Do you need a floppy drive these days?

cHk4 · 6 Jul 2009 at 07:59

Its the only thing I have not got for my new build. Going to install Win 7 just not sure if I need one or not.

Thanks

cmndr_andi · 6 Jul 2009 at 08:09

I haven't used one for years (and several computers). You can do everything a floppy drive does with a USB stick these days.

boxman2000 · 6 Jul 2009 at 08:21

Got a floppy drive/flash card combo that runs perfectly and matches the case - I still have a couple of old machines that need FDD to flash the bios (old Abit) but if you don't need it don't put one in IMO.

hp7909 · 6 Jul 2009 at 08:23

As above, just format a USB flash disk using e.g. HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool = bootbale

Saltank · 6 Jul 2009 at 09:23

i've been floppy-free for 9 years. don't need it anymore.

cHk4 · 6 Jul 2009 at 09:47

Cool, thanks all

wupwup · 6 Jul 2009 at 10:56

the only way i can see you needing one is to install the optical drives drivers. but you can use yt interweb for that anyway

Minato · 6 Jul 2009 at 11:04

for optical drive drivers I would boot off a live USB, so no problems.

MikeHunt79 · 6 Jul 2009 at 11:07

Floppy Not needed anymore

deadite66 · 6 Jul 2009 at 11:12

finally dumped my floppy drive a month ago as everyone says you can do pretty much everything with flash drives these days.

Minato · 6 Jul 2009 at 11:14

I think i've actually only used a floppy drive once in my life, and that was on an ancient windows 95 system.

El_Watcher · 6 Jul 2009 at 11:32

The only use I can see for a floppy is if you are installing XP on a SATA controller where the drivers are not slipstreamed into the install CD.

Sin_Chase · 6 Jul 2009 at 12:26

HBA drivers on Server 2003.

Unless you slipstream em, bust out the FDD

welshy46 · 6 Jul 2009 at 12:45

Havent had a floppy for years.Viagra thats the trick

Ucof · 6 Jul 2009 at 13:26

Alternativly, get a USB floppy drive that you can store in a cupboard until you need it (if ever).

K.C. Leblanc · 6 Jul 2009 at 14:07

I've actualy got one in my work PC which is only a few months old. I've used it once when making a disk image for PXE booting.

The last one didn't have, I used a USB drive about three times.

We've mostly phased them out here and I don't think we've had one complaint.

boxman2000 · 6 Jul 2009 at 14:28

welshy46 said:
Havent had a floppy for years.Viagra thats the trick

lol

4T5 · 6 Jul 2009 at 14:39

A What ?

Mem stick for the winrar.

Admiral Huddy · 6 Jul 2009 at 15:18

I used a few over the last few weeks.

Once was to rebuild RAID and the other was to flash a 8800GT.

USB flash wasn't an option on either system - so yes they are still used but getting much less I'm glad to say.

Hughsy · 6 Jul 2009 at 15:39

Haven't used one for years, most of these comments made me laugh a bit