How to create a floppy disk image in Virtual PC for Windows versions 4.0 to 5.2 (825098)

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to create a floppy disk image in Virtual PC, versions 4.0 to 5.2.

You can use floppy disk images as if they are physical 3.5-inch disks in 3.5-inch disk drives. In some Windows programs, you must insert a 3.5-inch disk into the A drive while you install or use the program. Although you may be able to use a physical 3.5-inch disk, there are some situations where you must use a floppy disk image. For example, you use a laptop computer that does not have a 3.5-inch disk drive, but you must use a 3.5-inch disk.

MORE INFORMATION

To create a floppy disk image in Virtual PC, follow these steps:

Start Virtual PC, click File, and then click Virtual Disk Wizard.
On the Welcome to the Virtual Disk Wizard page, click Next.
On the Select Operation page, click Create new floppy or hard disk image, and then click Next.
On the Select New Disk Type page, click Create floppy disk image, and then click Next.
On the New floppy disk page, in the Disk image location box, type the folder path that you want to use for the floppy disk image. Alternatively, you can click Browse, and then locate the folder.
In the Floppy disk type area, click either Low density (720k) or High density (1.44MB). Typically, high-density disks are used.
Click Next, and then on the Floppy Disk Creation Summary page, click Finish.
When you receive the "The disk was created successfully" message, click Close.

Note Virtual PC can mount any flat-file representation of a floppy disk. Many popular Windows utilities can create such images. However, make sure that you turn off any compression features. Virtual PC only works with floppy image files that are exactly 720 KB or 1.44 MB.