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FAA to finally ditch floppy disks in what it calls "historic" tech upgrade: FAA information display systems to be floppy-free at 435 sites by end of 2028.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/11/faa-to-finally-ditch-floppy-disks-in-what-it-calls-historic-tech-upgrade/
US FAA to eliminate floppy disks from air traffic control by 2028 — new system will centralize flight alerts, restricted airspace schedules, and pilot reports
tomshardware.com/tech-industry/us-faa-to-eliminate-floppy-disks-from-air-traffic-control-by-2028-new-system-will-centralize-flight-alerts-restricted-airspace-schedules-and-pilot-reports
Why Linux never needed defragging, while Windows relied on it for decades: Floppy disks were a major reason why.
xda-developers.com/why-linux-never-needed-defragging/
Key FactsHow floppy disks shaped FAT and Windows defragmentation
Oct 29, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
- Microsoft developed FAT in 1977 for floppy disks holding about 100 KB; tight storage shaped how it allocated data.
- When files changed, FAT could scatter data blocks; defragmentation rearranged them and sped up read access.
- Linux’s ext format, designed by Rémy Card, let data blocks grow into available space, making defragmentation unnecessary in regular use.
- Linux may still need defragmentation with little free space or many gigabyte-sized files downloaded in small, randomized chunks.
Why Linux never needed defragging, while Windows relied on it for decades: Floppy disks were a major reason why.
xda-developers.com/why-linux-never-needed-defragging/
Hideo Kojima Wanted Discs To Smell Like Blood, And Now They Can: Kojima once pitched coating floppy disks in blood-smelling paint. It was shot down. But now ...
thegamer.com/hideo-kojima-disc-blood-smell-new-technology-reality/
Windows lives on the C: drive, and the reason it's not called A: or B: goes back to the 1970s
xda-developers.com/why-your-os-runs-on-c-and-not-a-or-b/
Key FactsWhy Windows Uses C: for Its System Drive
Sep 25, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
- In the late 1970s, CP/M used A: for the first floppy drive and B: for the second.
- MS-DOS adopted this arrangement, which became standard for compatible systems during the IBM PC era.
- When hard drives appeared in the early 1980s, the first received the next available letter, C:.
- Windows retains C: mainly because of older software, backward compatibility, and decades of user familiarity.
Floppy disks, faxes, envelopes and other analog fossils that survive in Windows imagery
english.elpais.com/technology/2026-08-14/floppy-disks-faxes-envelopes-and-other-analog-fossils-that-survive-in-windows-imagery.html
Someone made a system that loads their Steam games using floppy disks, and it's pretty genius
xda-developers.com/someone-made-a-system-that-loads-their-steam-games-using-floppy-disks-and-its-pretty-genius/
Commemorative golden Doom floppy disks go up for pre-order — pair of limited edition dummy ‘imitation gold plating’ disks and a box are $30 at GameStop
tomshardware.com/video-games/retro-gaming/commemorative-golden-doom-floppy-disks-go-up-for-pre-order-pair-of-limited-edition-dummy-imitation-gold-plating-disks-and-a-box-are-usd30-at-gamestop
The floppy disk turns 54: A revolution celebrates its birthday: On June 6, 1972, IBM received the U.S. patent for the floppy disk, thereby ushering in four ...
pcgameshardware.de/Retrospektive-Thema-214694/Specials/Diskette-Floppy-Disk-Patent-1972-IBM-Geschichte-1544624/
The Floppy Disk patent was granted today in 1972 — when 80KB took up 8 inches and were really floppy
tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/the-floppy-disk-patent-was-granted-today-in-1972-when-80kb-took-up-8-inches-and-were-really-floppy
Developer turns floppy disks into secret black-and-white picture canvases — pbm2track "paints" pixel art into the disk's magnetic timing diagram
tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/developer-turns-floppy-disks-into-secret-black-and-white-picture-canvases-pbm2track-paints-pixel-art-into-the-disks-magnetic-timing-diagram
A digital dark age? The people rescuing forgotten knowledge trapped on old floppy disks
bbc.com/future/article/20251009-rescuing-knowledge-trapped-on-old-floppy-disks
Paid articlePaywall Cambridge University launches project to rescue data trapped on old floppy disks: On October 9, Cambridge University Library opened its doors to anyone with an ...
tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/cambridge-university-rescues-data-from-old-floppy-disks
FAA finally replacing floppy disks and Windows 95 in air traffic control systems: The whole idea is to replace the system. No more floppy disks or paper strips ...
techspot.com/news/108229-faa-finally-replacing-floppy-disks-windows-95-air.html
'No more floppy disks': Air traffic control overhaul faces some daunting obstacles
npr.org/2025/06/06/nx-s1-5424682/air-traffic-control-overhaul
Yes, you can still use floppy disks with Windows 11! Here's how: If you need to, it's entirely possible to read and write to floppy disks with a modern PC ...
pcworld.com/article/2589085/yes-you-can-still-use-floppy-disks-with-windows-11-heres-how.html
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