need help with floppy drive installation

[awhit1]

I need to know what I need to install a floppy disk drive that already has an open disk slot in the top front of the case. It already has the slot where you slide the disk in, the drive LED, and the floppy eject button. Do I buy some kind of floppy drive kit? If so from where? I've never seen one listed. I bought an internal floppy that I could use in another slot but sure would like to use the one that has the open slit. Thank You in advance for any help you can give me.


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[Paleo Pete]

The desription is a bit vague, but it sounds like you're describing a 5 1/4" floppy. If you're talking about replacing the 3 1/2" floppy drive, you have to open the case and remove the existing one, then replace it with the one you bought. Does the one you bought have a small handle on front that flips down? If so, that's a 5 1/4" drive, it can be installed, but in a different bay than the existing 3 1/2" drive, since it will be needed any time you have to boot from a floppy. The 5 1/4" can be added, it has to be plugged into the ribbon cable, a plug from the power supply plugged in, and the BIOS setting changed so the machine knows it's there.

Let us know which size drive you're trying to install, we can be a bit more specific.

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[Jerkymom]

Pete, I think awhit1 is talking about a case with a pre-formed floppy opening, like the ones often found on Compaq cases. I couldn't find a good closeup of a Compaq, but take a look at this computer case (http://www.colorcase.com/products/case/aquablue/aquabluebig.jpg) to see what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, I'm not working on any Compaqs right now, so I can't tear one open to see how the floppy drive is mounted. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif I'm guessing the case is shaped to accommodate a standard floppy drive mounted from behind the case front panel in a standard 3.5" bay.

Kim

[Paleo Pete]

You could well be right mom, I was confused by the post, and didn't understand it, and never thought about that type of floppy mount. And I think you're right about the way it mounts, I believe it's a standard floppy mounted behind the slot, the button has a stud behind it to press the existing button.

I have my sister's Compaq here, but I'm not about to open it, it seems to be working for now, so I don't even sneeze near it...

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If you had everything...Where would you put it?

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[Jerkymom]

Pete: LOL!!! I think you're very wise not to mess with that Compaq if it's working, which in my experience doesn't happen all that often! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

Kim

[awhit1]

Sorry, I didn't make post clearer. Jerkymom you've got it right and my case is nearly the same as the compaq case in your post except the drive bay is located at the top of the case. Yes this is a 3.5 floppy drive and there is a mounting bracket behind the slot opening to accept the drive so that's no problem. But the floppy drive I'm trying to install has an LED and drive eject button of its own. How do use this with a case that has an LED and drive button? Thanks again for all your help.

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[Jerkymom]

I suppose you would just mount the standard floppy drive behind the built-in slot on the case. The eject buttons probably line up, but I don't have a clue about the LEDs. Guess you'll just have to take the case apart and have a look at it. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Kim

[Paleo Pete]

Pete: LOL!!! I think you're very wise not to mess with that Compaq if it's working, which in my experience doesn't happen all that often!

mom:Every time it boots and actually runs, my sister's ready to throw a party. When it decides to shut down, she almost faints...I try not to come within 8 feet of the thing, for fear I might discover I have a large hammer in my hand...I spent a total of about 15 hours on the phone with tech support trying to get them to honor their "warranty" and was told I would have to troubleshoot it over the phone before they would think about sending someone out to look at it. Made the supervisor so mad he hung up! Would have been fired on the spot if I was his boss, you NEVER hang up on a customer...The beast has been a nightmare from day 1, refused to shut down the first time it was turned on, went downhill from there...

Ayway, that's all off topic, so I'd better shut up, I have a very bad attitude about Compaq's...

awhit1 I'm not sure about that type case, and for the reasons already stated I can't look inside the one in the next room, but I think the LED shows through the existing one, it's just a window for the light to show through. The button should have a post on the back that presses the button on the drive, you'll have to open the case to see.

If the case has a pair of wires for an LED instead of a window, look on the back of the existing drive, it should have a place for the LED to plug in, the new one should have a pair of contacts on it also, if this is the case. I don't have a spare floppy drive handy at the moment to check it. They're out in the shed. (It's cold out there!) I think that's just a window though, and all you have to do is install the drive same as a standard case.

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If you had everything...Where would you put it?

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