need old 5 1/4 floppy on XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Smiles
  • Start date Start date
JD said:
My mother told me once that a sure sign of insanity was when one begins to
answer themselves but I guess this is entirely different. 8-)

I am glad you cleared that up.

Could one change out the 3.5 floppy drive for a 5.25 floppy drive in the
USB external floppy drive? Would that cabling and/or electronics be
compatable?

May be moot since the OP hasn't replied.
Click to expand...

There is two problems with that scenario.

One is the size factor. Most USB floppy drives are in cases that just fit
the 3.5 inch form factor of the drive so a 5.25 inch drive won't physically
fit.

Two, is the different physical connector for the two drives. One is a card
edge connector (for the 5.25 inch) and pins and sockets on the 3.5 inch. I
have seen one 5.25 inch drive just before they became totally unpopular that
had the same connector as the 3.5 inch drive but trying to find one of those
drives would be next to impossible. That was more than 10 years ago.
 
Anthony Buckland said:
An alternative approach might be to try and find an old computer
with a 5.25 drive on it. Enough of us don't throw stuff out quickly
enough that one should be essentially valueless atticware
somewhere.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the ideas.
JD, sorry I was away for a while. Sure didn't seem like a week.

Anthony's suggestion seems like it's likely the simplest. I did have
someone who was going to give me their dual 5.25 / 3.5 inch machine when
they upgraded, but they forgot and just tossed it. I'll have to try
Freecycle and the MIT fleamarket, whatever it's called ... once I get rid of
one or two of MY old towers!

I see xerais also posted a link to a product that looks like a good option.
 
ggull said:
Thanks for the ideas.
JD, sorry I was away for a while. Sure didn't seem like a week.

Anthony's suggestion seems like it's likely the simplest. I did have
someone who was going to give me their dual 5.25 / 3.5 inch machine when
they upgraded, but they forgot and just tossed it. I'll have to try
Freecycle and the MIT fleamarket, whatever it's called ... once I get rid of
one or two of MY old towers!

I see xerais also posted a link to a product that looks like a good option.
Click to expand...

Please let us know how Anthony's suggestion worked. Your problem is
rather unique since not many of us have the need to access the old 5.25
drives. But it's nice to know what works in a special situation.
 
Smiles said:
Good day I have been given 2000 old 5.25floppy diskswith family records
on them with out rebuilding a W98 box is there a way to set up XP to
read the drive

thanks
Click to expand...
Thanks for asking a very interesting question. It truly provokes a very
interesting discussion. I knew there must be a reason to keep old
computers--like the 3 I have in my workshop. :)
 
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