help with USB floppy drive on Powerbook G4

[rsolberg]

I think it's your particular drive that's not cooperating. Reading the reviews on Amazon, I came across a couple where buyers got drives that worked on Windows, but not on Mac OS. One reviewer mentioned that it would work in Windows 10, but not in Mac OS X 10.6 or 10.9. Based on more reviews, it sounds like there are a number of drive mechanisms and at least two different USB/floppy controllers being sold as the same Sabrent USB floppy drive item, which might explain why some users don't have trouble on Mac OS X, but others cannot get it to work. My generic USB floppy drive has a Teac controller and NEC mechanism. It works perfectly well on everything I've tried. This includes Windows 2000 through 10 and Mac OS 9.1, OS X 10.3 to 10.12.

 

[mraroid]

Thanks for your post and suggestions bigmessowires.   Looking at the specs for my specific  model powerbook, it says it has two, USB 2.0 ports. The software I was running to partition my CF card seemed to be the problem.  I could boot to my apple branded 7.6 CD (in my Color Classic), but when I tired to install, it would fail about 3/4s of the way into the install.  I re formatted maybe 20 or more times trying to get it to work. 
 
Lido was suggested to me. I could find it on the web and down load it to my powerbook.  But I could only burn a CD.  I needed to boot my Color Classic to the apple 7.6 disk.  But now I had no way to install Lido except with a floppy.  I have no way to move files from my Powerbook to a floppy so I can install Lido into my Color Classic.
 
I have a SCSI2CF card installed in my Color Classic.  I have heard the words "floppy emu" but I do not know what that is or anything about it.  Can you point me to a wiki or web page?
 
Update:  After weeks or trying, I was able to get 7.6 to install with errors.  But it did install and I could boot to my SCSI2CF card.  After that happened, I booted to my CF card.  I installed the CD of Lido.  I moved Lido to my CF card.  I inserted a floppy disk and formatted it under 7.6 in my Color Classic.  Then I moved Lido over to my floppy.  After that I was home free.  I booted to my apple 7.6 CD, then inserted the floppy of Lido, formatted my CF card into 4 partitions.  Now the install went perfect.
 
I still wish I had floppy drive support from some machine so I can make floppy disks that would work...

mraroid

 

[mraroid]

Rsolberg....
 
I think you are right - I just got a bad one.  I will keep reading and see if I can find another floppy drive.  Gamble and then buy it, eat the excessive postage to ship to Ecuador and give it another try.

 

[rsolberg]

I did a little research into different buying options for electronics in Ecuador, and I found some info that may be useful to you: http://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=622594   

I did a search for "floppy" on Mercado Libre and came up with this result:  https://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ec/MEC-412202954-floppy-disk-externo-usb-de-35-doble-densidad-_JM

Perhaps this would be a better option than trying to import another one from abroad?  In the second image, the label indicates support for Mac OS 8.6 and above in addition to Windows.

 

[mraroid]

Thanks again for all your help rsolberg.

Mercado Libre is the ebay of Ecuador.  Ecuador has private shipping companies that ship in country only. They are very good, very inexpensive, and fast.  I would say the cost to ship a huge heavy box all the way across Ecuador, cost maybe 1/4 of that UPS would charge you in the USA.  I shipped a box a 2 PM and it arrives in the southern most part of Ecuador before noon the next day (I live in the northern part of Ecuador).

I used Mercado Libre to buy the powered USB hub (I had some issues with the seller, a long delay and the electrical plug for the wall turned out to be from Chile), but it all worked out in the end).

https://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ec/MEC-411975688-hub-de-7-puertos-usb-20-con-fuente-de-poder-clase-a-_JM

Actually, about three or four "ebay" type forums work here inside of Ecuador.  You use them to look for apartments, buy a used refrigerators computer stuff, etc.

I have looked at www.expat.com a few times.  A buddy belongs.  It is more of a social network.  And the volume of stuff for sale is *HUGE* on Mercado Libre compared to expat.com.  I may join one day.,  They have a free membership and also a paid membership.

Almost all the Mac stuff for sale (in Mercado Libre type sites) is very new. I have never seen any 68K Mac stuff for sale. I did find my powerbook for sale on Mercado Libre.  It was $700.00. They can be bought for between $100 and $200 in the US.

Mercado Libre will be my first choice when I look for mac compatible USB floppy drives.  Maybe I will get lucky..... 

mraroid