I imagine this is a very stupid question...

DinkyDogg_

Would a window into a floppy drive work? Or does light mess them up? I'm busy brainstorming ways I can mod my system that wouldn't cost too much if I screw up.

Thanks!

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Ham_fisT · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:36 pm Post subject:

floppy drives are "Magnetic Transfer" , so....no, a light wouldn't mess with the workings none,

I've even seen Slot-Load DVD drives with led's inside that change color when a disc is inserted

Google is your best friend, just type in what you are thinking about, and see what you get back

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Yeah....... ok

DinkyDogg_ · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:50 pm Post subject:

Google is fine, but it's so much more interesting to hear what you guys have to say!

Okay, okay, I'll google it next time

Ham_fisT · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:57 pm Post subject:

not what I meant at all, sorry

we all like to hear new Modding / Tweaking ideas....KEEP 'EM COMING

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Yeah....... ok

DinkyDogg_ · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 4:01 pm Post subject:

Don't worry, yo! I have plenty of stupid questions just waiting to be asked!

Here's my next one- How careful would I have to be when putting in a window? I imagine a little dust wouldn't hurt it none, considering that you're letting particles in whenever you stick in a floppy, but I don't want to screw anything up!

Ham_fisT · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 4:16 pm Post subject:

DinkyDogg_ · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 4:43 pm Post subject:

I just took apart the drive. Man, the guts of a floppy drive are ugly! A lot of aluminum and springs and stuff. Looks kind of cool when you put a floppy in, though; this aluminum plate sort of decends onto it.

I was thinking of replacing that top plate thing with plexiglass, but I don't know. I was expecting something a little more flashy...

Think I ought to try adding a window, despite the somewhat unsightly innards? Do you guys have suggestions?

Ham_fisT · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 5:06 pm Post subject:

If you will be able to see it when the drive is installed, go for it

if you put colored acrylic, or maybe some colored LED's, it might look pretty PimP

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Yeah....... ok

Macabre · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 6:02 pm Post subject:

Yeah your fine with the lights. Just keep it out of the sun and your fine.

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JayDubya · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 9:33 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a great mod. Let us know how it does!
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meobius · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 9:59 pm Post subject:

could you rebuild the floppy casing in plexiglass, and mod it so that the whole thing lights up when you insert a floppy?
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JayDubya · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 2:23 am Post subject:

Whatever you do, its going to be tricky. You can always start out slowly (a small hole in the casing each time). Just make sure you take the casing off before you take your dremel to it. Mimicing would be much harder, but is not entirely possible. Take your time and you'll get something interesting.

As stated above, keep ALL the debris out of those innards. Use a vacuum with a brush attatchment to clean it up afterwords if you are still concerned.
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JayDubya · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 2:26 am Post subject:

Oh yeah, that would be cool if it lit up everytime you inserted a floppy disk. It wouldn't be all too hard. just have the disk push up a small strip of metal to complete a circuit. That shouldn't be all too hard to gerry-rig.
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DinkyDogg_ · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:30 pm Post subject:

that's not a bad idea! That would be pretty c ool. There's an LED in there already, I think it's for whenever the floppy is being accessed. I'll change it to blue. I screwed something up when I opened it up last time though, and now the floppy won't go in all the way. I'll have to open it up and take a look.

Thanks for the suggestions! I think I"ll make a run to the hardware store today and pick up some tools and stuff.

DinkyDogg_ · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 1:36 pm Post subject:

Oh s***.

I think I screwed up my floppy drive. It's always "Please insert a disk into drive a" whenever I try to access it. I have a theory about why. I was stupid enough to use a screwdriver with a magnetized bit. I was just showing my sister the innards, and she asked "Would light screw it up?" "No, it's magnetic..." "So a magnet would screw it up." "Yeah, which is why I don't keep any mag.... Oh s***."

So I think my magnetized screwdriver messed it up. s***. At least they're fairly cheap. Maybe I'll steal one from my mom and switch the face plates, and she'll never know the difference. But I think I"m done messing with hardware for a little while- Screwing something up on my first try kind of demoralized me.

I'll post a warning to other newbies in a new thread.

s***. I'm gonna go program something. My hardware is busy scaring me.

Macabre · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:50 pm Post subject:

LOL! Yeah thats a lesson learned... You had a Great Ideah though. Thats how I got into computers... By doing Case Mods.

Oh lord the power of DREMEL!!! ::Drools::
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Xal · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 2:38 am Post subject:

Make sure the floppy is going all the way in, sounds like you bent a bracket somewhere, have another look at the innards and se if anythin is out of place. Mod it anyway, just for the practice

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