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From: "J. P. Gilliver (John)" 
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Subject: Re: Cloning a 2.5" IDE/PATA Laptop Hard drive
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2017 01:04:21 +0000
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In message , 
james@nospam.com writes:
[]
>The only floppy cable I have is a single. Only one connector.  (not
>including the MOBO end). But I do remember the double ones on some of my
>real old computers. I may even have another one in one of the old

There were two sorts of dual-floppy cables: ones for two 3.5" drives 
(with the twist), and ones for the two different sizes of drive (the 
5.25" ones mostly had a sort of PCB-edge connector).

>computers in the garage tbat I still have. But I see no reason for two
>floppy drives these days. Back in the DOS days I had a 3.5 and 5.25
>drive on the same computer. I know I'll never use a 5.25 drive again.

(I keep one or two for archaeological purposes.)

There were also the dual drives - really a 5.25" one with a very thin 
(similar to as appeared in laptops briefly) 3.5" one on top of it, with 
of course the relevant slit in the front. (IIRR, those connected to the 
ribbon by one single connector.)
>
>Anyhow, this cable is for a single floppy drive and has that twist.
>
>I kind of wonder if I used a cable without a twist, would the ONLY drive
>become B: instead of A:?

Good question!
[]
>One thing about floppy drives, they seem to go bad even if they are not
>used. I think it's all because of dust getting in them. Computers are

Certainly, if unused but in a computer that is being used ...

>notorious for sucking in dust. Every year I have to vacuum out mine. And

.... for that reason. I don't think they go bad if just sitting on a 
shelf - though they may seem to, because the one on a shelf is probably 
on a shelf because it was removed because it was faulty, and 
record-keeping was lax.

(I have the feeling that 5.25" ones suffered less in this respect: they 
tended to be more open construction, whereas the 3.5" ones were 
semi-sealed, meaning more places for the dust to accumulate. Could also 
have been just the lower data density, as already discussed.)

>every 3 years or so I open the power supply and blow it out with an air
>compressor, cuz them fans really get filthy.
>I think they should make air filters foir them!
>
They probably do if you look for them. But unless maintained (i. e. 
either changed, or at least blown/shaken out from time to time), a 
filter can be worse than no filter: when they get clogged, they can 
restrict the airflow, and also drop gunk into the system if _very_ 
choked.
-- 
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than going to a garage
makes you a car." - Laurence J. Peter
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