Reference number: CH000414

Installing a PC floppy disk drive.

Question:

Installing a PC floppy disk drive.

Answer:

Buying tips and help
How to determine the type of floppy drive
Before getting started
Remove existing floppy drive
Install
Connect Cables
Setup BIOS
Troubleshooting

Buying tips and help

If you have not already purchased a floppy drive please see our floppy buying tips section help before continuing.

How to determine the type of floppy drive

Additional information about how to determine the type of floppy drive can be found on document CH000496.

Before getting started

1. Difficulty of installing computer floppy drive should be a 1 out of 5.
2. Write down important information from the top or bottom of the floppy disk drive such as the Model Number, Serial Number and specifications.
3. Ensure you are familiar with ESD and its potential dangers.
4. When physically installing the standard floppy disk drive, ensure the computer is powered down and unplugged.

Remove existing floppy drive

If you are installing a floppy disk drive because of a failed floppy disk drive, first begin by disconnecting all cables from the floppy drive currently within the computer and remove the floppy drive from the system. Most systems will require that a screw or set of screws be removed before the drive can be removed. Other computers may have the floppy drive attached to a removable bracket that can be simply removed by pressing and holding tabs.

Note: If you do not see screws, some systems may hold the computer floppy disk drive with a screw on the front of the case.

Install

Open the computer case, and because floppy disk drives do not require any special hardware, settings such as jumpers or dipswitches connect the floppy drive physically to the computer either by screws or if your computer has a removable bracket attach the bracket to the floppy drive and then place the floppy into the computer.

Connect Cables

Once the new floppy drive has been connected into the computer, connect the floppy interface cable (small gray flat cable) to the back of the floppy drive. Generally, this cable will have a side with a blue or red side indicating pin one. This side of the cable will generally point to the power connection. If your computer floppy cable has three connections or a twist in the cable, ensure that the cable is connected properly by referring to the below picture.

Today, most computers and computer floppy disk drives have cables that only have two connections: one for the motherboard and the other for the floppy disk drive A. If your cable only has two connections, the above picture does not apply. 

Once the floppy interface cable has been connected to the computer, connect the floppy power cable to the back of the floppy disk drive. This cable is a small power cable when compared to the other power cables coming from the power supply.

Setup BIOS

Once the floppy drive has been connected to the computer, place the case back onto the computer and connect the keyboard, monitor and power to the computer (we recommend that you do not connect all the cables yet, if problems are experienced you may have to disconnect all the cables again).

Once connected, turn on the computer and enter BIOS setup. Verify that the floppy drive is properly setup within BIOS, most likely as a 1.44MB 3.25" Floppy A.

Additional information and help with BIOS can be found on our BIOS page.

Troubleshooting

If additional issues are encountered during or after the installation of the floppy disk drive, please refer to our main floppy disk drive page for additional help and information.