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  • Is at that place any such thing as a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?

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    past locrian_lyric · nearly 9 years, ii months ago

    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 tin can claw up to a 5.25 to make information technology piece of work with a new (windows 8) reckoner? I know that once I can get the software setup, I can run DOSbox to run the software, but how exercise I get around the hardware consequence?

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    • December 8, 2012 at 12:ten pm #2431302

      Clarifications

      by locrian_lyric · most 9 years, 2 months ago

      In respond to Is in that location any such affair as a v.25 external USB floppy bulldoze?

      Clarifications

    • December 8, 2012 at 12:31 pm #2431301

      Non knowing what the replacement hardware consists of,

      by Wizard57M-TR · about ix years, 2 months agone

      In reply to Is there any such thing as a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?

      makes it a fleck hard, but I'll make a suggestion. You might exist able to observe a PCI to ISA
      converter menu for the new motherboard, if so you could so insert an old ISA controller
      card for a 5.25 inch floppy drive and access the floppies this way. Alternatively, and this
      may exist more than viable, 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 go on 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 apply 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?? Nevertheless, I'm not certain 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 take at the moment…good luck!

    • Dec 8, 2012 at 12:58 pm #2431299

      Parallel Port

      past thechas · almost nine years, 2 months ago

      In reply to Is there any such matter equally a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?

      The last 5.25″ external bulldoze I saw connected upwards to a parallel port.

      I would need to dig, merely I think I still have an IBM PS/2 external 5.25″ bulldoze in the box.

      I too have an former 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 estimator recycling and resale companies in your area.

      Chas

      • December 8, 2012 at 2:49 pm #2431295

        Reponse To Answer

        by Wizard57M-TR · about 9 years, 2 months agone

        In reply to Parallel Port

        My old IBM PS2 is a Model5500, 386 based, but the diskette drive is three.5 in
        not v.25. The issue with the IBM PS2 gear is information technology 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!

      • December 9, 2012 at 1:20 pm #2431272

        Reponse To Answer

        past thechas · about 9 years, 2 months agone

        In reply to Parallel Port

        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

    • December 9, 2012 at nine:05 am #2431277

      Caution: IDE != floppy

      by r_widell · about 9 years, 2 months ago

      In respond to Is there whatsoever such matter as a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?

      re. the proffer by wizard57m-cnet:
      IDE cables take 40 pivot connectors whereas IIRC floppies have 34 pins. They are not equivalent.

      While I concur with TheChas that external v.25″ drives (that I retrieve) all connected via the parallel port, that probably won't help with a new automobile that doesn't have such a port. Moreover, it would crave a special commuter which will likely only run under MS-DOS.

      I seem to recall some PCI add-in cards (sold past SIIG IIRC) which had IDE and floppy ports. Yous may be able to find i on eBay. You won't have a true "external" floppy drive, just you tin can temporarily get out the case open up and run the cables out the side.

      I as well have serious concerns equally to whether Win8 fifty-fifty 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

      • Dec 9, 2012 at 9:54 am #2431276

        Reponse To Answer

        by Wizard57M-TR · about ix years, 2 months agone

        In reply to Circumspection: IDE != floppy

        Which is why I said IDE for floppy and non hard bulldoze. The other problem
        which I too overlooked is the power supply cablevision. Depending on the
        model, the PSU in the new equipment might not fifty-fifty have a power
        connector for any floppy bulldoze. So in that location is another obstacle. Might
        be able to find an adapter, oasis't checked myself, which is why I keep
        a couple of performance older systems on hand. Then if needed I tin
        use a NIC card and connect information technology to the network.

      • Dec 9, 2012 at three:02 pm #2431270

        Reponse To Respond

        past oh smeg · about ix years, two months ago

        In respond to Caution: IDE != floppy

        Ron Win 8 tin read a 3.v Floppy as my Examination Rig has one in information technology that I loaded viii to and information technology shows up in My Calculator or whatever 8 calls that now. I have copied files to the bulldoze though information technology 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'southward made on older platforms but I can encounter no reason why it wouldn't. Though running the programme that is on these disc'southward is some other story and I very much doubt that it would even come up close to working.

        As a 5.25 Floppy uses the aforementioned connectedness I would hazard a guess that eight would be able to read the floppy but depending on what is actually on the floppy that in itself may not exist enough as the programme that is attempting to exist accessed may not run on eight.

        This is why it is very important to verify that whatever you accept equally a Backup Option actually works equally information technology should and is restorable to new hardware in the event of a full loss of the existing hardware.

        Col

      • December 11, 2012 at 7:59 am #2431186

        Reponse To Answer

        by info · nigh nine years, 2 months ago

        In reply to Circumspection: IDE != floppy

        @Wizard57: That was the indicate. The IDE controller isn't what connects to the floppy drive, it's a split controller (that was frequently on the aforementioned bill of fare) and a divide blazon of cable.

    • December 9, 2012 at eleven:53 am #2431274

      I saw a few some years back for laptops equally USB 1.0 – but I think you lot may be

      by deadly ernest · about 9 years, 2 months agone

      In reply to Is at that place whatever such thing as a 5.25 external USB floppy bulldoze?

      ameliorate off using an old automobile 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

      exercise a google, you may find one for sale.

      I got some sometime gear that works and have 5.25 floppies, but I've not tried using the floppies for several years.

    • December 10, 2012 at 12:16 am #2431265

      www.floppydisk.com

      past magicbbs · about 9 years, 2 months ago

      In reply to Is at that place whatsoever such thing as a v.25 external USB floppy bulldoze?

      They take at the bottom of their page that there is no such animal … Aaaarrgh!!
      I'm looking for ane two and I idea I try again to see if they had something.

      "Demand to read 5.25 floppies?
      At that place is no USB bulldoze for 5.25 inch floppy disks.
      But, we tin can transfer data from your floppies"

      Volition keep trying. If I detect ane I'll laissez passer on the info.

    • December ten, 2012 at i:47 am #2431260

      Here's a couple of links on how to build a 5.25 floppy USB device yourself

      by deadly ernest · about 9 years, 2 months ago

      In reply to Is there any such thing as a 5.25 external USB floppy bulldoze?

    • December 10, 2012 at 6:40 am #2431253

      use a 3rd party company to transfer them to a more than practicle media

      by banny33 · nearly 9 years, 2 months ago

      In reply to Is at that place any such thing every bit a v.25 external USB floppy drive?

      The easiest would be to source an former pc, or send them to a company similar –

      http://www.disktransfer.co.united kingdom/floppy-disk-data-file-transfer-recovery.php
      Enquiry@apextechnology.co.uk

      A quick search on google brought these upwards, i have no idea how much they charge, merely I would of hoped that it is minimal. As its non a complicated procedure is it lets be honest.

      If i ever startup my own business, I will defo add a bank check, to make sure i check they arent using obsolete media, so you may accept saved me a headache, then thanks for asking the question.

      … Expert Luck Banny

    • Dec 10, 2012 at 10:27 am #2431235

      Not equally easy as plug and play but probably as easy every bit it will become…

      by chuck.patten · almost 9 years, ii months ago

      In reply to Is there any such matter as a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?

      1. Find your local Estimator Surplus / Repair store
      two. Have them locate a 3.v/5.25 inch floppy bulldoze.
      3. Purchase the dual drive and install it in a figurer that is compatible (IDE interface) or buy 1 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 accept a USB miniature socket on the side. If it does, it should interface to your laptop through a normal USB1 to USB2 cable just past plugging it in and allowing windows to ready information technology upward.
      cheers,
      chuck…

    • December 10, 2012 at 1:54 pm #2431224

      I take one!

      past rpaxman · about 9 years, 2 months ago

      In reply to Is there any such affair every bit a 5.25 external USB floppy bulldoze?

      A few years back I purchased a USB to 5.25 floppy drive. It came without a case, only I institute an onetime Sony case that worked. The company seems to still be in business. Encounter their web folio at http://www.deviceside.com/fc5025.html

      I hope this helps and expert luck. Robert.

    • December 10, 2012 at three:48 pm #2431221

      I have one, simply information technology's onetime-school

      by leonba · most 9 years, ii months agone

      In reply to Is at that place any such thing equally a 5.25 external USB floppy bulldoze?

      I have an old computer that can read 5.25″ disks (it sits in a corner of the office unused, but it'south always at that place if I should demand to read some of those once more). If you can't find what you're looking for and notwithstanding need what'south on those, shoot me an email. I can get the data off those for you and send the disks back and email you the data. lordpeyre (at) yahoo.com

    • Dec 10, 2012 at seven:17 pm #2431215

      Do you have access to a PC that has a floppy header on the mainboard?

      by nicknielsen · about 9 years, two months ago

      In respond to Is there any such affair every bit a 5.25 external USB floppy bulldoze?

    • December 11, 2012 at 8:21 am #2431183

      Optical method

      by steve__jobs · nigh 9 years, 2 months ago

      In respond to Is there any such affair as a v.25 external USB floppy drive?

      If y'all strip off the shell and hold the disk at just the correct bending, you'll be able to telephone call out the ane's and 0's.

    • Adding a v.25″ floppy to a newer estimator

      past dave503 · about 8 years, 9 months ago

      In reply to Is there whatsoever such affair every bit a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?

      1) If you have a three.5″ non-usb drive on your reckoner, it may exist possible to add a Teac dual drive (FD 505) that is readily available on eBay at a very modest toll. The caveats: many of the current BIOS do non support 5.25″ drives at all, and some but back up a single floppy (3.five″ OR 5.25″, only not both at the same time). The FD 505 uses jumpers to configure information technology equally a single 3.five, a unmarried 5.25, or both drives. If this doesn't work for yous, you can put out about $60 for an outboard floppy controller card from http://www.deviceside.com/fc5025.html that will work, even nether Win8 (but you'll have to get power from your computer or an external supply for the bodily drive). The actual card plugs in to a USB 2.0 port and is port powered.

    • May 28, 2013 at 10:03 am #2427343

      I know of NO fashion

      by mjd420nova · about eight years, 9 months ago

      In respond to Is there any such thing as a five.25 external USB floppy bulldoze?

      I have an one-time IBM AT running a home automation/energy monitor organization. Information technology has the 5.25. dual DS/DD and a 5.25 one.two MB floppy. This was the top media density until IBM started the PS2 line and the three.5 diskette 1.44 MB media. and was accompanied with the new 80386/387 chipsets. Dos was upward to 4.01 until the inclusion of the coprocessor on the same substrate as the processor and needed DOS 5.0.

    • Information technology'southward software you want, not data?

      by silverfinger · almost 8 years, ix months ago

      In reply to Is in that location any such thing as a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?

      I am not certain why you would go through all this trouble for software. At that place is zilch currently out there to replace what they were using? What are they trying to replace? If the disks had data I could understand.

    • Reading 5.25-inch floppies

      by n2add · about 8 years, 9 months ago

      In answer to Is there whatsoever such thing as a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?

      one. I purchased a v.25-inch floppy on eBay and installed information technology in an quondam computer and proceeded to copy my 5.25-inch disks. Most 20% of the disks could not be read properly. I besides did the same affair with my iii.five-inch disks. Everything I could re-create is now on a CD.

      ii. I tried one of those dual drives merely I could never go it to work properly. I tried various combinations of the jumpers merely no luck.

      iii. Some computers that exercise have a floppy connector on the motherboard volition only recognize 3.v-inch drives.

    • May 29, 2013 at 10:06 am #2427288

      OLD 5′ FLOPPY

      by powerserver13 · about viii years, ix months ago

      In reply to Is in that location whatsoever such thing as a 5.25 external USB floppy drive?

      I Take Ane TOO, YOU CAN Have, CAME OUT OF AN Sometime "SYMPHONY" COMPUTER 80836/?? THE WHOLE Figurer WORKS Smashing, JUST Need ANOTHER COM1 PLUG FOR A KEYBOARD.????

    • 5 ane/ii floppy drive

      by inkwell · about eight years, 9 months agone

      In reply to Is there any such affair as a 5.25 external USB floppy bulldoze?

      I accept an quondam Tandy 5 1/4 parallel port bulldoze.
      I took the drive out of the case, and cabled it to my Athlon 2400 XP-S3 box.
      I backed upwardly 40 5 1/four floppy disks to 1 folder and fit them all with room to spare on a 4 gb usb drive. If y'all haven't had any resolution and want to ship them to me in Canada, I'll do it for you, I just become a kick over how erstwhile tech seems to come up to the rescue. I'd need the return postage stamp & that'due south all.

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