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Author Topic: Converting an external floppy drive?  (Read 4559 times)

Pseudoman

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Converting an external floppy drive?
« 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.

Offline Rich

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #1 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.

Pseudoman

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2012, 05:54:20 PM »
Oh, well that explains why my old Zoom modem wasn't working either...

Offline gerald_clark

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2012, 06:12:08 PM »
It's probably toasted now.

Offline Rich

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #4 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.

Offline curaga

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #5 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.
The only barriers that can stop you are the ones you create yourself.

Offline vinnie

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2012, 06:51:15 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

Offline curaga

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2012, 07:36:40 AM »
That could have some poisonous fumes tho. Maybe a blender instead?
The only barriers that can stop you are the ones you create yourself.

Pseudoman

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #8 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.

Offline gutmensch

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #9 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
If I seem unduly clear to you, you must have misunderstood what I said. (Alan Greenspan)

Offline vinnie

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2012, 04:40:29 PM »
naa, i am more traditionalist:

p.s. note the central collision pointer  ::)

Pseudoman

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Re: Converting an external floppy drive?
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2012, 07:11:33 AM »
My problem is that I'm more of a New Traditionalist: