How to: Install a floppy drive controller card.
Solution:
Observe ESD considerations, and install the legacy floppy drive controller card
WARNING: Electrical shock hazard! Make sure the power is turned off and the external power cables have been disconnected before removing the computer cover.
CAUTION 1: This task should be performed by a qualified computer technician.
CAUTION 2: Please observe steps to reduce the potential damage to computer components from electrostatic discharge.
NOTE 1: Floppy drive controllers use interrupt request (IRQ) value of '6' and some controllers may also use direct memory access (DMA) values. Use steps 1) through 12) to determine if there are any devices using IRQ '6' and to determine which DMA values are unassigned.
NOTE 2: If the floppy drive controller is embedded on the motherboard, you will need to disable the floppy controller on the motherboard before the new floppy drive controller adapter card can be installed.
NOTE 3: Some floppy drive controller adapter cards also have hard drive controller(s) on the card. If you are not going to use the hard drive controller on the adapter card, you must disable the hard drive controller(s) before installing the adapter card. Refer to the adapter card manual or contact next-level support for further instructions.
1) Click the 'Start' button to display the 'Start' menu.
2) Select 'Settings' and select 'Control Panel'. (The 'Control Panel' window appears.)
'Control Panel' window
3) Double-click the 'System' icon. (The 'System Properties' dialog box appears.)
4) Click the 'Device Manager' tab, and select the 'View devices by type' radio button. (The system devices are displayed.)
Device Manager
5) Select the 'Computer' icon.
Select Computer and click properties
6) Click 'Properties'. (The 'Computer Properties' dialog box appears.)
7) Select the 'Interrupt request (IRQ)' radio button. (The dialog box lists the devices with interrupt assignments and radio button name.)
Computer Properties
8) Record the interrupts that are not assigned.
9) Select the 'Direct memory access (DMA)' radio button. (The dialog box lists the devices with DMA assignments and radio button name.)
10) Record the DMAs that are not assigned.
11) Select the 'Input/output (I/O addresses)' radio button. (The dialog box lists the devices with memory addresses and radio button name.)
12) If IRQ '6' is currently being used, do the following:
NOTE: Make sure IRQ '6' is not being used by an existing floppy drive controller. If so, you will have to remove or disable the floppy drive controller before installing the new floppy drive controller.
a) Click the 'Reserve Resources' tab.
NOTE: If you attempt to reserve a resource currently assigned to a device, a 'Resource Conflict Warning' message will appear stating if you reserve a resource in use that a resource conflict may occur. If possible, choose a different value to reserve.
b) Select the 'Interrupt request (IRQ)' radio button, and click 'Add...'. (The 'Edit Resource Settings' dialog box appears.)
c) Enter '6' in the 'Value' list box, and click 'OK'.
'Edit Interrupt Request' dialog box
d) Click 'OK' to close the 'Computer Properties' dialog box.
13) Shut down Windows 95, and turn off the computer.
14) Disconnect the external power cord from computer.
15) Remove the computer cover.
16) Set the jumpers on the card to match the device resources reserved in steps 12)a) through 12)d).
NOTE: Refer to the adapter card manual for proper jumper settings.
17) Determine the expansion slot type for the floppy driver controller card.
18) Align the floppy drive controller card parallel with an empty slot matching the card, and insert the card into the slot.
Aligning a card with a expansion slot
CAUTION: Keep the card vertical while inserting it into an expansion, and be careful not to bend the floppy drive controller card. Bending the floppy drive controller card can damage the circuitry.
19) Connect the ribbon data cable to the connector on the floppy drive controller card and to the large connector on the rear of the floppy disk drives (red or blue side to Pin1).
20) Replace the computer cover.
21) Reconnect the external computer power cord, and turn on the computer. (Allow Windows 95 to load normally.)
NOTE: Windows 95 will auto-detect the new floppy drive controller card and auto configure system drivers for the controller.
