Floppy Drive

[TBSN]

So, for the computer I'm planning on building, is a floppy drive necessary? Things have changed considerably since the last time I set up a computer, and back then it was necessary to have a floppy for driver installation, etc. Will it be easier to set up the computer initially if I get a floppy, or can most things be done with CD now?

After the computer is set up there is little to no chance that I will use the floppy drive...

 

[lenjack]

Not critical, not needed, but very handy, even if you use it twice a year. At $10 for an internal, I say have one.

 

[lobbyone]

I have a floppy drive, best $5 add-on, but never used it once. lol

 

[Trashman]

I just recently built a new rig and decided against floppy, sure it would come in handy down the road, takes a bit more work, in a way....havin to burn cd for boot disk or a BIOS update or 2..so far so good....i do have 1 handy though, just in case.

 

[polypterus]

It's not necessary. I have one but have never used it. I don't even know if it works, lol.

 

[oynaz]

Someone in here mentioned that a floppy drive is 99% useless 99% of the time, but when you need it, you REALLY need it. For a price of $5-10, I would definitely get one.

 

[TBSN]

...but, what is an example of these times that they become really necessary?

 

[Agentbolt]

Updating your BIOS. Doing it in Windows is dicey because if it crashes, you are SOL. When doing it by floppy it's much more reliable. Also sometimes you can't get into Windows to flash the BIOS on the first place from there.

 

[TBSN]

Alright, I guess I'll just get the floppy drive. I've always had one in the past, so there's no reason not to get one now if there's a possibility it could make life easier when setting up or updating the computer. Thanks for the speedy responses everyone!

 

[amaunator]

Another alternative is to go with a combo floppy and media card drive. They run about 20 bucks and it is very handy.

 

[Ultralight]

I would also add very, very handy for a MemTest+

 

[Kreon]

I love my floppy, saved me twice.
99% useless 99% of the time, but when you need it... (as mentioned before, holds completely treu)

Besides, it'll add another line of stuff when you list your components

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: TBSN
Floppy Drive
Critical component or not necessary?

Those are the only two options? :shocked:
Must be nice to live in a black & white world.

 

[TBSN]

Don't floppy/ media card readers connect to the motherboard via USB? Would that mean that you could not boot from floppy?

ps: why is it handy for Memtest?

 

[Susquehannock]

Floppy is connected via IDE/PATA connection.

Memtest must be run outside Windows environment.

 

[cessna152]

USB External Floppy Drive <--- I love mine.

Pretty much any new computer/motherboard will have support to boot from USB devices.

 

[jackschmittusa]

I have a whole bunch of floppys with small utilities that run from DOS. Still flash bioses from floppy. I give floppys away with files on them. I still find them very useful.

 

[TBSN]

is it possible to boot from a flash drive? I'm wondering because a)the floppy/ card reader drives connect via USB rather than IDE and b) If I could boot from a usb drive then floppy would be unnecessary for me...

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: TBSN
is it possible to boot from a flash drive? I'm wondering because a)the floppy/ card reader drives connect via USB rather than IDE and b) If I could boot from a usb drive then floppy would be unnecessary for me...

If you're on a modern (one or two year old system), yes

 

[jjsbasmt]

I have the Media Reader/Writer Flpppy Drive combo, and I find the device very useful.

 

[memories2002]

In this age of boot cds (Ultimate, Hiren, Bart/MiniPE...) who needs floppys anyway?
Buy one when you need one

 

[lenjack]

I don't agree with "buy one when you need one", because of Murphy's law. When you need one, you need it NOW. It's usually on a Sunday or 2 AM. Cheap insurance.

 

[imported_Imp]

Don't have one, haven't needed one for my 1 year old-ish build. I can only remember once or twice when I could have used a floppy, but then said "why the hell do you have that DVD-RW and stack of CD-Rs do...".

 

[TBSN]

Here's my question: if a floppy/ card-reader drive connects internally via a USB (not IDE like floppy-only drives), will is work as a bootabe drive?

If so, then is a USB flash drive capable of doing what a bootable floppy can do, or am I totally mistaken?

 

[Imyourzero]

On newer computers, yes a USB floppy drive is bootable. And yeah you can make a USB flash drive bootable...there are several tutorials that I've seen that cover it.