For the PC floppies, you can make disk images on an modern PC with 1.2M setting in BIOS.
GNU dd is available for every OS out there. I used it last on Win2K: dd if=//./b: of=name.img
Once you have the images, WinImage or equivalent will open them, no need for VMs.

"Anthony K." -removeme wrote in message
...


Arno, since you asked what I was trying to do: I have a collection of
good condition single and double sided 5.25" floppies from a couple of
different systems: PC DOS and Apple II. Some of it is old data I'm
curious about, but most of it is vintage software and games. My goal was
to make images of the disc for use on a modern computer, using
virtualization software to emulate DOS and Apple II. This would be more
convenient for me than maintaining two more computers. It's enough I've
got to deal with C64 and Amiga stuff too. I can always go the PC +
Slackware route, or just enjoy the disks on a vintage machine, but it
would have been nice to have to explain why I need to buy yet another
old computer.