So on my motherboard i have 2 dvd/cd drives connected with 1 IDE cable, and originally i was going to find an external enclosure for an internal floppy drive of mine so i could use it on my computer, but havent found one. My question is, if i get an IDE cable that has 3 connections, for 1 connection to dvd drive/1 connection to cd drive/1 connection to floppy drive, will it work? And also will I need an IDE controller card and how would that work?
Unfortunately I dont have any open 3.5" drives on my case for the floppy drive, but i have the side panel of my case open so I figure even if i connect the floppy drive internally,i can always set it atop the outside of my case, or on its side on my desk.
2007-06-25 17:01:30 · 6 answers · asked by jsgetbusylgz 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
You can get something that converts the 5.25" drive into a 3.5" drive, so you can still set it inside your case. Also, I thought that floppy drives used FDD, not IDE
2007-06-25 17:04:37 · answer #1 · answered by austin_penguin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your motherboard should have a header that looks rather like an IDE cable, however is narrower. Take a look at ( http://www.escotal.com/motherboard3.jpg ), it will show you what to look for. As was said earlier, you can get an adapter plate allowing you to use a floppy drive in a 5 1/4" drivebay, and it's much less expensive than buying an external. I believe BestBuy sells them for around $30.00 with the drive and the adapter. When plugging the interface cable into the floppy drive, it can be flipped either way (nothing blocking it), be sure to connect the cable with the red strand on the left (as you're looking at the back of the drive). Remember, also, the power cable for that floppy drive won't be the same as what is used for CD/DVD/Hard Drives, your power suppy should have a specific cable/header that will only fit that drive.
2007-06-26 03:42:53 · answer #2 · answered by Russcoh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you ask simply don't exist, floppy drives use a precursor to SCSI/IDE hence can't be made compatible and IDE bus is prefixed to have only master/slave setup, connect floppy drives as it was always connected before in millions of PCs is the only way.
2007-06-26 00:08:43 · answer #3 · answered by Andy T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An CD/DVD IDE cable is different from floppy one. a floppy one is thinner (less pins) and it should have a separate connector on the motherboard. i don't think you would need an IDE controller they are automatically assigned to a driver.
2007-06-26 00:06:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, the controller can only handle a primary and secondary device. Get yourself an external usb floppy drive, cheap at walmart.
2007-06-26 00:05:34 · answer #5 · answered by IRONFIST-X2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
PROTIP: Floppy drives don't use the same cable as your dvd/cd drives
2007-06-26 00:05:13 · answer #6 · answered by Louie W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋