Floppy drive

[Buffster251]

Hello!!
I was wondering if you could help me with a problem i have with my computer. The computer is a HP t741 product number:PP088AA. When i bought it i didnt realise that it doesnt come with a floppy drive so my question is Will i be able to install an internal floppy drive? The computer has a plastic cover where there is normally a floppy drive on the model that comes with one. Is this removable.
I would be very grateful if someone would be able to help me with this as my daughter needs a floppy drive for her coursework.
Thank you

[Cricket]

Since the case does have a floppy drive bay you should be able to physically install the floppy drive. To be sure that particular computer can use a floppy drive, look on the motherboard for a connector marked FDD or similar. Then check to see that the power supply has the floppy drive power connector (smaller 4 pin connector). If the computer has these, then all you need is the floppy drive and the floppy cable.

:) Cricket

[nicolaus corelius]

yes, as a matter of fact you do.
take a look at the motherboard and then locate a the floppy controller. it has to be near the IDE controllers, but its little smaller, 34 pins.

[mc2phat]

You could check the HP support pageson your model for this info, or open the case up and see if there is a floppy connector on the motherboard. Or, you could pick up an external floppy drive and hook to USB:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-152-003&depa=0

[pam123]

If you're out of luck and can't use the internal floppy drive get this : http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-152-004&depa=0

[Buffster251]

Thank for the replies
Another question though, How do you take off the plastic cover that hides the floppy bay?

[Cricket]

The plastic cover is just held on with catch tabs. You can either reach them from inside the computer or if possible, remove the plastic face plate.

:) Cricket

[nicolaus corelius]

this thread is too emotional to me. i dont wanna remember how dell removed my floppy bay and the AGP slot (literaly ripping out the plastic card interface, leaving only the pin places) from my mobo :(

[mc2phat]

To clarify on the external floppies, pam123 linked to a white NEC, I linked to a black one. Newegg also has blue/gray and black Sony ext. floppy drives.

[nicolaus corelius]

yes, but ull be unable to starp up diagnostic floppies from usb.

[mc2phat]

That depends upon if the motherboard's BIOS supports booting from USB. If it does, you can boot from an external floppy. Many if not most laptops allow this. Some folks are booting to memory keys with Linux on them.