I have found inexpensive (~$15) 3.5in floppy to USB adapter cables but have been unable to find a similar adapter for 5.25 floppy drives. Does anybody make such a thing?
Are the pinouts of a 3.5 the same as 5.25 so that I could just make a cable end converter for the 3.5 adapter?
jwzumwalt
jwzumwaltjwzumwalt2,14944 gold badges1616 silver badges4040 bronze badges
4 Answers
Convert Floppy Drive To Usb Port
The data pin-outs are the same, assuming a reasonably “new” 5.25” drive, not an early ‘80s model.
![India India](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123710556/832651843.jpg)
It was a common upgrade to replace the second 5.25” drive on an older machine with a 3.5” one, so you could have a choice of format depending on your needs. They were interchangeable.
You might have an issue with the power though. I don’t remember seeing a 5.25” drive using the compact power connector pictured there. There might be, and I just don’t remember. There was another older connector type that was wider, with four tubular thick pins in a line. I’m learning that it is commonly referred to as “Molex” but that’s a company name. Power supplies typically provided both sets for choice of device. You will probably need an adapter cable for power. The electric characteristics are the same, it’s just a pin converter.
Be careful to get the right “direction”: you need a male 3.5” style to “molex 4 pin” female. The converter might be a bit hard to find because most people who needed a converter needed the opposite thing (plug a 3.5” drive on a 5.25”-only power supply). Cabling is not my area, so others might provide you with better information.
Euro MicelliEuro Micelli
The connections on the 34-pin ribbon cables are identical, but the size of the connectors are different.
You can get ready made cables with both 5.25 and 3.5 connectors, for example http://www.cablesonline.com/36unflopdriv.html (and of course from Ebay also). These are likely to be more reliable than trying to wire a 5.25 connector onto a 3.5-sized cable by hand. These cables used IDC (insulation displacement) connectors which are crimped, not soldered, and they only work as designed with the correct size ribbon cable.
Rewiring the 4-pin power cable is a much more feasible proposition than rewiring the ribbon cable, if you can't find what you need ready-made. It should be possible to release the individual wires from the connector by pressing down the spring clip that locks the wire in place (visible through the slots in one side of the connector) with a thin screwdriver blade or something similar, while pulling on the wire. The wire itself is soldered onto the metal 'pin and spring clip' part which goes into the plastic housing.
alephzero![Convert Floppy Drive To Usb Convert Floppy Drive To Usb](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123710556/371213107.jpg)
2,66611 gold badge99 silver badges1717 bronze badges
Transfer Files From Floppy Disk To Usb Flash Drive
Perhaps FC5025 by Device Side Data would work? (it's read-only). Priced at $55.25.
AnonAnon
I am somewhat sceptical that you'll get this to work for high density. The basics are that normal (single or double density) 5¼' floppies are turning at a rate of 300rpm while high density 5¼' floppies mimic 8' double density floppies with a rate of 360rpm. In contrast, 3½' floppies always use 300rpm. Double density on either have data rates of 250mbps in MFM (double density) mode while high density has 500mpbs. The slower rotational speed of 3½' HD disks is what results in the higher capacity. Lets make it legal download.
It's probably safe to assume that only MFM will be supported and it would be rather surprising if both 250mbps and 500mbps data rate and/or 300rpm and 360rpm would be since those generally have to come from the drive. In theory, the 'drive' could decide to vary those based on the size/kind of images stored on the USB stick but at least for double density, the size of 3½' and 5¼' images would be the same. Note that essentially it is the drive that 'detects' the format of the floppies.
user12037
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged floppy-disk or ask your own question.
Price refinements - Carousel
Showing slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES} - Price refinements
Brand New
From China
Buy It Now
Floppy Drive to USB Converter Emulator for Okuma Lathe + free 8 GB Flash Drive
Brand New
From India
Buy It Now
168 Sold168 Sold
Floppy Drive to USB Converter Emulator Mitsubhishi EDM EA8,BA8 , BA24, FA20 1.44
Free 8GB USB , Delivery in 3-5 working days Anywhere
From India
Buy It Now
Floppy Drive to USB Converter Charmilles Roboform Robofil Wire Cut 720 DD + 8GB
Brand New
From India
Buy It Now
117 Sold117 Sold
Floppy Drive to USB Converter for Charmilles Robofil 190 , 440 CC (1.44mb )
Also Used-Charmilles Robofil 290P, 380, 640 CC,240 SL
From India
Buy It Now
22 Watching
Floppy drive to USB Converter emulator for embroidery machine SHIMA SEIKI
Brand New
From China
Buy It Now
floppy disk drive to USB Converter emulator for KUKA Robots +8GB (1.44 mb)
Brand New
From India
Buy It Now
Brand New
From China
Buy It Now
Floppy Disk Drive 34 pin to USB Converter Emulator Pluritec+ 8gb Flash (720DD)
Brand New
From India
Buy It Now
New Floppy Drive To USB Upgrade Kit Emulator Converter For OKUMA LATHE Machine
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesSFR1M44-SUE Floppy to USB converter for Chinese embroidery machine
Brand New
From China
or Best Offer
Floppy Drive To USB Converter Upgrade Kit Emulator Fr Brother ULT2001 2002D 2003
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy Drive To USB Converter Upgrade Kit For Charmilles Robofil 190 440CC 1.44M
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy Drive To USB Converter Kit For Charmilles Robororm Robofil Wire Cut 720KB
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy To USB Converter For HAAS CNC Machines Lathe VF2 VF3 VF4 VF5 VF6 VF7 VF8
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy DR To USB Converter Upgrade Kit Emulator For Roland Fantom FA76 Keyboard
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy Drive to USB Converter Sodick Wire Cut EDM + 8gb Flash (720 kb DD Model)
Brand New
From China
Buy It Now
USB Cable to 3.5' 34pin Floppy Interface Adapter Converter Board Driver Board
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
or Best Offer
From Hong Kong109 Sold109 Sold
Floppy To USB Converter Emulator for Sodick WireCut EDM (1.44 MB Model)
Brand New
From China
Buy It Now
Floppy Drive to USB Converter ProtoTRAK MX2 CNC 720 DD + 8GB
Brand New
From India
Buy It Now
Floppy Drive to USB Converter for Charmilles Robofil 190 + 8gb (1.44 mb)
Also Used-Charmilles Robofil 290P,380, 640 CC,240 SL
From India
Buy It Now
M72-FU 720KB Floppy Drive To USB Converter Emulator For BarudanBrotherTajima
Brand New
From China
Buy It Now
1.44MB Floppy drive to USB Converter Emulator for SWF machine replace old FDD
Brand New
From China
Buy It Now
Floppy Drive To USB Converter Kit For Agie Cut 200D Charmilles Wirecut FW1 FW1C
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy Drive To USB Converter Kit For Charmilles Roboform 20 30 31 35 40 41 50
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy DR. To USB Converter Upgrade Kit For Charmilles Robororm Robofil Wire Cut
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy Drive To USB Converter Kit For Charmilles Robofil 510 2020 2030 4020 4030
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy Drive To USB Converter Kit For Charmilles Robofil 200 290 300 310 400 500
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy Drive To USB Converter Kit For Charmilles Robofil 6000 6020 640C 240 CNC
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy To USB Converter Kit For HAAS CNC Machines Lathe VF2 VF3 VF4 VF5 VF6 VF7
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy To USB Converter Emulator Kit For HAAS CNC SL10 SL20 TM2 HL2 Mini Mill
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United StatesFloppy To USB Converter Kit For HAAS CNC Machines Lathe VF6 VF7 VF8 VR9 VF10 VR1
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
Buy It Now
From United States