|
|
|
Installing REAL Old Hardware
|
Original Message
|
Name: BobH the rabbit
Date: May 11, 2004 at 22:28:43 Pacific
Subject: Installing REAL Old Hardware
OS: WinME
CPU/Ram: PII 350 Mhz 64mb
|
Comment: I have some old hardware scavenged from obsolesced systems. I want to install a ZIP drive in the old Optplex and a 5-1/4" floppy, if possible, in order to salvage some family history data that was created by someone else on that format. The Optiplex is an old system that I want to use to prevent any accidental damage to my main system. Is is possible to intermix the 386 floppy with the 486? What sort of ribbon cables will I need? The zip drive is labeled as a TEAC. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Report Offensive Message For Removal
|
|
Response Number 1
|
Name: totty (by allan_totty)
Date: May 12, 2004 at 02:52:06 Pacific
|
Reply: (edit)As far as I'm aware a floppy from a 386 should work with any pc made since, there supposed to be backwards compatible. What OS is th 486 running ? Its been a while but I remember installing hardware in 3.1 or dos was a right pain, although I didnt know what I was doing back then either. I would just use my main system. Allan
 Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
|
Response Number 2
|
Name: StuartS
Date: May 12, 2004 at 03:05:26 Pacific
|
Reply: (edit)Installing a 5.25" floppy shouldn't be a problem, even in a modern computer. It uses the same cable as a 3.5" in floppy. The only problem is that it has and edge connector instead of the IDE connectors on 3.5" drives. If you can get an old floppy cable with edge connectors you should be fine. The ZIP drive probably uses the same cable as well. Depending on how old the 5.25" floppy is, it might also have drive select jumpers on it. Of so make sure they are configured correctly. Stuart
Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
|
Response Number 3
|
|
Reply: (edit)If you can't get the zip drive to work I believe Kinko's (if you have one nearby) has zip disks in their computers. You could transfer them to CD there. When all else fails beat the $%!* out of it!!!
Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
|
Response Number 4
|
Name: wizard-fred
Date: May 12, 2004 at 08:02:23 Pacific
|
Reply: (edit)The ZIP drive should have an IDE connector. It would probably best to install both a 3.5 floppy as A and the 5.25 drive as B. It would be a lot easier to boot and configure.
Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
|
Response Number 5
|
Name: name
Date: May 12, 2004 at 08:30:48 Pacific
|
Reply: (edit)Some new machines (I have at least one used Gateway) do NOT HAVE a 5.25 disc support setting in BIOS. Other than having the proper mating cable, I can think of no other issue. Your newer machine probably will not have the proper cable connector for the big drive, but if the OLD machine had both 3.5 and 5.25 floppies, you should be able to use that cable. A FEW OLDER MACHINES had 3.5 floppies that used the old style "big" connector, same as the 5.25 floppy, so if neither cable has the correct connectors, you will simply have to scare up a proper cable.
Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
|
Response Number 6
|
Name: OtheHill
Date: May 12, 2004 at 12:57:18 Pacific
|
Reply: (edit)As was mentioned the BIOS needs to support the 5.25" drive. The latest version of 5.25 floppy had a 1.2MB capacity, so set accordingly. Those old drives were open on the top so check for dust inside before installing.
Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
Use following form to reply to current message:
|
|
|
