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    Converting Internal Floppy Drives to USB External?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by stoy, Dec 21, 2008.

  1. stoy

    stoy Notebook Consultant

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    hello. I want to convert an internal floppy drive into an usb external one. Does anyone know where to start or where you could buy such an adapter?

    I know this is completely pointless and I could just use a flash drive, but it's not as fun. lol

    All the help much appreciated, stoy
     
    stoy, Dec 21, 2008
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  2. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

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    I was going to say it's pointless because a USB floppy is going to be like 7 bucks, and this project will cost that in parts.
     
    Hep!, Dec 21, 2008
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  3. stoy

    stoy Notebook Consultant

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    I know, but it doesnt matter. It's not about the money or usefullness.
     
    stoy, Dec 21, 2008
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  4. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

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    I doubt an adapter like that exists. You will have to create your own board that interfaces standard floppy devices to a language USB can understand.

    Here's the main chip you will need, I don't know enough about creating full circuits to be able to write any schematics.
    http://www.keil.com/dd/chip/3286.htm

    Power will be the easy part, you can just replace the molex connector of any external enclosure's power with a floppy power cable from any AT/ATX power supply.


    EDIT: Cool, some research led me to this!
    Now you can make the adapter!
    http://www.smsc.com/main/tools/usb/evb97cfdc.pdf


    (Still want to do this project? ;))
     
    Hep!, Dec 21, 2008
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  5. sesshomaru

    sesshomaru Suspended Disbelief!

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    Well.. then find the Parellel to serial converter circuit and try to implement it on your own.. It'll be 10 times as fun.. :p And frustrating.. ;)
     
    sesshomaru, Dec 21, 2008
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  6. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    I did the same thing, I used a normal floppy drive in my external enclosure.

    Please note that if you are using the external floppy drive for booting SATA drivers for XP you need a Windows certified floppy drive.
    Only Mitsumi, Teac and SmartDisc floppy drives are certified by Windows. The other brands will not work.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Dec 21, 2008
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  7. stoy

    stoy Notebook Consultant

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    cheers guys, it's a gd start :) i did something similar for my calculator so I've got super mario on there now lol

    edit: I just look at the circuit diagram, I'm doomed to fail lol
     
    stoy, Dec 21, 2008
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