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Blog Salvaging Ancient Disk Drives
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Engagement
  • Author Author: dougw
  • Date Created: 18 Dec 2023 9:14 PM Date Created
  • Views 1207 views
  • Likes 10 likes
  • Comments 6 comments
  • dougw
  • usb to floppy interface
  • old hard drive contents
  • Upcycle IoT Design Challenge
Related
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Salvaging Ancient Disk Drives

dougw
dougw
18 Dec 2023

Intro

This is another episode in salvaging parts of an old PC. In this case it is the hard drives and floppy disk drives that are of interest. These devices are of great interest because the media may contain valuable information. In my case I am looking for old pictures that might be stored on these old disk drives.

The Video

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SATA to USB adapters cost about $16 . Floppy drive to USB adapters cost about $10.

Discussion

I was pleasantly surprised to find a cache of old photos on the hard drive in the video. It is funny how the content that was on this drive had slipped from my mind. This reuse and upscaling project is paying some great and unexpected dividends.

These adapters are pretty much plug-and-play although they generally will need an external power supply. The floppy disk interface is a bit tricky, but the salvaged power harness from the PC came in handy to be used with a PC supply that was converted to a bench supply. I found the exercise interesting and it will extend the usefulness of these drives. The trip down memory lane brings some unexpected enjoyment - even the buzzing and ticking sounds of the floppy drive brought a nostalgic smile to my face. The floppy interface will come in handy if and when I get the urge to see what interesting content I may have stored on my stash of floppy disks. I did find some old games, which refuse to run on my modern PC, but I am more interested in old project documents, old pictures and articles I wrote. For me, the investment in some low-cost adapters has been well worthwhile.

Links:

Upcycle The Beast - Blog 1

Serendipitous Salvage - Blog 2

What is on those old disks?

Mr. Pentium

PC based bench supply

Curiosity Nano Unboxing

 Curiosity Nano Programming 

 Super-cycle Design Challenge 

 Upcycle IoT Design Challenge 

Upcycle IoT Design Challenge Info

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  • dougw
    dougw over 1 year ago in reply to DAB

    Good idea. I have used them in LED bezels to increase contrast.

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  • DAB
    DAB over 1 year ago in reply to dougw

    They make excellent visible light filters for IR sensors.

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  • dougw
    dougw over 1 year ago in reply to DAB

    I still have some 8" floppies as well, but no hope of reading them.

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  • dougw
    dougw over 1 year ago in reply to genebren

    This particular adapter has a sliding power connector to accommodate different drive geometries. It is a bit tricky to line it up properly for a blind mating, but not too bad once you realize it can be positioned. (at first I wondered why it wouldn't fit - then realized the connector could be moved) 

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  • DAB
    DAB over 1 year ago

    Very good blog Douglas.

    I like the IDE/SATA adapter.

    FYI, I probably have hundreds of old Floppy Disks ranging from 3.5 to 8 inch.

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