Semi-virtual Diskette

Semi-virtual Diskette

The Semi-Virtual Diskette, otherwise known as the SVD, is a small hobbyist hardware device that emulates a floppy drive and floppy disk. The SVD is designed to be attached to an old computer such as a TRS-80 or a computer of the Apple II family. Images of Floppy disks are uploaded to the SVD through a personal computer's serial port. The SVD presents these images as physical floppies to the old computer, allowing it to be booted or to otherwise run old software. The SVD, which is used mostly by retrocomputing enthusiasts, provides a mechanism by which archived software can be reliably and easily loaded on the old computer equipment, aiding in the process of restoring and using it. Unlike using floppy images with emulators running the software on a PC, the SVD is used with physical hardware.