USB Floppy power surging

[Marzipan]

I know some older devices will not work on USB 3.0, despite the fact it's supposed to be backwards compatible. of an interesting note, some devices would be a few of the available retro handhelds. they have a USB-C port, but can only charge if the source is 1.5a, not the 3a+ the newer chargers produce.

worst case scenario...buy a new USB floppy drive?

 

[CMetaphor]

I know some older devices will not work on USB 3.0, despite the fact it's supposed to be backwards compatible.

Doubt? The only 3.0 device that I never got to work with 2.0 and a pre-made external drive, which either used two chips (one for 2.0 and one for 3.0) where the 2.0 died, or some provlem occurred in the single controller so that it would no longer communicate over 2.0. That's literally the only storage device I've ever seen that didn't work, backwards or forwards compatible.

of an interesting note, some devices would be a few of the available retro handhelds. they have a USB-C port, but can only charge if the source is 1.5a, not the 3a+ the newer chargers produce.

... also kinda doubt? Which device is this? USB-C can have a LOT of standards tagged to it, from simple 5v/3A to like 20v/5A and everything in-between. Unless the handshaking is broken, even a 100w PD that does everything should be able to drop down to whatever the drvice wants. So yeah, very curious as to why it wouldn't work with pretty much any charger.

i mean, just for my cellphone, Ive used 5v/1A. 5v/3a, QC2.0, PD 3.0 and all sorts of chargers all over the house and in my car. The phone likes em all, just charges more slowly depending on the connection wattage and type.

worst case scenario...buy a new USB floppy drive?

Pretty much this. The guys that made floppy drives are long retired, and I doubt anyone makes spare parts for them. So just buy a new one and get all the data on those floppies copied elsewhere ASAP on the new one.

 

[Marzipan]

@CMetaphor you misread my first comment. I meant USB 2.0 devices not working on USB 3.0 ports. it was a known bug when USB 3.0 first came out and probably still is with the few USB 2.0 devices that had it.

as for which retro handhelds have the bug where they won't charge on a fast charger, I don't recall...have watched too many reviews. however, Russ at Retro Game Corps often covers when he's doing a review.

 

[moocow]

I just have a bunch of floppy laying around the house and I want to take a peak inside them before throwing them out. Nothing important since I doubt there are any tax related files on them as they date back to my highschool days. Floppy drive supply should be around for another 2 years IMO because Japan still heavy rely on them at the government level. May just have to fly over to find one!

 

[CMetaphor]

@moocow it'll be around longer when the US' minuteman silos are upgraded from 5.25 floppies (or is it floppys?) to 1.44MB floppies

I personally wouldn't mind looking through my own old floppies, as I've got a USB floppy drive too. Commander Keen or Space Quest anyone?

@Marzipan ah so you were talking about early 3.0 ports on PCs not having full backwards compatibility with 2.0 and earlier stuff, even though the spec for 3.0 specifically has backwards compatibility as a requirement. Now that I'm thinking about it, I seem to remember some devices acting strangely when 3.0 first came out, but can't remember any particular instance? Oh well, it all got sorted out, I think.

Maybe I should go find my first USB key (I think it's a 256MB one, cost a ton when I got it, like $300 or something) and try that in a USB4 port? Nah, probably too easy. What about a serial mouse on an adapter to USB A? Think it would still work... maybe.

 

[Marzipan]

@moocow it'll be around longer when the US' minuteman silos are upgraded from 5.25 floppies (or is it floppys?) to 1.44MB floppies

I personally wouldn't mind looking through my own old floppies, as I've got a USB floppy drive too. Commander Keen or Space Quest anyone?

@Marzipan ah so you were talking about early 3.0 ports on PCs not having full backwards compatibility with 2.0 and earlier stuff, even though the spec for 3.0 specifically has backwards compatibility as a requirement. Now that I'm thinking about it, I seem to remember some devices acting strangely when 3.0 first came out, but can't remember any particular instance? Oh well, it all got sorted out, I think.

Maybe I should go find my first USB key (I think it's a 256MB one, cost a ton when I got it, like $300 or something) and try that in a USB4 port? Nah, probably too easy. What about a serial mouse on an adapter to USB A? Think it would still work... maybe.

it was usually some crazy legacy device that had compatibility issues. it's been a long time since I've run into it, but it's always something I keep in mind when my client is using some proprietary industrial hardware. like the scales at truck stops...

 

[CMetaphor]

it was usually some crazy legacy device that had compatibility issues. it's been a long time since I've run into it, but it's always something I keep in mind when my client is using some proprietary industrial hardware. like the scales at truck stops...

It's an extra reason to be glad some mobo makers still have a couple 2.0 ports on their boards. Or at least a 2.0 header which you can use to ugly-ly shove a backpanel USB2.0 IO slot adapter on? A nice tan and silver cable/slot in a modern black or RGB case, hence the "ugly" haha

 

[Marzipan]

It's an extra reason to be glad some mobo makers still have a couple 2.0 ports on their boards. Or at least a 2.0 header which you can use to ugly-ly shove a backpanel USB2.0 IO slot adapter on? A nice tan and silver cable/slot in a modern black or RGB case, hence the "ugly" haha

that's one of the reasons they're still there. also saves the use of PCIe lanes for something better and a lot of peripherals do not need the speeds that USB 3 and up offer and provide. but USB 2.0 is archaic...so bugs me that they're still there as a rule, LoL!