New Slim External 3.5" 1.44mb USB Floppy Disk Drive Black for Windows Xp Lenovo Asus Sony Gateway Macbook Loptop Pc Portable

Like other reviewers, I purchased this drive to try to nab old stuff from my collection of 3.5" floppy diskettes. I am using Windows 7 Pro (64-bit) and the drive works out of the box for me. The box also included a mini-cd which I did not need to use. I just plugged the drive into a USB slot and Win7 instantly recognized it and found a driver.However, as my heading says, this drive will only read High Density 1.44mb diskettes (2HD). I also have some older 2DD diskettes (double sided 720k) which this drive will not read, but rather prompt me to 'format a blank diskette.' (TIP: don't do this! You'll lose your data) Unsure if this was Windows 7 or the drive itself, I plugged this into an older Windows XP pc (which instantly recognized it too) and it still would not read any of my lower density diskettes (2DD). It actually says this in the product description, although in a convoluted way for those unaware of the two different types of 3.5" floppies. It will ONLY read your 1.44mb (2HD) diskettes.How do you tell what sort of floppy diskette you have? If you have name brand floppies, the stamp on the metal slide cover should tell you if your disk is 2HD or 2DD. That said, I have some diskettes that have no branding or marking on them whatsoever, so it's just trial and error. Some of these work (the 2HD ones) and some don't (which I assume are 2DD).Bear in mind, this technology was pre "plug and play" so even though Windows recognizes the drive and it's ready to use, it won't be active until you pop in a diskette and click the "3.5 A Drive" from the drive list in My Computer. Then you wait and wait and wait for it to access the data (which is so slow compared to today's tech!). Once you remove that diskette (when the drive access light is off), you need to refresh the contents of a new diskette by again clicking the "3.5 A Drive" from the drive list. Rinse and repeat.I purchased this drive from "FromWarehouse" vendor. It was as advertised and works great for me with Windows 7 Pro. I am able to retrieve old photos and documents from all my 2HD floppy diskettes, but alas not my 2DD diskettes.

I have Windows 7 and my disks are 2HD. This External works for me. It's not as fast as the A drive that comes with your computer but at least it does work. I'm happy because the first External I bought (Sabrent External USB 1.44 MB 2x Floppy Disk Drive (FL-UDRV) Black) showed what was on the floppy but could not open any files so I returned it and bought this one.I'm sorry some rated it low stars because it rates 5 with me.UPDATE 7/25/14: I rated this a 5 in my first review because it worked fine. As time has passed it has come to my having to do some manipulating to get the drive to work because I keep getting a disk not formatted/request to format message.I handle that by unplugging the usb from my computer, plugging it back in and if that doesn't work I then take the disk out and reinsert it in the a drive. I have to do this a few times until eventually it works.UPDATE 7/27/14: Normally this unit sits unplugged on the tower, plugging it in only when I need it, pulling it out of the usb when I'm done. Tried something different and it made a difference. After using it yesterday I left it plugged in, even when I logged off. When I got on the computer later, and today as well and had to transfer files, it worked smoothly.UPDATE: 11/19/14: Time to buy a new one. Started getting the not formatted message on a disk I'd been using. Got frustrated, slammed it on the ground, it busted it up. Back to the drawing board. When it worked, it was great, toward the end it seems it ran out of gas and stopped working. Brought the rating down to 3 because it was a short term item for me.

Worked literally out of the box - Running Win7 64-bit. I did NOT use the mini-disc that came with it. Windows identified and installed the device within 30 seconds of me plugging it into my USB port.Put in a blank floppy - it recognized it as soon as I opened Windows Explorer. It even assigned A: to it automatically. Nice. I was able to write a Word file, exit, get back in, and open it without any trouble. I was able to erase it too. It looks nice, came with a short USB cord, and has an LED to let you know when it is reading/writing to the disc.I have a set of older Sony digital cameras that I still use (in my classroom) and this little device made it possible to keep them in service even after losing my older computer that had a floppy drive built in.Very satisfied with this purchase, especially for such a low price.

This was a godsend for me, as I have recently come across a stash of old files on 3.5 in disks. Obviously, none of my modern computers have an internal drive for them so I went to my local computer retailers. After the obligatory jokes about whale oil technology levels, none of them had carried any such product for years.The drive came with a cd with drivers, which were not even needed. I just plugged in into a USB port and it ran immediately. The only problem I have run into is that unlike the older internal drives, this one does not want to read the older format single density 3.5 in discs. I have few of them, however, so it's not too big of a problem.

It works! This 'Eathtek' floppy drive installs as a NEC UF000x USB floppy drive, per two up-to-date Windows 7 workstations. Now I can use WinImage to make file images of my archaic game library diskettes! Excellent backup methodology.Note that I first bought Sabrent's popular selling model ( Sabrent External USB 1.44 MB 2x Floppy Disk Drive (FL-UDRV) ), which installed as a TEAC UF000x. But it was defective and would endlessly attempt to read new 14.4 diskettes, with Windows 7 finally timing it out after many minutes on each attempt. Tried the device on the same two up-to-date Windows 7 workstations that the Eathtek floppy drive worked on.

This works really well, easy to use. I just plug into my computor with the disc software insert, and it automatically set up drive and icon to use. With my new laptop, I don't even need disc setup. Just plug in and use. I bought this to convert my drawings files store in my old flopy disc since 2002 into jump drive to easy carry and use anywhere at anytime need. All those files still working well. Very happy with this purchased and highly recommend this to any one were used floppy disc to store files as I do. This external floppy disc is cheap and useful.

This works great! I recently purchased a commerical embroidery machine that requires the 3.5" disks. I can convert it to USB but it will cost $350 so I decided to wait. My current laptop has no drive for this size. I read the reviews and found one cheaper but someone said they could stil not use it. Sicne I am trying to read some old disks I went with this one with better reveiws. I am sos glad i did. i have had absolutely no problems reading the disks. It reads, writes, eveything an internal drive can do. It is small for carrying with me. It's perfect.

Works like a charm. When I plugged it into my laptop, it instantly recognized the device and assigned it to Drive A:, which as anyone old enough to remember knows, is the drive letter assigned to the first floppy drive in old computers. Reading from and writing to floppies worked fine. When I sneaker-netted the floppies to my ancient Clavinova 105, the piano had no problem reading the diskettes. Thumbs up!