1.44Meg Floppy adapter for newer MotherBoards....

[Janitor Tzap]

Here is the Item in question...

They are rather cheap, and can cost any where from .99 cents to $30 dollars.
Only I'm puzzled by the connections.
Here is the back of a typical 1.44Meg Floppy.

They have the old style Mini-4 Pin Molex power connector on it, and the 34 pin data connector.

That Mini-Molex power connector supplies the +12VDC (Yellow), GND(Black), and +5VDC(Red) to the Floppy Drive.
The Adapter Board has a USB Cable connected to it as the Data and Power Input.
Only the USB Cable only has 4 wires.

Which means there is no +12VDC for the Floppy Drive.
Unless all the extra circuitry on the Adapter Board is for a DC to DC inverter for the +12VDC?

Well, what I was wondering is if anyone has tried one of these Adapter Boards, and what sort of issues I may have with it?

Reason is my old computer.
Even though it is still functioning.
It is struggling now with just running a browser.

So, I need to upgrade the Motherboard, CPU/Heatsink Fan, and Memory.
Plus, a IDE to SATA Adapter for my IOMEGA Zip Drive.

Ugh... not looking forward to doing it.


Signed: Janitor Tzap

[dacflyer]

Nice, Who sells this ?
I still use floppy drive for my old SONY Floppy disk camera..
right now i have to plug in an all in 1 USB floppy drive.

[dyarker]

Top photo. The many lead IC would handle USB data to drive data conversion.

The yellow wire on the molex is the +12V. If the pin measures 12V when connected to USB you've found the answer. Where does yellow go on the board?

I found that adaptor a NewEgg, and got part number. Unfortunately, Google gave nothing useful searching on specs for it.

Cheers,

[Janitor Tzap]

This is how the Mini-Molex power connector is connected from the adapter board to the 1.44Meg Drive.

Note:
Some of these Adapter Boards will ONLY WORK WITH 1.44Meg Floppy Drives.
{Which is why they are so cheap!}

There are other Adapter Boards that can be configured for different drive sizes.
Here's one from "MisterFGPA"

https://ultimatemister.com/product/grea ... er-writer/

Nice, Who sells this ?
I still use floppy drive for my old SONY Floppy disk camera..
right now i have to plug in an all in 1 USB floppy drive.

Just do a google search for "Floppy Adapter for USB".
You can find them on Amazon, E-bay, NewEgg, Walmart, AliExpress, Etc.....


Signed: Janitor Tzap

[dyarker]

Some of these Adapter Boards will ONLY WORK WITH 1.44Meg Floppy Drives.

Do you mean 720KB and 5.25 inch as the other drives?

[Janitor Tzap]

Some of these Adapter Boards will ONLY WORK WITH 1.44Meg Floppy Drives.

Do you mean 720KB and 5.25 inch as the other drives?

Yup,
Most of the cheap Adapter boards.

Now this one:

GREASEWEASLE V4.1USB Floppy Adapter.
Will work with 3", 3.5,″ 5.25″, 8″ disk drives.
Also, you can use a Floppy Ribbon Cable with this Adapter card.
Here's the website: https://ultimatemister.com/product/grea ... er-writer/
I recommend this one, just because they have documentation, and are willing to support it.

Almost all the other adapters have little to no documentation, and no support.


Signed: Janitor Tzap

[dyarker]

Only saw 8" on a word processor (dedicated, not a PC) in pre 286 era.

And want to mention that these adapt only floppy drives. Hard drives have wider data/control connector.
(there could be readers that think a drive is a drive )

Cheers,

[Janitor Tzap]

Only saw 8" on a word processor (dedicated, not a PC) in pre 286 era.

It was most likely a WANG Word Processor.
Here's a Promo Video from the Computer History Archives Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng5StJsgffs

And want to mention that these adapt only floppy drives. Hard drives have wider data/control connector.
(there could be readers that think a drive is a drive )

Yup,
I've gotten some pretty strange looks...
When I asked one of these kid's at Best Buy, if they had any 1.44Meg Floppies, or Floppy Drives.


Signed: Janitor Tzap