3½" & 5¼" Disk Drives - Revision history

Arnoldemu: /* Guides */

2025-08-12T07:54:22Z

Guides

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:54, 12 August 2025
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	*any scavenged rusty junk may be good enough nowaday, if you have a 664 or 6128...		*any scavenged rusty junk may be good enough nowaday, if you have a 664 or 6128...

			== Connections and Wiring ==

			[[DIY:Floppy_Drives]]

	== Guides ==		== Guides ==
	[[Guide on how to connect a 3.5]]<br>		[[Guide on how to connect a 3.5]]<br>
	[[Guide on how to connect a 3.5" drive to a CPC6128/664]] with photos		[[Guide on how to connect a 3.5" drive to a CPC6128/664]] with photos
	~~[[DIY:Floppy_Drives]]~~

	[[Amstrad Computer User]] magazine published a two-page guide on how to connect a 5.25" drive to a CPC 464:		[[Amstrad Computer User]] magazine published a two-page guide on how to connect a 5.25" drive to a CPC 464:

Arnoldemu at 07:53, 12 August 2025

2025-08-12T07:53:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:53, 12 August 2025
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	[[Guide on how to connect a 3.5]]<br>		[[Guide on how to connect a 3.5]]<br>
	[[Guide on how to connect a 3.5" drive to a CPC6128/664]] with photos		[[Guide on how to connect a 3.5" drive to a CPC6128/664]] with photos
			[[DIY:Floppy_Drives]]

	[[Amstrad Computer User]] magazine published a two-page guide on how to connect a 5.25" drive to a CPC 464:		[[Amstrad Computer User]] magazine published a two-page guide on how to connect a 5.25" drive to a CPC 464:

Arnoldemu at 12:24, 7 August 2025

2025-08-07T12:24:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:24, 7 August 2025
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	Increasingly however it is often easier to use a disc drive emulator or one of the devices that can run games from SD cards.		Increasingly however it is often easier to use a disc drive emulator or one of the devices that can run games from SD cards.

			==Comparison of media costs==

			3" disc (each) - £3.99
			3.5" disc (each) - 50p
			5.25" disc (each) - 50p

	==Usage of Media==		==Usage of Media==

Arnoldemu at 12:22, 7 August 2025

2025-08-07T12:22:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:22, 7 August 2025
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	3½" & 5¼" Floppy Disc Drives are not the Amstrad standard yet the media and drives were far cheaper so they were common especially as a 2nd drive.		3½" & 5¼" Floppy Disc Drives are not the Amstrad standard yet the media and drives were far cheaper so they were common especially when used as a 2nd drive.

	~~Especially~~ the 3½" ~~is used because~~ the ~~discs~~ were ~~available in the shops~~ and ~~you can~~ also ~~easily find such~~ drives ~~in any garbage if you properly scavenge old rusty computers~~.		During the lifetime of the CPC both drives were advertised in UK magazines with the 3½" becoming much more common in it's later years due to it's use in the PC. In Germany 5¼" were advertised and well supported by Vortex for much longer. Magazines also promoted the use of these drives especially with the use of another DOS or C/PM to be able to use their full capacity.

	Both 3½" & 5¼" drives were often double sided and supported double density and high density.		Both 3½" & 5¼" drives were often double sided and supported double density and high density although the Amstrad could only support Double Density.

	Nowadays it's often easier to use a disc drive emulator #or one of the devices that can run games from SD cards.		Nowadays the 5¼" drives are hard to find and are expensive, media is not made anymore and new-old-stock media is also hard to find. The 3½" drives can be found from old PC computers and there is still a read supply of new-old-stock media.

			Increasingly however it is often easier to use a disc drive emulator or one of the devices that can run games from SD cards.

	==Usage of Media==		==Usage of Media==

	To make full use of the capacity of the media you need to use another DOS on your CPC which can support more tracks and two sides. Then you can use around 720KB per disc.		To make full use of the capacity of the media you need to use another DOS or C/PM on your CPC which can support more tracks and two sides. Then you can use around 720KB per disc.

	Without another DOS you can still use some of the capacity:		Without another DOS you can still use some of the capacity:

	* 3½" discs can't be turned like 3" discs therefore with [[AMSDOS\|AMSDOS]] you can use a manual side switch to choose the sides giving 2 x 178KB per side. Without the side switch it's just 178KB.		* 3½" discs can't be turned like 3" discs therefore with [[AMSDOS\|AMSDOS]] you can use a manual side switch to choose the sides giving 2 x 178KB per side. Without the side switch it's just 178KB. Using discs like this back in the day was still useful as the media was cheaper.

	* 5¼" discs can be turned and you can write both sides if you cut a write protect hole on the other side.		* 5¼" discs can be turned over like a 3" and you can write both sides if you cut a write protect hole on the other side of each disc OR like the 3½" a manual side switch can be used.

	[[image:3.5.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Internal 3.5" drive]]		[[image:3.5.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Internal 3.5" drive]]
	[[image:5,25_cable.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|advertisement for 5,25" drive cable for CPC in 1990]]		[[image:5,25_cable.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|advertisement for 5,25" drive cable for CPC in 1990]]

			==Scavenged 3½"==

			It is worth noting that 3½" scavenged from PCs will lack the drive selection and ready signal. Often these drives will need a modification to make them useable OR you can make sure the drive motor is always on.

	==Common PC Formats ==		==Common PC Formats ==
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	== Beware : HD ==		== Beware : HD ==

	Nowaday the most common 3"~~1/2~~ disk is HD. These can be found as used or new old stock on auction sites.		Nowaday the most common 3½" disk is HD. These can be found as used or new old stock on auction sites.

	But our beloved CPC can't understand easily the concept of High Density Disk with 1,44MB available... so you have to cheat to use the media: just put some opaque duct-tape (scotch-tape, whatever...) on the HD Hole.		But our beloved CPC can't understand easily the concept of High Density Disk with 1,44MB available... so you have to cheat to use the media: just put some opaque duct-tape (scotch-tape, whatever...) on the HD Hole.
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	Tada the drive will think DD media is used and now it's usable.		Tada the drive will think DD media is used and now it's usable.

	PC users used to do the opposite : ~~file~~ a HD hole on DD disk...this worked well sometimes.		PC users used to do the opposite : cut/drill a HD hole on DD disk...this worked well sometimes.

	You can also modify your HD drive to behave as a DD one (but this would be permanent of course).. Check for appropriate jumpers on your drive!		You can also modify your HD drive to behave as a DD one (but this would be permanent of course).. Check for appropriate jumpers on your drive!

Arnoldemu at 16:48, 6 August 2025

2025-08-06T16:48:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 6 August 2025
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	Both 3½" & 5¼" drives were often double sided and supported double density and high density.		Both 3½" & 5¼" drives were often double sided and supported double density and high density.

			Nowadays it's often easier to use a disc drive emulator #or one of the devices that can run games from SD cards.

	==Usage of Media==		==Usage of Media==

Arnoldemu at 16:46, 6 August 2025

2025-08-06T16:46:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:46, 6 August 2025
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	3½" & 5¼" Floppy Disc Drives are not the Amstrad standard yet the media and drives were far cheaper so they were common especially as a 2nd drive.		3½" & 5¼" Floppy Disc Drives are not the Amstrad standard yet the media and drives were far cheaper so they were common especially as a 2nd drive.

	Especially the 3½" as the discs ~~are~~ available ~~as used or new old stock online. You~~ can also easily find such drives in any garbage if you properly scavenge old rusty computers.		Especially the 3½" is used because the discs were available in the shops and you can also easily find such drives in any garbage if you properly scavenge old rusty computers.

	Both 3½" & 5¼" were often double sided and supported double density and high density.		Both 3½" & 5¼" drives were often double sided and supported double density and high density.

	==Usage of Media==		==Usage of Media==

Arnoldemu at 16:45, 6 August 2025

2025-08-06T16:45:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:45, 6 August 2025
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	~~These~~ Floppy Disc Drives are not the ~~original~~ Amstrad standard.		3½" & 5¼" Floppy Disc Drives are not the Amstrad standard yet the media and drives were far cheaper so they were common especially as a 2nd drive.

	~~Yet they were far cheaper and~~ are ~~nowadays easier to use~~.		Especially the 3½" as the discs are available as used or new old stock online. You can also easily find such drives in any garbage if you properly scavenge old rusty computers.

	~~Especially the~~ 3½" ~~as these disk are still available in some retailers. You can also easily find such drives in any garbage if you properly scavenge old rusty computers~~.		Both 3½" & 5¼" were often double sided and supported double density and high density.

	~~These Disks couldn~~'t be side ~~switched manually~~.		==Usage of Media==
	~~The older models used only one side (360 KB)~~
	~~Double~~ side ~~(DD) or even High Density were available~~.		To make full use of the capacity of the media you need to use another DOS on your CPC which can support more tracks and two sides. Then you can use around 720KB per disc.

			Without another DOS you can still use some of the capacity:

			* 3½" discs can't be turned like 3" discs therefore with [[AMSDOS\|AMSDOS]] you can use a manual side switch to choose the sides giving 2 x 178KB per side. Without the side switch it's just 178KB.

			* 5¼" discs can be turned and you can write both sides if you cut a write protect hole on the other side.

	[[image:3.5.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Internal 3.5" drive]]		[[image:3.5.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Internal 3.5" drive]]
	[[image:5,25_cable.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|advertisement for 5,25" drive cable for CPC in 1990]]		[[image:5,25_cable.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|advertisement for 5,25" drive cable for CPC in 1990]]

	==Formats ==		==Common PC Formats ==

	~~3"1/2~~

	*DD = 720KB		3½":
	*HD : ~~1,44 MB~~

	5"1/4		*DD = 720KB
			*HD : 1,44 MB

	*360KB		5¼":
	*1.2MB

			*DD = 360KB
			*HD = 1.2MB

	== Beware : HD ==		== Beware : HD ==

Arnoldemu: /* Beware : HD */

2025-08-06T16:36:20Z

Beware : HD

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:36, 6 August 2025
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	== Beware : HD ==		== Beware : HD ==

	Nowaday~~, only HD~~ 3"1/2 disk can be found ~~at good~~ old ~~retailer's~~.		Nowaday the most common 3"1/2 disk is HD. These can be found as used or new old stock on auction sites.

	But our beloved CPC can't understand easily the concept of High Density Disk with 1,44MB available...		But our beloved CPC can't understand easily the concept of High Density Disk with 1,44MB available... so you have to cheat to use the media: just put some opaque duct-tape (scotch-tape, whatever...) on the HD Hole.

	~~So you have to cheat : just put some duct-tape (scotch-tape, whatever...) on~~ the ~~HD Hole.~~		Tada the drive will think DD media is used and now it's usable.
	~~Tada, a proper~~ DD ~~disk with 720 KB (if your OS allows~~ it).
	~~Or a common 2x178KB with [[AMSDOS\|AMSDOS]] (stock CPC firmware) - if you have a manual side switcher button of course to read second side of disk~~.

	PC users used to do the opposite : file a HD hole on DD disk...this worked well sometimes.		PC users used to do the opposite : file a HD hole on DD disk...this worked well sometimes.

Flonky tash: /* Beware : HD */

2018-04-25T10:04:51Z

Beware : HD

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:04, 25 April 2018
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	Nowaday, only HD 3"1/2 disk can be found at good old retailer's.		Nowaday, only HD 3"1/2 disk can be found at good old retailer's.

	But or beloved CPC can't understand easily the concept of High Density Disk with 1,44MB available...		But our beloved CPC can't understand easily the concept of High Density Disk with 1,44MB available...

	So you have to cheat : just put some duct-tape (scotch-tape, whatever...) on the HD Hole.		So you have to cheat : just put some duct-tape (scotch-tape, whatever...) on the HD Hole.

Polluks: Internal 3.5" drive

2015-03-04T12:39:25Z

Internal 3.5" drive

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:39, 4 March 2015
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	Double side (DD) or even High Density were available.		Double side (DD) or even High Density were available.

			[[image:3.5.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Internal 3.5" drive]]
	[[image:5,25_cable.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|advertisement for 5,25" drive cable for CPC in 1990]]		[[image:5,25_cable.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|advertisement for 5,25" drive cable for CPC in 1990]]