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Another way to connect a floppy drive?

Author
8 Mar 2005 10:00 PM
Unknown User
I have a computer which floppy drive works fine on other computers, but it 
doesn't work on this particular one.
The problem comes from my computer, the floppy drive port has been 
damaged, and doesn't accept any floppy drive.

Is there another way to use the floppy drive on this computer 
(Motherboard: P4C-800)? Maybe using USB, Paraller port, of Firewire...?

Thanks,

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Author
8 Mar 2005 10:36 PM
Ken
Unknown User wrote:
> I have a computer which floppy drive works fine on other computers, but
> it  doesn't work on this particular one.
> The problem comes from my computer, the floppy drive port has been 
> damaged, and doesn't accept any floppy drive.
>
> Is there another way to use the floppy drive on this computer 
> (Motherboard: P4C-800)? Maybe using USB, Paraller port, of Firewire...?
>
> Thanks,
>

    I believe you can use an LS120 as a floppy by using your IDE bus.  Have
you tried changing the floppy cable?
Author
9 Mar 2005 1:25 PM
Unknown User
On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 19:36:59 -0300, Ken <user@domain.invalid> wrote:

>     I believe you can use an LS120 as a floppy by using your IDE bus.  Have 
> you tried changing the floppy cable?

Yes, I tried with another cable...

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Author
8 Mar 2005 11:21 PM
philo
"Unknown User" <m*@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:op.snb92rnqr3xrds@cinza...
> I have a computer which floppy drive works fine on other computers, but it
> doesn't work on this particular one.
> The problem comes from my computer, the floppy drive port has been
> damaged, and doesn't accept any floppy drive.
>
> Is there another way to use the floppy drive on this computer
> (Motherboard: P4C-800)? Maybe using USB, Paraller port, of Firewire...?
>
> Thanks,


although a bit more expensive
it's pretty easy to add a USB floppy drive

just enter :   USB floppy drive
into a google search
Author
9 Mar 2005 4:53 AM
CBFalconer
philo wrote:
> "Unknown User" <m*@privacy.net> wrote in message
>
>> I have a computer which floppy drive works fine on other computers,
>> but it doesn't work on this particular one.
>> The problem comes from my computer, the floppy drive port has been
>> damaged, and doesn't accept any floppy drive.
>>
>> Is there another way to use the floppy drive on this computer
>> (Motherboard: P4C-800)? Maybe using USB, Paraller port, of
>> Firewire...?
>
> although a bit more expensive it's pretty easy to add a USB floppy
> drive.  just enter :   USB floppy drive into a google search

But any such access will need USB drivers, which aren't there at
boot time, so the thing is useless for its primary purpose which is
an independant boot into something (such as memtest86).

--
Chuck F (cbfalco***@yahoo.com) (cbfalco***@worldnet.att.net)
   Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
   <http://cbfalconer.home.att.net>  USE worldnet address!
Author
9 Mar 2005 3:20 PM
kony
On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 04:53:27 GMT, CBFalconer
<cbfalco***@yahoo.com> wrote:

Show quoteHide quote
>philo wrote:
>> "Unknown User" <m*@privacy.net> wrote in message
>>
>>> I have a computer which floppy drive works fine on other computers,
>>> but it doesn't work on this particular one.
>>> The problem comes from my computer, the floppy drive port has been
>>> damaged, and doesn't accept any floppy drive.
>>>
>>> Is there another way to use the floppy drive on this computer
>>> (Motherboard: P4C-800)? Maybe using USB, Paraller port, of
>>> Firewire...?
>>
>> although a bit more expensive it's pretty easy to add a USB floppy
>> drive.  just enter :   USB floppy drive into a google search
>
>But any such access will need USB drivers, which aren't there at
>boot time, so the thing is useless for its primary purpose which is
>an independant boot into something (such as memtest86).


Most modern motherboards claim support for booting from USB
device(s), such that no driver is needed, only the bios
support and bios setting.  Problem is that support, correct
function of this is still spotty, one cannot just buy
product "X" and USB device "Y" and be confident X will be
able to boot from Y, but it is more common to be able to
today contrasted with a couple years ago.

However, if one can boot a USB floppy, they might be able to
boot from other USB devices too, which raises the issue of
whether they really need a USB floppy as the whole point of
the floppy was the floppy interface which board bios and
software utilities default to in some situations.  If user
is going to try USB anyway, there may be no good reason for
it to be a USB floppy rather than a (more dependable) USB
based storage medium like a thumbdrive.
Author
9 Mar 2005 1:26 PM
Unknown User
On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 01:53:27 -0300, CBFalconer <cbfalco***@yahoo.com> 
wrote:

> But any such access will need USB drivers, which aren't there at
> boot time, so the thing is useless for its primary purpose which is
> an independant boot into something (such as memtest86).

Thanks, actually I never used a floppy to boot. I have always used a 
CD-ROM. They want a floppy to save documents and print at home.



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Author
8 Mar 2005 11:59 PM
DaveW
No.  The floppy drive requires the floppy controller on the motherboard,
which is damaged.

--
DaveW



"Unknown User" <m*@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:op.snb92rnqr3xrds@cinza...
Show quoteHide quote
>I have a computer which floppy drive works fine on other computers, but it
>doesn't work on this particular one.
> The problem comes from my computer, the floppy drive port has been
> damaged, and doesn't accept any floppy drive.
>
> Is there another way to use the floppy drive on this computer
> (Motherboard: P4C-800)? Maybe using USB, Paraller port, of Firewire...?
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Boost the visibility of your web site in Google!
> http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/ad-network/?s=5203
>
> Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
>
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Author
9 Mar 2005 5:38 PM
Jerry G.
If the floppy controller on the mother board is damaged, you can always buy
a floppy controller card, and use it in a spare slot. I am sure that they
are still available. You can also buy a floppy drive USB kit, and use it as
a USB device.

--

Jerry G.
======


"Unknown User" <m*@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:op.snb92rnqr3xrds@cinza...
I have a computer which floppy drive works fine on other computers, but it
doesn't work on this particular one.
The problem comes from my computer, the floppy drive port has been
damaged, and doesn't accept any floppy drive.

Is there another way to use the floppy drive on this computer
(Motherboard: P4C-800)? Maybe using USB, Paraller port, of Firewire...?

Thanks,

--
Boost the visibility of your web site in Google!
http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/ad-network/?s=5203

Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

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Author
10 Mar 2005 12:32 AM
do_not_spam_me
Unknown User wrote:

> I have a computer which floppy drive works fine on other
> computers, but it doesn't work on this particular one.
> The problem comes from my computer, the floppy drive port
> has been damaged, and doesn't accept any floppy drive.
>
> Is there another way to use the floppy drive on this computer
> (Motherboard: P4C-800)? Maybe using USB, Paraller port, of
Firewire...?

Try to find an old PCI floppy controller card and use it in place of
the motherboard's controller.  Most are made for the ISA bus, but PCI
versions are also available, although much less common.  Independent
computer shops often have components like these, but they're also
available from Fry's and electronics parts dealers, like Jameco, MCM,
and JDR.  You'll have to disable the motherboard's floppy controller in
the BIOS to prevent its I/O ports from overlapping with the card's.
Most floppy controller cards also contain a simple IDE controller (no
DMA bus mastering), and some also have serial and parallel I/O ports,
all which will have to be disabled on the card to prevent I/O port
conflicts.