3 1/2 Floppy Drive [Archive]

saintj

11-19-2003, 05:47 PM

Floppy drive, is it worth putting one in new system . Are they really needed anymore ?

tantone

11-19-2003, 05:50 PM

Yep.

and

Yep.

They're cheap (like $8), the motherboard will come with a floppy controller and cable, and cases have spots for the floppy.

I guess the big question is: why would you NOT put in a floppy drive?

Not to mention, they make invaluable troubleshooting tools.

fishybawb

11-19-2003, 07:03 PM

You don't really need one if you've got a CD burner as you can make bootable CDs out of your floppy disks. Here's an article on how to do it with Nero:

http://www.bootdisk.com/nero.htm

Sterling_Aug

11-19-2003, 10:50 PM

They are still useful.

leprechaun_40

11-19-2003, 11:32 PM

I'd do it. If for no other reason, believe it or not, some device drivers and such still come on a floppy. My tape drive has 2 discs, my dads new sound blaster live had a floppy, etc. :t

tantone

11-20-2003, 12:43 AM

And for Fishy--

When that handy-dandy CD-RW/DVD/SandwichMaker/ToasterOven combo drive goes out, ya need something else.

Funny that this thread is going on now. I just added a black floppy drive to a NewEgg order today. When I upgraded, I forgot to get a floppy leaving one machine short, and the new machine non-color-coordinated!! :eek:

fishybawb

11-20-2003, 06:39 AM

Originally posted by tantone
When that handy-dandy CD-RW/DVD/SandwichMaker/ToasterOven combo drive goes out, ya need something else.

Nah, I'll just buy a new one ;)
I still use a floppy drive myself since my SATA drivers are on floppy disk - I was just pointing out that it's not strictly necessary to have a floppy drive solely for the purpose of troubleshooting.

crossedup

11-20-2003, 08:32 AM

Dont really need one, no. Ill agree with that.

But most windows installs ive done w/o one have a fit and when you go under my computer there will be one there anyway whether you have one or not.

Lot of these older mobos will have fits if there is no floppy either.

Used to say it was useful for ghosting but the new version took care of that. :D

saintj

11-20-2003, 08:40 AM

Thanks guys. For the cost of one I guess it makes no sense to not include one in the system.

tantone

11-20-2003, 09:39 AM

Add to all this the one time a friend says, "Here. The file's on this." and he hands you a floppy disk. I'd hate to be the one to say, "Um, gee, Wally, I don't have a floppy disk drive."

gjimene2

11-20-2003, 06:10 PM

And for Fishy--

When that handy-dandy CD-RW/DVD/SandwichMaker/ToasterOven combo drive goes out, ya need something else.

Thumb Drive. Every motherboard has atleast two USB ports built into them and you can boot off the thumb drive.

:t

bob05

11-20-2003, 06:24 PM

Hey, how would you like to waste a CD whenever you want to exchange a 16 KB word document from one computer to another? :rolleyes: Just get a 3.5 Floppy and forget about it. ;)

gjimene2

11-21-2003, 11:31 AM

Originally posted by bob05
Hey, how would you like to waste a CD whenever you want to exchange a 16 KB word document from one computer to another? :rolleyes: Just get a 3.5 Floppy and forget about it. ;)

You do know that there is such a thing as "Multi Session" don't ya? So a cd-r won't get wasted, you can just add on and on and on until it's full.

Plus there are also CD-RWs :t

tantone

11-21-2003, 01:07 PM

All the different comments aside, unlike the parallel port, floppy drives are still in use everywhere.

I'd be willing to be that all of the people here coming up with alternatives to the floppy actually DO HAVE a floppy drive installed in their systems.

The floppy is still universally accepted in just about EVERY system out there. Don't install one, and one day you'll run across something that made you wish you had one. Sure, there are probably alternatives, but it would be easier with a floppy.

Bigjakkstaffa

11-21-2003, 01:28 PM

Given the fact they'll set you back all of a fiver, its really more hassle not to get one on the off occasion when you do use it than to save what is essentially only a couple of pints down the battle cruiser

--Jakk:t

dajogejr

11-21-2003, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by gjimene2
Thumb Drive. Every motherboard has atleast two USB ports built into them and you can boot off the thumb drive.

:t

Can you boot off a USB?

I know a system can recognize USB in booting, (hence, keyboards...etc.) but...I thought you couldn't boot off it.

In other words...you can't boot off an external drive...is that correct?

Oh...and, take your returnables back from a good weekend party, there's your 10 bucks for a new floppy...:)

gjimene2

11-21-2003, 02:25 PM

You can.

I can boot off an external usb enclosure that has either a cd-rom or hard drive.

dajogejr

11-21-2003, 02:30 PM

Thanks...GJ...
Every Day is a school day...

What board you got?

I would venture to say many boards won't allow booting off a USB, but newer will??

tantone

11-21-2003, 02:41 PM

Correct. The older the board, the less of a chance you'll have to boot to a USB device.

dajogejr

11-21-2003, 03:32 PM

I have a few month old A7N8X deluxe...I should look into that...

Thanks again!

gjimene2

11-21-2003, 03:41 PM

8RDA+ :) Gotta love it. I'm sure the guy I bought it from off ebay still has a couple of them.

dajogejr

11-21-2003, 03:56 PM

That's right...I remember you saying that in a post or two...:D

I'm pretty darn happy with my Asus...but, I'll have to keep that in mind for further consideration...

Cheers!!:)