Can't get a 5.25 floppy drive to work

I'm trying to install a 5.25 floppy drive in my system so that I can transfer information for my in-laws. I have bought two drives already and neither will work. I have tried them in my 98 system and my XP system. The cables are working, so that isn't the problem. They are not recognized by either system and "add new hardware" doesn't find anything. I've checked BIOS for any settings that may need to be changed and I don't see anything. I just don't know what I need to do to get them to work. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Mike

 

Hi Mike , 5.25's were almost before my time (my first computer had one). I would be quite certain that you will need to get it recognised and set by the BIOS. If the BIOS does not have any floppy drive settings, it will be set as a 3.5" drive (if it recognises it at all) and it won't run as a 3.5.

In your signature you list the IBM 333Mhz, that might just possibly have settings for it.

I seldom see recent BIOSes with floppy drive settings, but one I have looked at lists only 1.44Mb or 2.88Mb.

Do you have any older computers stored away that you could set up and hook into your network? Alternatively, if you could get the 5.25 working on an older computer, you could probably add a 3.5" drive (as the B: drive) and transfer the data to 1.44Mb floppy disks.

Matt

 

Must agree with "mattman" if the bios does not let you select 5.25 drive then you are out of luck. Depending on age of floppy it could have ID jumpers and some others ( do not remember just what they were for) . There were several types of 5.25 drives, single sided\double sided\hard sector\ soft sector\single density and double density. Along with the listed types some were made only to work in a certain brand of comp.

The "newer" 5.25 were made to fit on cable before the twist while the 3.5 were put after the twist. (or the other way around)

Why try to use old 5.25 when you can not buy the diskettes any more or did you buy 3.5 drives.

 

I'll look into the BIOS again. The reason I need to hook up the drive is that my in-laws old computer died and they have important family history information stored on the old 5.25 disks. They never thought to move them over to something more updated. If I could get the information on my hard drive, I could copy it to whatever they wanted.

Mike

 

Hi Mike

Maybe someone in the local area is still running a older machine. Hopefully they would allow you to copy info from the floppy. Try the following ...
Area computer shops, possible could fire up a relic in storage.
Local schools, public and parochial.
City government, area libraries.
Local organizations, church groups to flying clubs.
If you do find one, best to pick up a spray can of liquid air to blow out the cobwebs in the drive. As old as the floppy is, don't know how many opportunities it will allow a good read.
Good luck.

 

If I was living closer to you I could help you my mate still has a old 386 and 486 running including the old 5.25 Floppy. I also have kept my 5.25 drive but have no PC to run it in anymore.
hawk22

 

Update: Sorry for the long delay. I was able to work on the problem again tonight and got things working. I tried them on my 98 system again. This time I left the 3.5" floppy drive connected and connected the 5.25" up. I added the drive in BIOS and it came up just fine and worked. Not sure why it wouldn't work when I tried to connect just the 5.25 ". Maybe I forgot to change the BIOS setting. I thought I did. Who knows. At least it works. I never got it to work on the XP system no matter what setting I tried.

hawk22,

I appreciate the offer. I wouldn't mind visiting Australia someday.

Thanks all!
Mike

 

Pete,

I can't tell you yet. My in-laws have not sent to disks to me yet. I am assuming the data is still good since they still work on them. They hate change and started with them and keep working from them from time to time. I'll post back when I get the disks and see for myself.

Mike