Amstrad PCW16
Word Processor
 Disc Conversions
 to PC or Mac 
by LuxSoft of Luxulyan

the original independent professional 
& confidential disc conversion service 

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Amstrad PCW16 disc conversions:

• Introduction

• Disc formats accepted

• Formats available for the resulting PC files

• Costs and Turnround Time

• What to send ... and where to

• Contact Details

Introduction

The PCW16 was not a 'genuine' PCW like the 8000 and 9000 series; they were more like an Amstrad NC100/200 laptop with a proper screen. Rather than LocoScript, the PCW16 came with its own bespoke word processor.

The good news is that not only are the discs they produce directly compatible with DOS and Windows but also their WP program has a facility to Export files in Rich Text Format (RTF). This format is readable by Microsoft Word, Works and many other Windows word processors and keeps all your document formatting (bolds, italics etc).

Hence, if you have access to a working PCW16, you can do the conversion yourself!

If you don't have one any longer (or can't face the tedious task), we can do it for you. 

The conversions are very laborious and time consuming  (each file has to be converted individually through a two or more stage process) so our charges are per file rather than per disc.

Our conversion service is fully confidential and the results are suitable for the vast majority of DOS and Windows-based word processors. Full post-transfer support comes in the form of a comprehensive step by step instruction & tips sheet plus free support by phone or e-mail.

PCW16 Disc Formats accepted 

We can accept 3.5" standard 720k (MF2DD) or high density 1.44mb (MF2HD) floppy discs.

PC Formats available for the transferred files

PCW16 Word Processor Files are normally converted to Rich Text Format (.RTF) which is readable by all versions of Microsoft Word, Works etc. but we can convert to a number of other formats if required. 

Costs and Turnround

In view of the very considerable work involved, these discs are charged on a sliding scale according to the number of files that are to be converted: 

• The minimum charge per disc is £5 which covers the first five files on the disc, irrespective of their size. 

• Files 6-10 are 50p each 

• Files 11-20 are 40p each 

For over this number, please call or e-mail for a quote.

The conversion service is totally confidential and we aim to send back the results within 48 hours ... but for discs comprising many files, this may take a tad longer!

What to Send ... and where to ...

• Click here to print out the Conversion Request Form to give us your details as well as how you would like the discs converted.

• If you have access to a working PCW16, it's best to make a copy of each of the discs you wish to be converted and send us the copies; you keep the originals.

• Please clearly number the discs

• Pack up the discs in an anti-static bag or wrap them in paper kitchen towel then pop the pack in a "Jiffy" padded bag together with your completed Conversion Request Form. 

• Please do NOT send any money at this stage. You will be invoiced on completion and it will detail the various payment methods available, including cheque or via

• Post the package to us. Please note that delays in receipt may result from use of Recorded Delivery or Registered Mail as the post arrives outside office hours.

• By sending us your discs, you are deemed to have accepted the Terms & Conditions of our service.

What we then do:

• If we encounter any reading problems with the discs because they have become corrupted, we will spend up to 20 minutes per disc free of charge trying to repair it so as to retrieve as much as possible of the data. If this fails, we will contact you by telephone or e-mail to discuss options and the likely cost of further retrieval efforts.

• PC DOS does not support the long file name descriptions allowed on the PCW16 so all files are re-identified with abbreviated names up to 8 characters long followed by '.RTF'

• In accord with your preferences and the volume of data involved, the results are either e-mailed to you or sent by post on floppy disc or CD together with an invoice and a set of step-by-step instructions and useful tips. These give advice on opening and saving the files in your PC's word processor as well as on re-formatting the documents to give even better looking results. 

• For security, your original PCW16 discs are returned to you under separate cover once your payment has been received and, if by cheque, it has cleared through the bank. Due to high business bank charges and our distance from the bank, bank clearance may on occasions take a couple of weeks.

Contact details

Established 1986 

"Clinging to the trailing edge of technology"

Tel (01726) 81 2257 - Fax 087 0051 7259

e-mail malc@luxsoft.demon.co.uk

Established 1986 - This page last amended 3rd January 2009

 All material Copyright LuxSoft 2000-2009
No part of this page may be copied, adapted or reproduced without permission.

Other types of disc conversions we can do