this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2024
100 points (100.0% liked)

Linux

5230 readers
159 users here now

A community for everything relating to the linux operating system

Also check out !linux_memes@programming.dev

Original icon base courtesy of lewing@isc.tamu.edu and The GIMP

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
Ategon@programming.dev
anzo@programming.dev
dwraf_of_ignorance@programming.dev
100
I got an (almost) internal Floppy Drive working on my Mint Desktop (programming.dev)
submitted 1 month ago by the16bitgamer@programming.dev to c/linux@programming.dev
13 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

So why did I even want to do this? Because the front panel of my PC has a 3 1/2" drive hole and I wanted to populate it.

Fine, real reason is because I have a few legacy machine lying around and having a floppy drive accessible is nice to have.

How does it work? Well I have a Floppy to USB adapter inside my rig, and since my motherboard has an unused set of USB 2 headers, I just plugged it into that.

Otherwise, it was just plug and play... almost.

Why the drive works as Plug and Play, linux mint pokes the USB to see if it's still there, so I have a small script at boot that disables it for that internal header.

I am just socked that it works, and while it sucks that I need to be root to read the disks, I am just happy that the whole setup works at all.

all 14 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] elidoz@lemmy.ml 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

if TheSecretofLife.txt doesn't contain 42 I'm gonna be upset

[–] the16bitgamer@programming.dev 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The drive has been making noises since yesterday and it's still not loading. I'd say I'd get back to you, but I don't think it'll load.

[–] elidoz@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

hello, I'm upset

that comupter is doing its best though so I don't blame it

[–] the16bitgamer@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

At it's current pace, it might take 7.5 million years

[–] Takeshidude@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

don't leave us hanging, what's in those .txts?

[–] the16bitgamer@programming.dev 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The world may never know :D

And totally not password123!

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago

Tbh not the worst thing to use as a secondary backup cold wallet, so long as you’re careful where you store it.

[–] desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

how does Linux handle "real" floppy drives (via the ISA bus)?

[–] Hawke@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago

Most real floppy drives are on their own port. They show up as /dev/fd0

[–] the16bitgamer@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

As I said above

I have a Floppy to USB adapter inside my rig, and since my motherboard has an unused set of USB 2 headers, I just plugged it into that.

So 1 adapter and 1 usb header, and it reads it as a USB Floppy, which I believe Linux has drivers for.

The device is shown as /dev/sdd (sda is 1TB SSD, sdb is hdd#1, and sdc is hdd#2)

[–] ShankShill@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

I almost have an internal floppy drive also. It's an internal Dell laptop drive that has a mini USB port for external use.