An inverse mechanism translates the stored data back into an encoded signal when the data is read. On a write, a hardware PLL or a software-based filter component undoes the encoding, and stores the sector data as logically written by the host. Emulators can also be used as a higher-performance replacement for mechanical floppy disk drives.Ī typical floppy disk controller sends an MFM / FM / GCR encoded signal to the drive to write data, and expects a similar signal returned when reading the drive. An alternative is to use a floppy disk hardware emulator, a device which appears to be a standard floppy drive to the old equipment by interfacing directly to the floppy disk controller, while storing data in another medium such as a USB thumb drive, Secure Digital card, or a shared drive on a computer network. Floppy disks themselves are fragile, or may need to be replaced often. įloppy disks and floppy drives are gradually going out of production, and replacement of malfunctioning drives, and the systems hosting them, is becoming increasingly difficult. Proper operation may require operating system, software and data to be read and written from and to floppies, forcing users to maintain floppy drives on supporting systems. Older equipment may be difficult to replace or upgrade because of cost, requirement for continuous availability or unavailable upgrades. Older models of computers, electronic keyboards and industrial automation often used floppy disk drives for data transfer. The front of an emulator, showing the USB data exchange port.Ī floppy disk hardware emulator or semi-virtual diskette (SVD) is a device that emulates a floppy disk drive with a solid state or network storage device that is plug compatible with the drive it replaces, similar to how solid-state drives replace mechanical hard disk drives.
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