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First post, by user33331

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Hello ( Installing a 3.5" floppy drive to an old I/0 card cable 386/486 ? )
Beginner amateur questions:
1.) What is the name of this "old-style floppy" I/0-cable with 4pcs of connectors ? ( See picture )
2.) Can I just use a regular modern floppy cable with only a 1pc connector ?

I can't get the 3.5" 1.44mb floppy to work:
- Must I set it as a *Floppy A* or *Floppy B* in BIOS ?
- Do I need drivers ?
- It says "Not ready reading drive A Abort, Retry, Fail?".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abort,_Retry,_Fail%3F
- Which way the floppy connector goes ? ( See picture )

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Reply 1 of 3, by tayyare

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This cable can only be called as "floppy cable with connectors for 5.25 drives" or "old style floppy cable" AFAIK, I can't recall any special names for it, and yes, you can use a simpler one with two 3.5 connectors only,

In any case, if the drive is designated as drive A in the BIOS, it must be connected after the twist. In the picture you attached, the place of the 3.5 drive A is correct.

There is no standart (in general) in which way to connect the connector to a 3.5 floppy drive though, but it's a simple matter of trial and error, there are only two possibilities at the end.

Hint: If the drive led is illuminated as soon as the system is powered up and stays illuminated, then the cable is incorrectly connected, try the other way around.

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Reply 3 of 3, by Jo22

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I think the same as tayyare. Looks like an ordinary floppy cable from the late 80s/early 90s.
It should support two floppy drives, with either a modern or classic connector (edge connector).
If there''s a coloured cable (often red) on one side of the ribbon cable, then it is marking the side were the "1" pin of the floppy drives usually goes to.

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