How Can I Read Smith Corona PWP Diskettes on E Monster 550r Computer

the problem is the HP, the Mac and the Smith Corona use three different opetrating systems,

scanning the SC files on anyhing may not be possible if there is no standard disk file protocol you can use.

In the same way that PC and Mac disks cannot be read on each other(older Macs...newer ones can do it) you may find nothing will read the SC files.

Various places do this for a fee.

Look at these and see if there is anything you can use.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22smith+corona%22+%2B%22file+conversion%22&btnG=Google+Search

Quikview is a cross platform, cross browser free software allowing view and print of otherwise inaccessible files

They offer a free trial, if it can read your diskettes it may work.???

http://www.avantstar.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/word_files/quickviewplus9formats.pdf

Another, longer way, as you have a paper copy is to scan and OCR (Optical Character Recognition) the pages. This would require a scanner and some software. Some scanners have a document feeder which will make the task less daunting.

I have done this with success.

Tony

I presume you meant a G4 Mac. Unfortunately, that is too new for my suggestion, since the G4 does not have a serial port.

With a computer that is old enough to have a serial port, and assuming the Smith-Corona is still working and could print to a serial printer (which may not be the case, since the S-C is probably its own printer), it is possible to make one old computer print the file, and have the other computer load the file as if it were coming from a modem. This may require a custom cable, and its been 15 or 20 years since I actually did it, so there are details that I have undoubtedly forgotten.

In case all else fails:

I had nearly the same problem a few years ago (1998), and although had no digital way to retrieve my writing, I still had a version of it on print. I resorted to scanning the printed pages to Black and white tiff format, then passed the lot with an OCR (Optical Character Recognition - in my case named "Cambridge") software, and following some light edition, I had the whole lot in digital form (MS Word, and rtf) ready for DTP.

Transcendian,

Here's an FAQ from the Smith-Corona Website:

Is the information on my personal word processor diskette computer compatible?

Some Smith Corona personal word processors diskettes are computer compatible. These are usually the ones that use the standard 3.5 inch diskette. If the Smith Corona personal word processor uses the 2.8 inch diskette, the files are not computer compatible. This data was saved in a proprietary language and must be converted in order to use with a computer. You may want to contact Pivar Computing Services, Inc. at 1-800-266-8378 for data conversion. If you have a specific question concerning PWP data compatibility with computers, please call the toll free number at 1-800-448-1018 and have your PWP model number ready.

I assume you can open the files that were converted on the PWP to ASCII, but not others. If you don't have access to the original machine, I bet you can find one on Ebay that would read your files, and then you can convert them to ASCII for your Windows or Mac machines. I'd be willing to bet it would be cheaper to buy one on Ebay, than to have a data recovery business convert the files for you. And, as others have mentioned, as long as you have it on paper, there is always scanning and OCR, but if your talking about hundreds of pages, I'd be working real hard to get the files into a format that can be read. Good luck, keep us posted.

Tom

Thanks. Last I tried one computer could read the ASCII formatted discs. I had considered the option of finding an old 9050 and formatting as I ought to have done for all of the work in the first place. I ought to have checked the Smith Corona site as well. Some years ago I saw some SC word processors in a pawn shop for 50 bucks, and I kick myself for not buying one. I remember I neglected the transfer to the ASCII because when I printed out all my bold type was dropped, not completely, it just wasn't bold anymore.

I have just done this on my pc (running XP) with my old college work, the software you need is on a Smith Corona PWP Utility Disk, the file is called "sconvert" (msdos program). -It will put the files in to wordperfect format, which can be read on Word, not sure how that works for a Mac. Hope this will help you locate it if you've not sorted this out yet.

I have my utilities disk but I cannot read the files on XP It loads the software onto the hard drive but will not read the files-any suggestions?

folkyfil

Is your xp using FAT ? file system?

folkyfil

I did the same thing. Had to do each .pwp "document" individually , but the convert to Wordperfect option created a document which I was then able to open and save in Word.

I too have had some interest in this. I was able fo find the utility disk for my Smith Corona word processor. I copied it to a file on my hard drive and would be happy to email you the file.

I finally found my utility disk...but I'm unable to copy one file from the disk...and it just happens to be Wconvert.exe which is the needed file to convert. If someone does have this i'd love to get a copy. I do have the Lconver.exe which does spreadsheets, just don't have wconvert.exe.

Please help :)

Piece Of Cake.

You can download the file right here:

http://www.avisys.net/fixedexes.htm

It was just a little matter of googling for: "download Wconvert.exe"

It came out top-second

Thank Yuval, I found that too in my searching. Unfortunatly that's no it.

That's some program dev'd to convert DOS ver files that someone just happened to name wconvert.exe. I'm scoured everywhere trying to find the "Smith Corona PWP Utility Disk" specifically for the 5500Plus and PWP 6000Plus to no avail.

I have the PWP utility disk and I have copied it to my hardrive as a file. It includes the wconvert.exe. I would be happy to email this as an attachment. I have used it to convert my pwp files to word and it also works with microsoft works program as well. The utility disk that I copied to my hard drive indicates it is for PWP 4400Plus, 4500Plus and 5000Plus.

Regards,

Bill

That would be great if you could Bill!

you can shoot it over to prizzt@hotmail.com if you would be so kind. Hopefully that version will work for mine as well

I just emailed the wconvert.exe file. I have all the other files from the utility disk on my hardrive as well if you need them.

Bill

Sorry for the delayed response...work has been hectic as of late. I did recieve the mail but the attachment was blocked because it was an exe. Could you renambe to Wconvert.bill or something and resend?

Thank you much!
Matthew

You should be able to change the extension yourself, and avoid having to resend the file.

Unfortunately, you can't unblock a blocked attachment after it's been sent in hotmail. Once it's blocked they actually nuke the attachment and just tells you what it did block.

Got it!

Glad I don't use HotMail!

Thanks

Dick

Gmail for instance, won't let you attach programs even if you wrap them in *.zip or *.rar or whatever. I don't know why. I think it's done to discourage people from sending packages heavier than 10 Mb

This may be a long shot, but if you still have those files, I could use all of the files from the Utility disk as I've got no idea what happened to mine (probably it went with the word processor). If you could zip them up and send them to nate.baxley+PWP@gmail.com, I'd be really appreciative.

Thanks,

Nate Baxley

I just finished emailing these files to you using my outlook email. (willcline64@suddenlink.net) I had problems with using hotmail to email these before.

Regards,

Bill

Hi Bill. Sorry for joining this thread late, but I too have rescued SC PWP files from old disks with no way to convert the. Would you still be offering those utilities as an email attachment? If so, might I request them from you? I have several old stories and college papers I'd like to reread or review.

My email address is kevin.provance@gmail.com

Thank you for your kindness.

- Kev

Kevin,

I don't know about Bill. I sent my info and both SCONVERT.EXE and WCONVERT.EXE as well as my Word converter (VBA) macro by direct email. I included some additional info I still have.

--

73, Steve, K9DCI USN (Vet) MOT (Ret) Ham (Yet)

--

I served during the cold war, so you can continue to be served a cold one.

More Details, Features and Downloads at:

http://k9dci.home.comcast.net/

Hi Bill, Is it possible for you to email me a copy of this program? I have a GMail accout so perhaps you could change the extension to something like .txt?

Many thanks.

email address is colinjtate@gmail.com

Could you send me a copy also. Sure would appreciate it. email address wafaneri@gmail.com

Bill could you send a copy of these file to me..

ericschmock@yahoo.com

Thanks Eric

Hi Bill.

If you still have these utilities on your hard disc and you are willing to e-mail these over the pond, I should be most appreciative.

Thanks in advance !

Yes , I still have these and would be happy to email them to you.

Bill

Hi Bill

Wonderful ! My e-mail addy is thebbg@beguidedby.me.uk

Thanks in advance !

Greville

Hello Will,

I have the same problem you had. I cannot find the disc that came with my Smith Corona 5450 P.W.P. and I have over 350 discs loaded with stories, articles and so on that I wrote over the years. If you could send me the file for conversion, I would be eternally grateful as it would be a tedious, expensive process to convert them any other way.

Thanx.

Ken at Erin-Go-Braugh33@twcny.rr.com

Please email me the info. I have some 3.5 Smith Corona disks and I'm very frustrated.

I'd be happy to send you the information that was mailed to me.

However, unless your P.W.P. supports (converts) pwp files to word files, you cannot read them.

I have found that if I convert the original files to ASCI files and then read them in ABI-word, I can get almost 100% readability.

Ken Leigh

What are you guys using to mount the disks? I have some old disks from a PWP System 14 (3 1/2 floppy's) and I've tried everything I have here to mount them (XP laptop, Mac OS X laptop, old Mac OS 9 desktop) Is there anything that can read the Smith Corona formatted disks? Thanks.

To all,

Going back to the original subject, can anybody here tell me can these disks be read - or rather, does anyone here have a working Smith Corona to read these things? I *think* I have a 1990 interview I did with Barack Obama on one (I'm a journalist, in fact, the first to put him on TV, when he was at Harvarad Law) and it's killing me that I don't have a transcript. But I think it's on one of these crazy disks. Anyone?

By any chance does anyone still have that Utility Program? I'll check back on this thread if by any chance you do. my e-mail is prometheus1757 at aol . com any information you have would be greatly appreciated. My father just found a number of disks that my grandfather typed up of our family history and we wish to get them converted, but the PWP 14 we have just isn't working any longer.

Thanks.

I have the utility disk. I have not been able to email the files. I would be happy to mail a copy on a floppy or CD

Bill

Bill,

If you can make a copy of the Utility disk Could you please Mail it to Me ??

Eric Schmock

1699 Husted Av

San Jose, ca 95124

Tks

Hi folks -- new member, and I found this forum while looking for a way to get my data off of several 2.8" SC disks after I discovered that my PWP-7's drive had stopped functioning. I dissembled the drive and found that the drive band had disintegrated, and I'm currently trying to get it working again (without a lot of success). I did contact Pivar services, and they will do the conversions, but it's expensive. $32 plus $2 handling for each disk if you're doing 6 or more, plus media, plus shipping, etc. So it would cost me around 300 bucks for my disks. But I can find old printers for cheaper than that IF their drives still work...ugh. I'm really hoping someone figured out how to get these disks read into a normal system -- from there it sounds pretty manageable to get them converted to wordperfect format. So hopefully a bump and maybe someone has made progress? If I get any new leads, I'll surely post them back here! Cheers all! Jeff

Is this an indexed drive band, with a stepper motor on it, for the heads? or a large rubber bank to turn the diskette?

In that case you may be able to create the proper sized band by carefully cutting a section from a large bicycle tube. To expand the size, cut at an angle, so it cuts a larger ellipse. Any bike repair shop will be tossing out old tubes that will be suited to your task. Or just use a rubber band.

http://cgi.ebay.com.my/Floppy-drive-Belts-Matsushita-SY85-MDF2-PSR-SQ16-KORG_W0QQitemZ160368805133QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Pro_Audio_Synthesisers_CV?hash=item2556b9c50d&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com.my/YAMAHA-SY99-SY77-SY85-Floppy-drive-belts-Mitsumi_W0QQitemZ140350304311QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Pro_Audio_Synthesisers_CV?hash=item20ad87b037&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

The indexing type are harder to deal with this way.

here are 3100 hits from google.

http://www.google.ca/#hl=en&source=hp&q=%22floppy+drive%22+%2B%22drive+belt%22&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=%22floppy+drive%22+%2B%22drive+belt%22&fp=11da210b3e3653dd

I never thought of an innertube -- nice! I've got a rubber band on there now, but after reassembly, I'm getting no motion at all. Before this switch, I could hear the motor moving, but not engaging the spindle. Now nothing -- I may have misaligned the gear wheels when I put it back together. I took a few pics, and will link them when I have a chance, and hopefully when I've got it moving again :-)

does the motor spin with no rubber band? Tension might be too great?,

or is the motor broken?

Can anyone post those Utilities (zipped) to a website or something and then post a link?

It may have been the tension -- there's also a chance the rubber band was wide enough to get jammed under the plate that held the wheel in place; I also am pretty sure the power circuitry for the whole typewriter fried and I stopped getting any response from anything. In the end, I gave up. I found a thread about a guy who kept at it until he solved the broken drive problem to salvage a friend's disks -- he wrote up a very detailed account of the adventure. And what he found was that the disks, while in good physical condition, had no recoverable data -- data rot, he called it. And those disks were (a) better cared for, and (b) about half as old as mine. So I dug through my paper files and determined I had, at least, representative works from every class that correlated with the disks, and then I pitched the disks. I read some of my college stuff again, and realized most of it was crap anyway hahahaha

If anyone wants the parts of the drive (or the rest of the typewriter, for that matter -- I dissembled most of it), feel free to email me at account name youhavespam and the host is yahoo (dot com) (it's a real address).

Good luck all!

jh

Hello, name is Angel. I own a Smith Corona Personal Word Processor 9500 NT. I can convert PWP files to ASC. I may be able to help you. Blog back!

I understand, have a similar problem. My 4150 Smith Corona PWP uses 2DD (double density discs) 720's the same size and shape as 2HD 3 1/2 " floppies. the 4150 is on the blink and would cost over $760 to repair, so I want to transfer my discs to a computer-usable format - disc, CD or flash drive, or else my novel and other writings may be lost forever. I love the word processor but cannot see sinking such a sum into an elderly machine, for which parts & supplies may cease to be available. computer

If anyone has a bright idea or experience, pls respond here or email me at horselovercarol@hotmail.com. I am a computer retard, so pls make any response as simple as possible. Thanks.

As soon as I can get it transferred. I'll make the converter referred to above available on my web site.

A friend asked me to see it I could convert his novel from .pwp format into a readable form and I I just realized that I have a PWP3600 and all the Utilities!

Steve