When is the last time you used a FLOPPY disk?

Flint · 10-19-2009, 05:56 PM

And I mean the 3½ inch, not the 5¼! Also, I should say, by "use" I do not mean: to level out uneven table legs, etc.

lumberjim · 10-19-2009, 06:00 PM

i looked some pics i found on an old one last year?

my new computer doesn't have an A drive.

Flint · 10-19-2009, 06:05 PM

Yeah, please vote.

I used one today, right now, to pre-load RAID drivers during an XP install. This still only can be done with floppy, apparently.

Pie · 10-19-2009, 06:53 PM

Well, we used a 5.25 in the last year as well. With an old original IBM PC.

Clodfobble · 10-19-2009, 07:04 PM

I would like to note that in my family (both parents in the computer tech industry) we never referred to the 3-1/2" disks as floppy disks. Because the 5-1/4" were actually floppy, you see, while the smaller ones did not flop, they were stiff. We called them "crunchy" disks to differentiate.

Yes, seriously.

mbpark · 10-19-2009, 07:57 PM

I just tried out my new old USB 3.5" floppy drive on my Dell at work today. No disk, but it worked.

Happy Monkey · 10-19-2009, 09:27 PM

RAID drivers.

mbpark · 10-19-2009, 09:32 PM

That's what I did last week...built another Ultimate Boot CD with the Intel flash update utility for their NIC cards so we can reboot the servers over the IP KVM and enable advanced networking features on them.

ZenGum · 10-19-2009, 11:52 PM

Hey, it's FOUR and a half inches! and it isn't always floppy!

Oh, wait, disk. Sorry.

I have some at home, still have a machine to read them, don't think I've used one since ... 2005.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbpark

That's what I did last week...built another Ultimate Boot CD with the Intel flash update utility for their NIC cards so we can reboot the servers over the IP KVM and enable advanced networking features on them.

: blinks :

WTF did he just say?

zippyt · 10-19-2009, 10:33 PM

I have a USB floppy drive in my lap top bag ,
and I Keep a spare A drive in my truck ,
some time I have to reload Old programs and some of the existing A drives go SQUISH when you put a floppy in them

Elspode · 12-07-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippyt

I have a USB floppy drive in my lap top bag ,
and I Keep a spare A drive in my truck ,
some time I have to reload Old programs and some of the existing A drives go SQUISH when you put a floppy in them

Kind of like an old woman who hasn't had anything in her slot for a long time, either.

richlevy · 12-13-2009, 12:48 AM

I think within the last year. I also have a USB external floppy disk drive. I still have a lot of old files on disk that I haven't used in ages. I'm thinking of transferring and burning to a CD or DVD and getting rid of them.

My shredder will shred CD's and DVD's, but obviously not 3 1/2 floppies. But pull out the metal shield and snip the film with a scissors, and they are secure against any low level identity thief.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-13-2009, 01:20 AM

Pile 'em in the street, douse 'em with diesel fuel, torch 'em, while dancing around naked, except body paint/feathers. If anyone objects, babble about freedom of religion, the Constitution, and Sarah Palin.

bluecuracao · 12-13-2009, 01:09 PM

Zip disks count as floppies? I'm pretty sure I was still using those at my job 10 years ago.

I have old portfolio work stashed on 3.5" disks and a zip disk or two...why I keep them, I do not know. I can't look at the stuff on them, and wouldn't want to either!

Madman · 10-21-2009, 09:56 AM

My home PC went tits up a few months ago. The BOOT.INI file got corrupted and I had to recreate it so I needed to use the restore disk. Well, it didn't work, but I had created a bootable 3 1/2 and installed certain boot files (using attrib -r).

Anyway, I got it booted and got enough of the BOOT.INI file repaired to where it would recognize the partition and boot up. Then I used the Restore CD and repaired it all.

Sure beats the hell out of buying a new PC or paying out the ass to have it done. I know I make it sound like it took me just a wee-wittle-bit-O-time. The reality of it is that it took me about two weeks to figure it all out and another week to load everything back up (I do keep backups of important stuff like my wife's music, my wife's photos, my wifes document files, etc...).

View Poll Results: When is the last time you used a FLOPPY disk?
Within the last DAY	3	7.14%
Within the last WEEK	1	2.38%
Within the last MONTH	1	2.38%
Within the last YEAR	9	21.43%
Within the last 5 YEARS	15	35.71%
Within the last 10 YEARS	9	21.43%
Within the last 20 YEARS	2	4.76%
I have NEVER used a 3½ floppy!	0	0%
WHAT IS a 3½ floppy?	2	4.76%
Other (Specify)	0	0%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

10-19-2009, 05:56 PM	#1
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	When is the last time you used a FLOPPY disk? And I mean the 3½ inch, not the 5¼! Also, I should say, by "use" I do not mean: to level out uneven table legs, etc. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

10-19-2009, 06:00 PM	#2
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	i looked some pics i found on an old one last year? my new computer doesn't have an A drive. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

10-19-2009, 06:05 PM	#3
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Yeah, please vote. I used one today, right now, to pre-load RAID drivers during an XP install. This still only can be done with floppy, apparently. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

10-19-2009, 06:53 PM	#4
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Well, we used a 5.25 in the last year as well. With an old original IBM PC. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

10-19-2009, 07:04 PM	#5
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I would like to note that in my family (both parents in the computer tech industry) we never referred to the 3-1/2" disks as floppy disks. Because the 5-1/4" were actually floppy, you see, while the smaller ones did not flop, they were stiff. We called them "crunchy" disks to differentiate. Yes, seriously. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-19-2009, 07:57 PM	#6
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	I just tried out my new old USB 3.5" floppy drive on my Dell at work today. No disk, but it worked.

10-19-2009, 09:27 PM	#7
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	RAID drivers. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

10-19-2009, 09:32 PM	#8
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	FreeDOS image for Intel Cards That's what I did last week...built another Ultimate Boot CD with the Intel flash update utility for their NIC cards so we can reboot the servers over the IP KVM and enable advanced networking features on them.

10-19-2009, 10:33 PM	#10
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	I have a USB floppy drive in my lap top bag , and I Keep a spare A drive in my truck , some time I have to reload Old programs and some of the existing A drives go SQUISH when you put a floppy in them __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

12-13-2009, 12:48 AM	#12
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	I think within the last year. I also have a USB external floppy disk drive. I still have a lot of old files on disk that I haven't used in ages. I'm thinking of transferring and burning to a CD or DVD and getting rid of them. My shredder will shred CD's and DVD's, but obviously not 3 1/2 floppies. But pull out the metal shield and snip the film with a scissors, and they are secure against any low level identity thief. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

12-13-2009, 01:20 AM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Pile 'em in the street, douse 'em with diesel fuel, torch 'em, while dancing around naked, except body paint/feathers. If anyone objects, babble about freedom of religion, the Constitution, and Sarah Palin. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-13-2009, 01:09 PM	#14
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	Zip disks count as floppies? I'm pretty sure I was still using those at my job 10 years ago. I have old portfolio work stashed on 3.5" disks and a zip disk or two...why I keep them, I do not know. I can't look at the stuff on them, and wouldn't want to either!

10-21-2009, 09:56 AM	#15
Madman has left the building. Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 455	My home PC went tits up a few months ago. The BOOT.INI file got corrupted and I had to recreate it so I needed to use the restore disk. Well, it didn't work, but I had created a bootable 3 1/2 and installed certain boot files (using attrib -r). Anyway, I got it booted and got enough of the BOOT.INI file repaired to where it would recognize the partition and boot up. Then I used the Restore CD and repaired it all. Sure beats the hell out of buying a new PC or paying out the ass to have it done. I know I make it sound like it took me just a wee-wittle-bit-O-time. The reality of it is that it took me about two weeks to figure it all out and another week to load everything back up (I do keep backups of important stuff like my wife's music, my wife's photos, my wifes document files, etc...).

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)