Computer Question!

[christa]

Any ideas how to get that little metal thing OUT of the A drive?

I knew that the disk was screwed up so I thought I'd try it out in my *older than dirt* computer. I was right. I popped the disk back out and the little metal door thingy didn't come out with the disk. Now it's stuck in my drive. And that's why my disk was missing it's metal door.

I have no clue how to get it out. Other than having to take my computer completely apart, is there any other way?

[Lady's Human]

Two options. One is to go to staples and buy a USB drive for $15 or so, the other is to go to staples and buy a new A drive for $20. A USB drive is far more useful.

[christa]

Do I need to take that old A drive out though? I worry about that piece being stuck in there. Does it matter? Would it hurt anything? Do I have to take that drive out? I had considered getting a USB floppy drive but then I wondered about that broken piece. If it won't hurt anything, I won't worry about it. What do you think LH?

[Lady's Human]

If you aren't going to use that floppy drive anymore, I would just take it out of the computer. If you want a floppy drive in the computer, a replacement drive is about $15. The USB drives I was referring to are thumb drives, which hold many times more info than a floppy drive, and can be had for $15-100, depending on how bug a drive you get.

[christa]

If you aren't going to use that floppy drive anymore, I would just take it out of the computer. If you want a floppy drive in the computer, a replacement drive is about $15. The USB drives I was referring to are thumb drives, which hold many times more info than a floppy drive, and can be had for $15-100, depending on how bug a drive you get.

I understand that a thumb drive or a jump drive would be more reasonable for ME . . . I have several. The business that I provide services for is still in the stoneage however and they still use floppy disks. So I have to have the drive in order to provide services for them. Know what I mean?

I'll probably just take it out of that computer though . . . I have one in my newer computer, as long as nothing happens to it too.

[Lady's Human]

Christa,

putting a new floppy drive in is a fairly simple operation. If you can get the old one out, you can put the new one in. The nice thing about floppy drives is that the drivers for the drive are in BIOS, and you shouldn't have to load a new driver. Just swap in a new drive, and you're good to go. A normal floppy drive is probably cheaper than a USB attached drive.

I know exactly what you're saying about companies keeping dinosaur tech, I deal with it every day.