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1
Vote
Is there any such thing as a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?
I have a customer who's equipment got destroyed during Hurricane Sandy. All of his software was on 5.25 floppy disks, is there any equipment I can hook up to a 5.25 to make it work with a new (windows 8) computer? I know that once I can get the software setup, I can run DOSbox to run the software, but how do I get around the hardware issue?
8th Dec
Answers (12)
0
Votes
Not knowing what the replacement hardware consists of,
makes it a bit difficult, but I'll make a suggestion. You might be able to find a PCI to ISA
converter card for the new motherboard, if so you could then insert an old ISA controller
card for a 5.25 inch floppy drive and access the floppies this way. Alternatively, and this
may be more feasible, find an older PC, could probably find a freebie somewhere, that
either has, or you could install one in, a 5.25 in floppy drive. I keep a couple of these
upstairs in my tech-graveyard, hehe, just for these types of emergencies. I've also got
a few ISA NIC cards that I could use to network the old beasts if needed.
Other than that, you might be able to find some sort of connector online, maybe
search Amazon or eBay?? However, I'm not sure on this since the technologies are
so far removed from each other. You might also look into the feasibility of copying the
data on those 5.25 in floppies to another media format.
Does the replacement equipment have an IDE controller? If it does, you could be able
to buy an IDE cable for a 5.25 in floppy drive and use the drive in a spare drive bay.
That's all the ideas I have at the moment...good luck!
converter card for the new motherboard, if so you could then insert an old ISA controller
card for a 5.25 inch floppy drive and access the floppies this way. Alternatively, and this
may be more feasible, find an older PC, could probably find a freebie somewhere, that
either has, or you could install one in, a 5.25 in floppy drive. I keep a couple of these
upstairs in my tech-graveyard, hehe, just for these types of emergencies. I've also got
a few ISA NIC cards that I could use to network the old beasts if needed.
Other than that, you might be able to find some sort of connector online, maybe
search Amazon or eBay?? However, I'm not sure on this since the technologies are
so far removed from each other. You might also look into the feasibility of copying the
data on those 5.25 in floppies to another media format.
Does the replacement equipment have an IDE controller? If it does, you could be able
to buy an IDE cable for a 5.25 in floppy drive and use the drive in a spare drive bay.
That's all the ideas I have at the moment...good luck!
8th Dec
1
Vote
Parallel Port
The last 5.25" external drive I saw connected up to a parallel port.
I would need to dig, but I think I still have an IBM PS/2 external 5.25" drive in the box.
I also have an old 386 system that should boot up that does have a 5.25" drive in it.
ebay is the only place I found any drives for sale. All the controllers I saw were ISA bus though.
Best bet would be to check with computer recycling and resale companies in your area.
Chas
I would need to dig, but I think I still have an IBM PS/2 external 5.25" drive in the box.
I also have an old 386 system that should boot up that does have a 5.25" drive in it.
ebay is the only place I found any drives for sale. All the controllers I saw were ISA bus though.
Best bet would be to check with computer recycling and resale companies in your area.
Chas
8th Dec
Replies
My old IBM PS2 is a Model5500, 386 based, but the diskette drive is 3.5 in
not 5.25. The issue with the IBM PS2 gear is it is all "MCA", MicroChannel
Architecture, and not really compatible with "AT" based machines.
Somewhere in my graveyard is a couple of 386 chips, another SX CPU and 387 FPU!
not 5.25. The issue with the IBM PS2 gear is it is all "MCA", MicroChannel
Architecture, and not really compatible with "AT" based machines.
Somewhere in my graveyard is a couple of 386 chips, another SX CPU and 387 FPU!
wizard57m-cnet
8th Dec
Wizard57,
What I have in the box is an EXTERNAL 5.25" Floppy drive for a PS/2.
Not a PS/2 system.
I think it is a parallel port connection, but I would need to dig out the box and verify.
I bought it as surplus over 10 years ago.
Chas
What I have in the box is an EXTERNAL 5.25" Floppy drive for a PS/2.
Not a PS/2 system.
I think it is a parallel port connection, but I would need to dig out the box and verify.
I bought it as surplus over 10 years ago.
Chas
TheChas
9th Dec
2
Votes
Caution: IDE != floppy
re. the suggestion by wizard57m-cnet:
IDE cables have 40 pin connectors whereas IIRC floppies have 34 pins. They are not equivalent.
While I concur with TheChas that external 5.25" drives (that I remember) all connected via the parallel port, that probably won't help with a new machine that doesn't have such a port. Moreover, it would require a special driver which will likely only run under MS-DOS.
I seem to recall some PCI add-in cards (sold by SIIG IIRC) which had IDE and floppy ports. You may be able to find one on eBay. You won't have a true "external" floppy drive, but you can temporarily leave the case open and run the cables out the side.
I also have serious concerns as to whether Win8 even knows how to talk to a floppy drive (I haven't tried it). You may need to run some Linux LiveCD to get the hardware to work.
ron
IDE cables have 40 pin connectors whereas IIRC floppies have 34 pins. They are not equivalent.
While I concur with TheChas that external 5.25" drives (that I remember) all connected via the parallel port, that probably won't help with a new machine that doesn't have such a port. Moreover, it would require a special driver which will likely only run under MS-DOS.
I seem to recall some PCI add-in cards (sold by SIIG IIRC) which had IDE and floppy ports. You may be able to find one on eBay. You won't have a true "external" floppy drive, but you can temporarily leave the case open and run the cables out the side.
I also have serious concerns as to whether Win8 even knows how to talk to a floppy drive (I haven't tried it). You may need to run some Linux LiveCD to get the hardware to work.
ron
Updated - 9th Dec
Replies
Which is why I said IDE for floppy and not hard drive. The other problem
which I too overlooked is the power supply cable. Depending on the
model, the PSU in the new equipment might not even have a power
connector for any floppy drive. So there is another obstacle. Might
be able to find an adapter, haven't checked myself, which is why I keep
a couple of functioning older systems on hand. Then if needed I can
use a NIC card and connect it to the network.
which I too overlooked is the power supply cable. Depending on the
model, the PSU in the new equipment might not even have a power
connector for any floppy drive. So there is another obstacle. Might
be able to find an adapter, haven't checked myself, which is why I keep
a couple of functioning older systems on hand. Then if needed I can
use a NIC card and connect it to the network.
wizard57m-cnet
9th Dec
Ron Win 8 can read a 3.5 Floppy as my Test Rig has one in it that I loaded 8 to and it shows up in My Computer or whatever 8 calls that now. I have copied files to the drive though it was more to see what would happen than anything else and 8 could read the floppy that it made. I'm not sure about reading disc's made on older platforms but I can see no reason why it wouldn't. Though running the program that is on these disc's is another story and I very much doubt that it would even come close to working.
As a 5.25 Floppy uses the same connection I would hazard a guess that 8 would be able to read the floppy but depending on what is actually on the floppy that in itself may not be enough as the program that is attempting to be accessed may not run on 8.
This is why it is very important to verify that whatever you have as a Backup Option actually works as it should and is restorable to new hardware in the event of a total loss of the existing hardware.
Col
As a 5.25 Floppy uses the same connection I would hazard a guess that 8 would be able to read the floppy but depending on what is actually on the floppy that in itself may not be enough as the program that is attempting to be accessed may not run on 8.
This is why it is very important to verify that whatever you have as a Backup Option actually works as it should and is restorable to new hardware in the event of a total loss of the existing hardware.
Col
OH Smeg
9th Dec
@Wizard57: That was the point. The IDE controller isn't what connects to the floppy drive, it's a separate controller (that was often on the same card) and a separate type of cable.
info@...
11th Dec
1
Vote
I saw a few some years back for laptops as USB 1.0 - but I think you may be
better off using an old machine with a 5.25 floppy and CD burner to copy all the programs onto CDs to fix this now and for the future.
The USB Floppy I saw was:
Imation USB floppy drive, model 01946
do a google, you may find one for sale.
I got some old gear that works and have 5.25 floppies, but I've not tried using the floppies for several years.
The USB Floppy I saw was:
Imation USB floppy drive, model 01946
do a google, you may find one for sale.
I got some old gear that works and have 5.25 floppies, but I've not tried using the floppies for several years.
Updated - 9th Dec
0
Votes
www.floppydisk.com
They have at the bottom of their page that there is no such animal ... Aaaarrgh!!
I'm looking for one two and I thought I try again to see if they had something.
"Need to read 5.25 floppies?
There is no USB drive for 5.25 inch floppy disks.
But, we can transfer data from your floppies"
Will keep trying. If I find one I'll pass on the info.
I'm looking for one two and I thought I try again to see if they had something.
"Need to read 5.25 floppies?
There is no USB drive for 5.25 inch floppy disks.
But, we can transfer data from your floppies"
Will keep trying. If I find one I'll pass on the info.
10th Dec
1
Vote
Here's a couple of links on how to build a 5.25 floppy USB device yourself
remember to remove the blank space between the dot and com
http://www.deviceside. com/fc5025.html
http://ascii.textfiles. com/archives/2503
good luck
http://www.deviceside. com/fc5025.html
http://ascii.textfiles. com/archives/2503
good luck
Updated - 10th Dec
0
Votes
use a 3rd party company to transfer them to a more practicle media
The easiest would be to source an old pc, or send them to a company like -
http://www.disktransfer.co.uk/floppy-disk-data-file-transfer-recovery.php
Enquiry@apextechnology.co.uk
A quick search on google brought these up, i have no idea how much they charge, but I would of hoped that it is minimal. As its not a complicated process is it lets be honest.
If i ever startup my own business, I will defo add a check, to make sure i check they arent using obsolete media, so you may have saved me a headache, so thanks for asking the question.
... Good Luck Banny
http://www.disktransfer.co.uk/floppy-disk-data-file-transfer-recovery.php
Enquiry@apextechnology.co.uk
A quick search on google brought these up, i have no idea how much they charge, but I would of hoped that it is minimal. As its not a complicated process is it lets be honest.
If i ever startup my own business, I will defo add a check, to make sure i check they arent using obsolete media, so you may have saved me a headache, so thanks for asking the question.
... Good Luck Banny
10th Dec
2
Votes
Not as easy as plug and play but probably as easy as it will get...
1. Find your local Computer Surplus / Repair store
2. Have them locate a 3.5/5.25 inch floppy drive.
3. Purchase the dual drive and install it in a computer that is compatible (IDE interface) or buy one from them for probably $100-$250
4. Copy all of the 5.25" source disks to 3.5" Disks
5. Purchase a Dell or Toshiba 3.5" Laptop drive (is should have a USB miniature socket on the side. If it does, it should interface to your laptop through a normal USB1 to USB2 cable just by plugging it in and allowing windows to set it up.
cheers,
chuck...
2. Have them locate a 3.5/5.25 inch floppy drive.
3. Purchase the dual drive and install it in a computer that is compatible (IDE interface) or buy one from them for probably $100-$250
4. Copy all of the 5.25" source disks to 3.5" Disks
5. Purchase a Dell or Toshiba 3.5" Laptop drive (is should have a USB miniature socket on the side. If it does, it should interface to your laptop through a normal USB1 to USB2 cable just by plugging it in and allowing windows to set it up.
cheers,
chuck...
10th Dec
3
Votes
I have one!
A few years back I purchased a USB to 5.25 floppy drive. It came without a case, but I found an old Sony case that worked. The company seems to still be in business. See their web page at http://www.deviceside.com/fc5025.html
I hope this helps and good luck. Robert.
I hope this helps and good luck. Robert.
10th Dec
2
Votes
I have one, but it's old-school
I have an old computer that can read 5.25" disks (it sits in a corner of the office unused, but it's always there if I should need to read some of those again). If you can't find what you're looking for and still need what's on those, shoot me an email. I can get the data off those for you and send the disks back with a CD of the data. lordpeyre (at) yahoo.com
Updated - 11th Dec
1
Vote
Do you have access to a PC that has a floppy header on the mainboard?
Locate a replacement drive (eBay has a few: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=m570.l3201&_nkw=5-1%2F4%22+drive&_sacat=0). Take the drive and the data cable to the PC with a floppy header, connect the data cable between the drive and the header, use one of the Molex connectors for power, and you're in business.
The drive may not be useable, but you should be able to clean up the cable.
The drive may not be useable, but you should be able to clean up the cable.
Updated - 10th Dec
-3
Votes
Optical method
If you strip off the shell and hold the disk at just the right angle, you'll be able to call out the 1's and 0's.
Updated - 11th Dec
