Tiny Core Linux

Off-Topic => Off-Topic - Tiny Core Lounge => Topic started by: Pseudoman on March 20, 2012, 05:28:05 PM

Title: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: Pseudoman on March 20, 2012, 05:28:05 PM

I've a got a good one for you hardware buffs out there.
I recently purchased an Acer FD-101 external floppy drive to wipe some old floppy disks. Problem is that is the connector cable needs a parallel port, but my computer does not have one. And for some reason or another, it isn't recognized when I try to pass it through a Staples USB-Serial adapter, with accompanying connector adapters.
Can anyone here let me know how to convert the device to use USB instead, or an internal connection? Would that even be possible? If not, it would *only* be $5 down the tube.

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: Rich on March 20, 2012, 05:35:55 PM

Hi Pseudoman
All the connector adapters in the world will not allow you to control a parallel printer using a serial port.

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: Pseudoman on March 20, 2012, 05:54:20 PM

Oh, well that explains why my old Zoom modem wasn't working either...

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: gerald_clark on March 20, 2012, 06:12:08 PM

It's probably toasted now.

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: Rich on March 20, 2012, 06:52:10 PM

I doubt that. The line driver used in that USB to serial converter is probably limited to a few milliamperes.

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: curaga on March 21, 2012, 06:40:26 AM

Wiping floppies using a floppy drive would be pretty slow. Much faster just to touch them with a strong magnet and then cut the magnet disk in half.

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: vinnie on March 21, 2012, 06:51:15 AM

Quote from: curaga on March 21, 2012, 06:40:26 AM

Wiping floppies using a floppy drive would be pretty slow. Much faster just to touch them with a strong magnet and then cut the magnet disk in half.

And after trow it on a fire  ;D

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: curaga on March 21, 2012, 07:36:40 AM

That could have some poisonous fumes tho. Maybe a blender instead?

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: Pseudoman on March 21, 2012, 10:15:30 AM

Good suggestions for taking care of the floppies. I had forgotten about magnets... I tend to over-complicate things too often. Thanks for the help.

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: gutmensch on March 21, 2012, 10:19:09 AM

Btw. OT: to wipe CDs and DVDs you can buy heavy leather gloves, use only one at a time and split the plastic into pieces. Good training :D

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: vinnie on March 21, 2012, 04:40:29 PM

naa, i am more traditionalist:
(http://www.trueswords.com/images/prod/c/massive_war_hammer_spikes_540.jpg)
p.s. note the central collision pointer  ::)

Title: Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
Post by: Pseudoman on March 22, 2012, 07:11:33 AM

My problem is that I'm more of a New Traditionalist:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/Newtraditionalists.jpg)