3 ms·
The Windows 10 ISO is ~3.5 GB in size, and a standard 3.5 in. floppy could hold 1.44 MB. So you'd actually need almost 2500 floppies.
by 10000truths 5y ago
The Windows 10 ISO is ~3.5 GB in size, and a standard 3.5 in. floppy could hold 1.44 MB. So you'd actually need almost 2500 floppies.
- consp 5y agoThe Windows install floppy disks almost always came on DMF formatted disks which hold 1.68mb of data. That saves you about 350 floppies. Fyi: that is as far as I know the reason for most oldy cab installation files being that size.
- jasomill 5y agoFor the sake of science: Microsoft historically used the 21 512 byte sector, 80 track, double-sided DMF format for 3 1/2" Windows installation media, yielding 1,720,320 bytes per floppy. Assuming this format, floppy requirements for the four Windows 10 21H1 variants currently on MSDN are x64 Consumer (Home/Pro): 3,398 floppies x64 Business (Enterprise/Education): 3,323 floppies x86 Consumer: 2,416 floppies x86 Business: 2,361 floppies Assuming the "1.44 MB" (18 512 byte sector, 80 track, double-sided) format, you'd need x64 Consumer: 3,965 floppies x64 Business: 3,876 floppies x86 Consumer: 2,819 floppies x86 Business: 2,755 floppies In this case, assuming the most popular (x64) platform, you'd actually need closer to 4,000 floppies. Assuming ideal 500 kbit/sec performance and two seconds per disk swap, reading 4,000 "1.44 MB" floppies (or DMF floppies with equivalent data) would take just under 28 1/2 hours. So you could easily install any Windows 10 21H1 version from floppies in the course of a single work week, with enough time left over, perhaps, to check Windows Update over a 56 kbps modem (though you'd probably need the weekend, at least, to actually download the updates).
- HPsquared 5y agoThe random seek time would be brutal though.