Hello all... I was recently given a Dell OptiPlex 170L computer. While obviously a low end machine (no AGP slot, Celeron CPU AFAIK) it does seem to be a nice little unit. There is no floppy drive in this system...only a CD burner. The former owner had apparently decided that didn't really like the machine for a variety of reasons, so they bought a new HP. (But that's not overly important.) One thing I've noticed is that the motherboard does have a 34 pin floppy connector available. Further, the lowest externally accessible drive bay has a metal 3.5" device cutout. I presume that this would be where a factory installed floppy drive goes. However, it looks like I'd need some kind of installation kit--something that would include at least a bezel to surround the floppy and replace the "blank" panel. Anybody know where to find one of these? I didn't see anything in Dell's accessories web site. Or, does anyone have one they'd sell? William
(snip) What Tom said. That unit takes a floppy kit that includes the drive, drive cage, and ribbon cable. You then just have to remove the plastic blank from the front bezel. Stew
that said, unless you intend to regularly use the internally installed floppy drive you may well be better off buying a external usb type drive that you can move from system to system. it is very common to find new systems without floppy drives today and so the external drive may prove useful to you. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16821118001
Hi! I've got one, and I do use it. Most of the time it's plugged into a Macintosh of some kind. It has been worth the purchase cost. Yeah, I know. Whenever I order or buy a system, I *insist* that a floppy drive be preinstalled. (Both my Dimension 8300 and Latitude D800 have an internal drive.) In any event, floppies still have a tremendous amount of use to me, because they are the one thing that all my systems can use. (See the signature on the initial posting...I collect and actively use those PS/2s and they don't do USB. All have NICs, but sometimes that isn't the easiest way to transfer information. Most of them do support 2.88 floppies, but that's another deal entirely...) That's the "why" of why I want an internal floppy. But I digress...anyone have a phone number they'd recommend (in the US) to get to the Dell parts department or would any old Dell phone number do? William
I don't have the phone number, but this web site has been posted here; You want Dell Spare Parts Sales, and you can find them here: http://warrantypartsdirect.dell.com/us/program/T1421000.ASP Also some have recommended this site, but I have no personal experience with it. http://www.centrix-intl.com/