Computer Hardware:
     • Tools, Static & Cleaning
     • Form Factor
     • PC Case & Fans
     • Motherboard
     • Processor (CPU)
     • Power Supply Unit
     • RAM
     • Hard Drive
     • Solid State Drive
     • Optical Drive
     • Floppy Disk Drive
     • Graphics Card
     • Sound Card
     • Network Card
     • Computer Monitor
     • Keyboard & Mouse
     • Laptop / Netbook
     • Building a Computer
     • Overclocking

Operating System & Backup:
     • Operating System
     • Drivers
     • Windows Tools
     • User Accounts
     • Backup
     • Windows 10

Internet & Network:
     • Internet
     • Wi-fi or Cable
     • Improve Broadband Speed
     • Network Computers

Computer Peripherals:
     • Printer
     • Scanner
     • External Hard Drive
     • USB Flash Drive

Computer Security:
     • Anti-virus
     • Anti-Spyware
     • Phishing
     • Firewall

Common PC Problems:
     • Slow Computer
     • Hardware Failure
     • Software Failure
     • Printing Problems

Miscellaneous:
     • Windows Shortcuts
     • Glossary of Terms
     • HTML Colour Picker
     • Number Base Converter

Floppy Disk Drive

Now mostly obsolete, the Floppy Disk Drive (FDD) is a magnetic storage device which uses removable Floppy Disks.

Early Floppy Disks came in an 8 inch format, then later a 5.25 inch format, and more recently a 3.5 inch format. They are called Floppy Disks because the actual disk is thin and flexible. The disk is held in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles.

Floppy Disks are rarely used today because of their low capacity. A regular 3.5 inch Floppy Disk could only hold 1.44MB of data.

3.5 inch Floppy Disk Drive & Floppy Disk

3.5 inch Floppy Disk Drive & Floppy Disk.

Although the capacity of a Floppy Disk is very small for saving data, it can still be useful to create a boot disk for fixing operating system problems, or when flashing the BIOS.

Floppy Disk Drive Connector on Motherboard

Floppy Disk Drive Connector on Motherboard.
You may not have a Floppy Disk Drive connector on a newer motherboard but an older motherboard may well have one as shown in the photograph above. The connector is similar but slightly smaller than an IDE connector and usually marked as FDD. Two Floppy Disk Drives can be controlled by the single FDD connector which is connected to the Floppy Disk Drive by a ribbon cable.

Floppy Disk Drive Data ribbon cable & Power cable.

Floppy Disk Drive - Data cable & Power Cable.

The ribbon cable has two connectors at one end for each Floppy Disk Drive and a connector at the other end which plugs into the motherboard. The computer can distinguish between the two drives because there is a twist in the ribbon cable. The Floppy Disk Drives become Drive A: and Drive B:

The ribbon cable usually has a red line running down one side which should align with pin 1 on the motherboard connector and pin 1 on the Floppy Disk Drive.

The power cable has a 4 pin connector which will fit only one way into the Floppy Disk Drive.

Rear of Floppy Disk Drive with Data & Power connectors.

Floppy Disk Drive - Data cable & Power Cable.
Floppy Disk Write-protection

A 3.5 inch Floppy Disk can be write-protected by sliding a plastic tab to reveal a hole in the top corner of the disk, When you want to write to the disk then you need to slide the plastic tab to close the hole.

MENU (Floppy Disk Drive):
1. Floppy Disk Drive