How to create a floppy disk image in Virtual PC 2004 (834311)

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to create a floppy disk image in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004.

You can use floppy disk images as if they were 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, and then on the File menu, click Virtual Disk Wizard.
In the Welcome to the Virtual Disk Wizard page, click Next.
On the Disk Options page, click Create a new virtual disk, and then click Next.
On the Virtual Disk Type page, click A virtual floppy disk, and then click Next.
On the Virtual floppy disk options page, in the Name and location box, type the folder path that you want to use for the floppy disk image, and a name for the new floppy disk image file. For example, type C:\Folder_name\File_name

Or, you can click Browse, and then locate the folder.
In the Type area, click either 1.44 megabyte (high density) or 720 kilobyte (low density). Typically, high-density disks are used.
Click Next, and then on the Completing the Virtual Disk Wizard page, click Finish.
When you receive the "The virtual disk was created successfully" message, click Close.

Note Virtual PC can mount any flat-file representation of a floppy disk. Many popular Windows tools 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 720KBor 1.44 MB.