How do I copy file(s) from/to a floppy disk? 




  



Let's say that you've been working on a file in a PC, 
and brought the file in a floppy disk to CEE UCL.
You saw a 3.5" floopy disk drive in one of 
SPARC workstations,
and instinctively pushed your floppy in the drive.
However, now you realize that you have no idea how to 
copy file(s) to/from your Unix account, or in that manner,
you have never dealt with a floppy disk from Unix before.  
Sounds familiar?


 
Here're a number of ways you can deal with a floppy disk on
a Unix platform.










	
	
	Use FTP instead of a Floppy disk
	




First of all, FTP is the most straight forward and fast way to transferring 
files between two computers.  If your your PC has an Internet 
connection either a network or thru your ISP, use FTP 
instead of transferring file(s) via a floppy disk.
Here's how to use FTP for file transfers.








	
	
	Use File Manager(s)
	




You can use various File Managers available in various 
Desktops such as KDE, Gnome, fwm, and X, i.e., "drag-and-drop."








	
	
	Use mtools commands
	




If you prefer using a command-line approach to deal with a floppy
disk, you can use "mtools" commands.  
"mtools" is a public domain collection of tools to allow  Unix systems  to  
manipulate  MS-DOS files: read, write, and move
around files on a floppy disk.  



Available "mtools" commands are;
















	mtools command
	It does


	mattrib
	Change MS-DOS file  attribute  flags.


	mbadblocks
	Scan a floppy and mark its bad blocks as bad.


	mcd
	Change the mtools working  directory on the floppy disk.


	mcopy
	Copy MS-DOS files to and from Unix.


	mdel
	delete an MS-DOS file in a floppy disk.


	mdeltree
	Delete a directory and all the files and subdirectories 
	it contains from a floppy disk.


	mdir
	Display an MS-DOS directory in the floppy disk.


	mdu
	List the space occupied by a directory, its
	subdirectories and its files in a floppy disk. 
	It is similar to the du command on Unix.


	mformat
	Format a floppy disk.


	minfo
	Print the parameters of a DOS filesystem on screen,
	such as number of sectors, heads and cylinders.


	mkmanifest
	create a shell script that aids in the  restoration
	of Unix filenames that got clobbered by the MS-DOS
	filename restrictions.  MS-DOS filenames are restricted to 8
	character names, 3 character extensions, upper case only, no
	device names, and no illegal characters.


	mlabel
	Add a volume label to a floppy disk.


	mmd
	Make an MS-DOS subdirectory in a floppy disk.


	mrd
	Remove an MS-DOS subdirectory in a floppy disk.


	mread
	list recursively


	mmove
	Move an existing MS-DOS file
	or subdirectory in a floppy disk.


	mren
	Rename an existing MS-DOS file
	or subdirectory in a floppy disk.


	mtoolstest
	Test the  mtools configuration  files.


	mtype
	Display contents of an MS-DOS file on the screen.











For more usage details, read manpage on "mtools."