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Thread: 5-inch floppy drive questions

  1. #1
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    5-inch floppy drive questions

    How would I / is it even possible to install a 5-inch floppy on a modern system, i have 2 and just feel like putting them in for the hell of it, thanks

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    It shouldn't cause a problem, but you will need a cable with both types of connectors. I'd advise leaving the 3.5" drive as A: and setting the 5.25" drive as B: in BIOS setup. Some older drives had a Drive Select jumper toward the back edge of the PCB. Usually marked DS0 and DS1.

    There can be a problem if you have more than two internal floppy, ZIP, or LS-120 drives. Some BIOS chips can't handle that situation.

  3. #3
    Senior Member SearchSkillzzz's Avatar
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    I would like to see the picture of that drive in a brand new case when your done.

  4. #4
    Mod w/ an attitude Sterling_Aug's Avatar
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    I have both a 5 1/4" and 3 1/2" floppy in my full tower dual 750 MHz system. I can still use and copy my old DOS and early Windows games.

  5. #5
    Senior Member LostBok's Avatar
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    Shouldn't be a prob - finding the cabling is gonna be the hardest bit - if it doesn't have the drive select switch on the back, you'll need to get a cable with a twist in it to allow you to access both removable drives.

    If you have any probs with extra removable drives, can I recommend using SCSI (e.g. Zip drives) instead of IDE. Presumably USB would bypass this BIOS problem too.

  6. #6
    Senior Member SearchSkillzzz's Avatar
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    Hey if ya need a cable I'll just send ya one if ya pay for the shipping! Let me know what type you need I have a ton of them.

  7. #7
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    i have the right cable, just how would i set it up in bios

  8. #8
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    If the BIOS does not find it by itself just select Drive B and configure for 5.25" 1.2 Meg. If you have the twisted cable the middle connector is Drive B: and end connector is Drive A:

  9. #9
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    Some BIOS now will only have an option for drive A. Most of the gateway PC I setup at work only allow a drive a.

    Where I work we still have about 7 PC's (P-400's) that all have a 5 1/4 floppy & use them requlary. We have to modify JCL code for a xerox laser printer & the printer controller only has a 5 1/4 drive!!

    RT

  10. #10
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    well lucky for me i have a gateway(to hell), oh well, guess it wont work

  11. #11
    Senior Member userserver's Avatar
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    Leave the drive in place. Just connect it when you need it. (Only takes a moment to switch drive connections.)

  12. #12
    Senior Member skuz's Avatar
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    Until about a month ago, my mother used 5.25" floppies to save her files.

    BTW, has anyone ever seen 8" floppies ?

  13. #13
    Senior Member userserver's Avatar
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    I still have a drive in my case that reads 8" floppies.

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