Floppy Drive?

[ChrisHaines]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum.
I recently decided to build my first PC. I have been a PC owner for many years, but never really understood what went on inside the box. I have been doing a lot of research latley and have become very overwhelmed. There is one dilemma I haven't found an answer to yet. Should I include a floppy drive in my build? If I don't, what risks do I take? I've read about slipstreaming and just recently discovered nLite. Will these two options solve any problems I might have if I end up with a floppy disc that has essential data on it I need? I defer to the collective experience here for any insight you can give.
Thanks

 

[FreshPrince]

it costs less than $10 so I always put one in because you never know...

 

[Texun]

Welcome! :beer:

I faced the same question on my last build and decided it was worth the extra $10 to have a floppy in case I needed one. I've probably used it twice in the past year for other systems that needed a BIOS update via a boot floppy. For such little use I am quite certain my next case won't have a floppy installed, but I'll keep one in a shoe box somewhere in case I need it.

 

[JustaGeek]

You can make a bootable CD for the BIOS updates, but it is SO MUCH easier with the floppy.

And the DOS based BIOS programs are the ONLY ones to ensure trouble-free updates.

 

[RebateMonger]

Vista should eliminate most needs for a floppy, but it's easier to install one in the beginning, rather than trying to hook up or install one later, when you need it. As noted, you sometimes need one for BIOS updates. Yeah, you can make a bootable CD, but it's quicker to just write a floppy.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I keep one, in the box, for BIOS updates and installed RAID drivers at OS install if necessary.

 

[Cutthroat]

If you have a newer motherboard + Vista + a thumb drive you can easily get away without a floppy.

 

[Blain]

I personally like to have a floppy drive in my rigs.
I usually get one like the Mitsumi that does double duty as a card reader.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

nope haven't used a floppy in over 3 years

 

[cozumel]

Same as the others. Used mine once or twice in the last year. Haven't got one now but hooked one up temporarily the other day for a BIOS update.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Blain
I personally like to have a floppy drive in my rigs.
I usually get one like the Mitsumi that does double duty as a card reader.

I've been using those Mitsumi drives in builds for several years. :thumbsup:

 

[lxskllr]

Just seeing a floppy drive in a computer angers me. The sooner those things are no longer available, the better. You should be able to do BIOS updates with a thumb drive, and then you don't have to worry about the floppy corrupting your BIOS before you even get it installed.

 

[SpunkyJones]

I keep one in a drawer and hook it up long enough to do what I need. I've only used it once in the past couple of years for a raid driver I needed.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Just seeing a floppy drive in a computer angers me.

You actually get angered by seeing a floppy drive? What's your problem? :shocked:
A floppy is simply a method of data storage.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Just seeing a floppy drive in a computer angers me.

You actually get angered by seeing a floppy drive? What's your problem? :shocked:
A floppy is simply a method of data storage.

The floppy's day in the sun passed 10 years ago. Lazy companies perpetuated the technology by requiring them when there were better alternatives available. If I never have to hear that obnoxious grinding again, I'll be a happy camper.

As far as the data storage goes...It's barely a method. There isn't too much use for a whopping 1.5mb of storage these days. You could almost copy that down with a pen and paper

 

[Blain]

How do you feel about mechanical HDs? :shocked:

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Blain
How do you feel about mechanical HDs? :shocked:

I feel pretty good about them. They're fast, quiet, and cheap. More importantly, there isn't an economically feasible replacement for them yet. As soon as SSDs become viable, mechanical HDs can go to hell also

 

[Blain]

After you move to SSD's, then mechanical HDs will anger you...
But for now they're good?

I see an old PCI video card or ISA modem, and I fly into a rage! :|

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Blain
After you move to SSD's, then mechanical HDs will anger you...
But for now they're good?

I see an old PCI video card or ISA modem, and I fly into a rage! :|

The problem is that they shouldn't be used anymore. Nothing should require the use of a floppy drive, and people's persistence in clinging onto them leads lazy manufacturers to require using them. There's nothing wrong with PCI gfx cards, ISA modems, or floppy drives in 12 year old machines. They have no place in a modern computer, and the sooner people quit using them, the sooner they won't be needed.

How about this for BIOS updates...Manufacturers put $.25 of flash memory on the MB, and you write updated BIOS files to that while in the O/S, and write them to ROM on the next reboot. See, no more floppies, and you have a cheaper, more reliable way of updating your BIOS.

 

[Blain]

People at work ask me about how to do this or that.
I simply copy some web pages that address their issues onto a floppy and give that to them.
No fuss, no muss... They get their answer and I save time.
A CDR would be a waste of space for the info. they need.

 

[0roo0roo]

occasionally i use a floppy usb..they boot and detect on modern bios pretty well.
i guess its sorta cheatin heh. but no i don't install floppies on my pc anymore.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

I saw an 28.8K ISA modem with my own naked eyes two weeks ago. If I hadn't had a baseball bat handy, I don't know what I would have done...

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Blain
People at work ask me about how to do this or that.
I simply copy some web pages that address their issues onto a floppy and give that to them.
No fuss, no muss... They get their answer and I save time.
A CDR would be a waste of space for the info. they need.

Really? I'd just send it across the network, or use email.

 

[Rottie]

I still use floppy drive because I still have large collection of old floppy disk from taxes, legals, etc.
almost all of new notebooks do not have floppy drives anymore

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Rottie
I still use floppy drive because I still have large collection of old floppy disk from taxes, legals, etc.
almost all of new notebooks do not have floppy drives anymore

I'd back them up to CD if you really need that information. I can't count how many floppies I've had that corrupted just sitting in storage.