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Any way to use FDDs on newer PCs?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 10:38 pm
by Clym5
My main rig is without a floppy drive connector on the motherboard, and I would like to install a 5' floppy drive in it. Does anyone know of a readily available PCI card that could remedy this issue?

USB would work, but the only USB FDDs are the 3" ones..

Re: Any way to use FDDs on newer PCs?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 6:07 pm
by SpidersWeb
I haven't seen any - I use a USB 1.44 drive on occasion but that's it. The closest might be a KyroFlux, that is used to perform analysis/imaging of various floppy media through special software.
For the sake of reading/writing media the general practice is to use a tweener PC - and if you pop it on the network, it can be a pretty smooth setup.

Re: Any way to use FDDs on newer PCs?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 8:09 pm
by Clym5
Ah, I see. Thanks for that! I'll put a tweener together. I have a few Socket 7(?) motherboards around with USB too, so that should be good.

I've always had issues with 'new' PCs like that. No drivers that I can find for some, absolutely lethargic speed, and other things, but I'm sure I'll get it to work this time!

Re: Any way to use FDDs on newer PCs?

PostPosted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 7:57 am
by kevman3d
There's this option... Adapter for 5.25 to connect via USB... It says it also works with drives from other computers (not just PC - ie. Apple, Amiga, etc) so looks actually pretty cool. Its around US$55

http://shop.deviceside.com/prod/FC5025

The same site also sells internal port USB cards as well - though some mobo's have pins to allow extra USB ports, so its likely that this could be used with a little wiring, etc.

Re: Any way to use FDDs on newer PCs?

PostPosted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:26 pm
by Carcenomy
As a heads up to anyone wanting to use floppy drives on new PCs, Windows 10 Tech Preview does NOT support floppy drives at all.

Re: Any way to use FDDs on newer PCs?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 7:37 pm
by kevman3d
Carcenomy wrote:As a heads up to anyone wanting to use floppy drives on new PCs, Windows 10 Tech Preview does NOT support floppy drives at all.


Guess I'm not surprised really. Most Mobo's don't come with Serial or Parallel ports these days (since USB does it all) and most PC's you buy retail don't usually ship with 3.5" FDD's either. I guess OS's would eventually follow suit and start phasing out legacy support... :?

Re: Any way to use FDDs on newer PCs?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 8:04 pm
by LilJoe
Meanwhile in the world of linux...

Re: Any way to use FDDs on newer PCs?

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:15 am
by kevman3d
LilJoe wrote:Meanwhile in the world of linux...


:lol:

Re: Any way to use FDDs on newer PCs?

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 6:02 pm
by Carcenomy
kevman3d wrote:
Carcenomy wrote:As a heads up to anyone wanting to use floppy drives on new PCs, Windows 10 Tech Preview does NOT support floppy drives at all.


Guess I'm not surprised really. Most Mobo's don't come with Serial or Parallel ports these days (since USB does it all) and most PC's you buy retail don't usually ship with 3.5" FDD's either. I guess OS's would eventually follow suit and start phasing out legacy support... :?

I haven't seen a new motherboard with integrated floppy controller since the crossover between Socket 775 and Socket 1156 - early this decade. Last machine with a new 3.5" drive I saw was from 2007 - drive required as the Windows installer didn't yet know how to load additional drivers during setup from sources other than floppies, was needed for machines using RAID.

All the more reason to keep some of the old girls around I guess.