IBM PS/2 for FDD 5 1/4"ers?

[EverythingIBM]

So, I've decided to get a dedicated computer to handle my 5 1/4" floppy disks. Or maybe that's an excuse to get a PS/2 comp since I've become entranced with them of late.

Is it possible to use standard connectors and what have you with an IBM PS/2?

I know there are varying models (MANY!), I was thinking something along the lines of a model 80 tower. A tower would be better for the drives, hey?

Will this plan be achievable?

It'll (presumably) become a cascading wormhole, seeing as I've never dealt with PS/2 computers before... but, since I ended up liking them so much for some unknown reason; I'm willing to deal with it!
One issue will be software... I don't have any even if I manage to get one.
But I'd like to be prepared for this in case I go with it

 

[Ole Juul]

So, I've decided to get a dedicated computer to handle my 5 1/4" floppy disks. . . .
One issue will be software... I don't have any even if I manage to get one.
But I'd like to be prepared for this in case I go with it

You don't need any particular box, brand, or model, of computer to handle 5 1/4" diskettes and act as a "tweener", but it sounds like you have your personal preference, so go for it.

Regarding software, you can get more than you'll ever need for free right here. Any DOS will do, PC, Caldera, FreeDOS, MS, etc, and AFAIK they'll all run on a PS/2. Unless you want the machine to be stock or vintage (in which case it's definitely inappropriate) MS-6.22 might be a good plan - interlnk/intersver is very handy.

 

[kishy]

Of all the IBM systems you could choose to connect a 5.25" floppy drive to, isn't the PS/2 series the most complicated one to do it with (on account of them all using that combined data+power cable)?

 

[Chuck(G)]

There were several options for 5¼ inch drives for the PS/2; some direct-connect to the planar controller; there were also several controllers for external/internal drives, such as the Diskette Adapter/A.

If you manage to find one of the add-in MCA controllers, don't expect much to support it.

 

[EverythingIBM]

Of all the IBM systems you could choose to connect a 5.25" floppy drive to, isn't the PS/2 series the most complicated one to do it with (on account of them all using that combined data+power cable)?

I was worried about this, as, I've never really seen PS/2 computers loaded with a 5 1/4 drive.

There were several options for 5¼ inch drives for the PS/2; some direct-connect to the planar controller; there were also several controllers for external/internal drives, such as the Diskette Adapter/A.

If you manage to find one of the add-in MCA controllers, don't expect much to support it.

So I have a question, are there any PS/2s that support onboard 5 1/4 drives?

 

[krebizfan]

So I have a question, are there any PS/2s that support onboard 5 1/4 drives?

I am fairly certain that the Model 60 and Model 80 (probably most other big towers) could have the front HD bay opened up and 5 1/4" drive inserted in its place. Later models could have 5 1/4" floppy mounted instead of a CD drive. I don't know if anyone actually did that since other options were more useful.

 

[kishy]

Oh, certainly, some models can physically fit a 5.25" drive (be it CD or floppy)...but keep in mind most PS/2s used drive 'sleds' so without one, it'll just sit loose.

The concern I was voicing is more about actual connectivity.

 

[vwestlife]

The concern I was voicing is more about actual connectivity.

At least on the early MCS PS/2s, the 3.5" floppy drives were completely proprietary: there are no cables to connect or BIOS options to select. The data/power sockets are on little circuit boards bolted to the case, so when you snap a drive into its bay, it is connected, and then the system automatically detects whether you have a drive installed in that bay or not. So there is no way to adapt a 5.25" drive to work with the onboard controller. If you wanted a 5.25" drive, IBM sold you an external one with a matching controller card. The large towers (Models 60, 65SX, 80, etc.) did have space for a 5.25" to be mounted internally (taking the space of where the second hard drive would go), but this required special hardware, and I think it also needed an MCA controller card.

 

[krebizfan]

I vaguely remember that some third party had a cable/circuit board adapter to allow a normal floppy disk drive including 5 1/4 drives to connect to the built-in PS/2 floppy connector. But I can't find a clear reference to such online.

IBM preferred the seperate adapter card which they tried to restrict to only working with 5 1/4 drives. http://ohlandl.ipv7.net/floppy/5_25-Floppy.html

Oh, just to add, there is a web page offering to sell the specialized parts needed for mounting drives in a PS/2. http://www.pssolution.com/ibm_frame.html