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General discussion

how to install a floppy disk drive

by dustinwhylee Feb 13, 2005 2:58AM PST

I got a new floppy disk drive but have no idea how to install it. I matched it into the case but after that I'm stuck. I connected a cable that I think powers it. So when I turn on my computer I can put a disk in and take it out... But my computer doesn't acknowledge there's a floppy drive. I connected another cable from the motherboard to the drive. It must be the right place because it's the only socket that fits the cable type. I'm sure I need to download a driver for the floppy disk drive (Though I don't know how to do that even) but I thought my computer's supposed to recognize that there's a new hardware? Am I wrong, could everything be set and I just need to install a driver? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

Discussion is locked

23 Posts
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Dusty, How's It Going....??? Google Is A Great Tool
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Feb 13, 2005 3:51AM PST

Doing a search for your topic on Google (How to Install A Floppy Drive) comes up with lots of good tutorials on the subject. Here's a link or two :

How to install a floppy drive into your computer

How to install a Floppy Disk Drive

No driver should be required...be sure that both ends of the ribbon and power cable are securely in their slots...and when you boot into Windows, the new drive should be automatically recognized by Windows.

HOpe this helps.

Grif

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In the event that you did not
by Ray Harinec Feb 13, 2005 6:24AM PST

have a floppy before this, it may be disabled [marked as NONE in the BIOS. Make a quick check. Also enable boot floppy seek. Yhat way you will see the floppy light flash for a moment during boot. If the light is on all of the time the ribbon cable is on backwards.

The edge of the ribbon cable that has the stripe on it goes to pin one. I think that pin one on most floppies is towards the inside of the drive.

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Thanks
by dustinwhylee Feb 14, 2005 12:47PM PST

Yeah, I didn't have a floppy drive prior to now. A friend of mine that I no longer keep in touch with set it all up. I'll try and figure out how to check the bios, thanks you two.

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the notch
by mp3artists Feb 16, 2005 11:26PM PST

the data cable for the floppy drive will always have a notch in it. Usually quite big and noticible. That;s what you connect to get the data streaming.

To get the power on you attach a "molex" connector, one of several on the cable coming out of your power supply. You attach that to the connection on the floppy drive. You'll figure it out. Floppys are easy. ?:?)

good luck !

peace
Chris

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what if theres no floppy option in BIOS?
by Lip777 Dec 4, 2006 8:27AM PST

I have done all these things and I have no specific lable for Floppy in Bios.. what then? thank you for your time

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Depends on the computer...
by John.Wilkinson Dec 4, 2006 9:37AM PST

You shoud find the floppy drive listed under Boot->Boot Order/Priority, but the BIOS is something that varies from system to system, so without the details it's not possible to give exacts.

John

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How to install a floppy drive
by kbxtra Feb 17, 2005 6:50PM PST
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If your Floppy is not recognized
by indiecds Feb 17, 2005 10:33PM PST

I just had this same problem and emailed my PC manufacturer for a solution. Unfortunately I didn't save the instructions. But if I remember right this is what I had to do: I had to go into BIOS which is done by holding down the Esc or F1 key during boot up. Once in BIOS you need to go down to the floopy drive and configure the setting for the proper floppy such as 1.4MB for a 3.5 inch floppy and then when prompted to save the changes touch Y for yes and that should do it.

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Found the instructions
by indiecds Feb 17, 2005 11:38PM PST

In order to enable the floppy drive after you have it installed you must tell the BIOS that you have added the drive. When starting the computer press F1 or DEL (not Esc) to enter setup. Press enter on "Standard CMOS Setup" and arrow down to the Floppy subheading. Press page up or page down until it changes to 1.44. Press F10 and Y to save changes. The computer should restart and your drive should appear and function normally.

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Very much appreciated
by dustinwhylee Feb 18, 2005 5:36AM PST

I haven't tried this out to see if it works but I'm very thankful for such detailed instructions. If I had just gotten a link to another website for instructions I probably wouldn't have gotten around to it because it's not TOO important. But your directions are quick and concise. Thanks again.

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The Never Blinking Floppy drive light
by ALTec Feb 18, 2005 1:10AM PST

All the advice for installing the new floppy drive is good. I would add on little piece of advice. If after all your hard work and all you get is a floppy drive with a glowing LCD light, this means that you have incorrectly installed the ribbon cable to the drive. No harm though, just power down the PC, unplug the power, and flip the ribbon cable on the floppy drive. All should be well.

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no id address mark on floppy disk
by scoutzilla Mar 16, 2005 11:03PM PST

Greetings, My problem is this I built a new PC, when I stick in an older floppy drive, no problem, I have used 2 different ones without issue. I went bought a nice new black face floppy drive to match the case and now get "no id address mark on floppy disk". This is with an Abit MOBO AMD chip. Searched to www and can't seem to get a good answer on this.

thanks

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Scout, Sounds Like A Bad Drive.
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Mar 17, 2005 5:14AM PST

Assuming you've checked to make sure that all connectors are secure and snug, try returning it and get a replacement.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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no id address mark on floppy disk
by Biggels May 4, 2005 8:29PM PDT

I had the same problem. Try reformatting the floppy in the new drive. This worked for me. It als formatted a disk which another drive said had a bad 0 track.

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No id address
by jcurry May 11, 2005 10:07AM PDT

I am having the same problem but it just started. My floppy was working fine and I tried to make some bootable floppies and now I get that no id message. Is my disk drive bad. And how do I test it for sure?

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Probably A Bad Drive...Test ...
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator May 11, 2005 12:36PM PDT

...known good floppy disks in your drive, then test in another drive. If they work in the other drive, you have your answer.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Found the prob
by jcurry May 12, 2005 7:50AM PDT

Thanks for the info. I got a working drive in there and found the malfunctioning drive full of dust. Havent used it in ages lol.

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Tried flipping the ribbon on 2 different drives
by srrhodes2001 Mar 10, 2006 1:14AM PST

I've tried to install a new floppy drive on my 3rd PC (a new Dell that just didn't come with one) with 2 different drives. I've done this before with no problem on other machines. I get the solid LCD when I connect, flip the ribbon, rebot, and get nothing. I've checked BIOS, and its looking for a 1.44 MB drive....Both of the new drives can't be bad, suggestions?

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Solution! Thanks to AllExperts.com
by srrhodes2001 Mar 16, 2006 11:35PM PST

I didn't have a bad drive or ribbon. Rather, at the suggestion or lucky guess of a helper from AllExperts.com, I solved this problem. I went into BIOS, turned off the floppy drive detection/enable settings and turned everything off. Then after reboot, returned the BIOS settings to their original conditions: - - and poof! Windows detected the drive!

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what's a Floppy Drive?
by ChuckT May 12, 2005 9:00AM PDT

I know, I know Grin Don't flame me!

I have been using computers before there were hard drives. I just think it is a funny comment, and that before too long, some computer users will actually be asking that question for real. Wink

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You guys rock
by ladybug440 Aug 6, 2005 9:51AM PDT

I have been trying to install a floppy drive and was having the same problem as Dusty(?). As well, once I got it set up and the computer recognized it, it kept telling me to insert disk. I read some of your posts and was able to figure out what I had done wrong with the cable and went into the BIOS to configure the floppy there. Now, everything's hunky dory. Thanks!!!!

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Enabling a floppy disk
by Voltairex Jun 10, 2007 9:29AM PDT

I disabled my floppy disk during a Bios set-up

I want to enable it now without booting up my computer. Ihave a Windows XP

The Device Manager lists the floppy but it has a minus sign before it and below it the 'standard floppy disk controller' has a yellow dot with an exclamation point in it.

I've tried using the Device Manager Wizard to reactivate the floppy without success.

Help!

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(NT) Access The BIOS..And Try Enabling There
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Jun 10, 2007 12:25PM PDT
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