kind of cable needed for 5 1/4" ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Marcel Verduyn
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Marcel Verduyn

Hi there,
I would like to connect again my old 5 1/4" drive, luckily I found it
downstairs hidden in a spare parts box. However I also need a cable to
connect it to my current PC. However, I cannot figure out what is the name
of such a cable. The connection on the drive has 15 cupper lines, then a
little distance and again 2 cupper lines.
Thanks in advance for answering, Marcel
 
Marcel Verduyn said:
Hi there,
I would like to connect again my old 5 1/4" drive, luckily I found it
downstairs hidden in a spare parts box. However I also need a cable to
connect it to my current PC. However, I cannot figure out what is the name
of such a cable. The connection on the drive has 15 cupper lines, then a
little distance and again 2 cupper lines.
Thanks in advance for answering, Marcel
Click to expand...

The standard 3 1/2" stiffy drive cable has those plugs for
the 5 1/4" drive too....somewhere in the middle.
 
Indeed, the cable I use for the 3 1/2" in my current computer has a second
cable in the middle. But the type of connection is different. The cables in
the past are different from those currently used ?
Marcel
 
Marcel Verduyn said:
Indeed, the cable I use for the 3 1/2" in my current computer has a second
cable in the middle. But the type of connection is different. The cables in
the past are different from those currently used ?
Marcel
Click to expand...

Yep, some of the older 5 1/4" drives had contact traces on a PCB, a bit like
an ISA or PCI card connector. The cable connector slotted over the traces.
If your cable doesn't have that type of connector on it (and most haven't
for the last five years) you'll have to go to an old, well established
computer store which may have one out the back. You can get them with both
types of connectors, they were made that way for quite a few years (Early to
mid nineties). Or pick one up from a computer fair or something.

I've got a few of them in my parts box but unless you're in New Zealand
that's not much help to you.
 
You need a 34-wire ribbon cable that looks like this one:

http://www.cablesnmor.com/floppy-drive-cables.html

The fat connectors slide onto the edge of a printed circuit board
sticking out the back of the 5.25-inch drive. I believe they have a
bridge across the gap to ensure that you can slide them onto the PCB in
only one orientation. Some of the header connectors for the 3.5-inch
drives also have a "key" (a small outset or notch protruding from the
connector) that slid into a notch in the header shell on the drive, but
some cables use cheap header connectors and is why users sometimes
attach the connector backwards.

I only gave the link to show an example. It only costs $5 from them but
then you'll have to pay for shipping. You might find it in a local
electronics part store for that cheap and not have to pay for shipping.
 
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