# Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing with 34-Pin IDC Connector ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/118/610/medium800/adafruit_products_5679-00.jpg?1676902376) Relive the days when storage was counted out in kilobytes, not gigabytes, using the **Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing** on a Feather board. This is perfect for interfacing with 34-Pin IDC Connector floppy drives that were ubiquitous on PC's. This 'Wing has level shifting and a ready-to-plug connector that works with 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disks for reading or writing! Floppy disks have an interesting data transfer method where raw bit transitions are measured and converted to data. This data streams pretty fast from the disk drive, so you'll want to use a fast microcontroller that has large SRAM storage and ideally, a peripheral to DMA the data signal. For that reason, we only have this FeatherWing working with the [Feather M4](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3857) or [Feather RP2040](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4884). ESP32, ATmega, nRF52, etc [have not been ported to our support library](https://github.com/adafruit?q=floppy&type=all&language=&sort=)! Floppy disk drives require 5V power and logic. For the logic level shifting, we have a small boost converter on the 'Wing that will give 5V logic levels out the 34-pin connector. It will also shift the incoming signals down to a Feather-safe 3.3V. **For floppy drive _powering_ you will likely need a separate external 5V power supply that can provide 5V at 2 A.** You **can't power most drives off of USB power,** they have big motors that require more current than USB can provide! ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/118/612/medium800/adafruit_products_5679-02.jpg?1676902482) There is code and there are examples for three use cases: - **[Reading floppy disks and storing the raw bit patterns and/or converted data format for data archiving](https://wiki.archiveteam.org/index.php/Rescuing_Floppy_Disks).** For this use case we recommend using the 'Wing with a Feather programmed to act as a [greaseweazle](https://github.com/keirf/greaseweazle) or [fluxengine](https://github.com/davidgiven/fluxengine) client device. Then run those command line programs on your computer to have the Feather send the raw track data to the computer for analysis, bit-repair and format interpretation. You can also write some formats via those two programs, for use with older computers. There is a 'Write Disable' switch on the board specifically for this use case so that it is not possible for the write-enable pin to accidentally be activated. - **Reading/Writing FAT formatted floppy disks from Arduino, CircuitPython or a computer that is connected via USB**. [Floppy disks can still be used to save, read data from](http://floppy.museum/)! This is great for retro-themed projects or if you want to write data to floppy disks for them to be used by IBM PC compatibles or other devices that are expecting FAT-formatted floppy disks - [**Cool floppy music sequencing!**](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=floppy+disk+music) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/118/613/medium800/adafruit_products_5679-04.jpg?1676902500) Each order comes with one FeatherWing with the 2x17 header attached and level shifting circuitry built in. Before it can be used to read/write floppies, you will need to: - Solder pin headers on to attach to a Feather board.  - Attach an M4 or [RP2040 Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4884) as the driver/brains. - Find a 34-pin IDC Floppy Drive that works - [Connect a 34-pin DC cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5453) between the 'Wing and the Floppy drive. - [Provide 5V power to the floppy drive, as much as 2 Amps. 5.25" disk drives will also need a 12V power supply](https://www.adafruit.com/product/425)! - Find some floppy disks to read/write Many of these items are no longer sold, and will require some sleuthing to locate! ### Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing with 34-Pin IDC Connector [Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing with 34-Pin IDC Connector](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5679) Relive the days when storage was counted out in kilo-bytes not giga-bytes, using the  **Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing** on a Feather board - perfect for interfacing with 34-Pin IDC Connector floppy drives that were ubiquitous on PC's. This 'Wing has level shifting... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5679) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5679/guides) ![Angled shot of a black rectangular microcontroller with GPIO header.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/5679-00.jpg) ### Rainbow 34-pin Dual Row IDC Floppy Ribbon Cable - 30cm long [Rainbow 34-pin Dual Row IDC Floppy Ribbon Cable - 30cm long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5453) Often used for floppy drives, 34 pin IDC cables have a 2x17 array of pins. This cable will let you connect one port to another with a festive rainbow design! Both ends have strain relief and keyed connectors. Perfect for retro archiving projects or whenever you have a 2x17 0.1" header on... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5453) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5453/guides) ![Angled shot of rainbow-colored 34-pin IDC ribbon cable.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/5453-02.jpg) ### 4-pin AT / ATX / IDE Molex to Berg Floppy Drive Power Cable [4-pin AT / ATX / IDE Molex to Berg Floppy Drive Power Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/425) For big projects, with big power needs, an AT or ATX power supply is a handy place to grab 5V or 12VDC. Only problem is that these supplies have connectors that only plug into motherboards or hard drives. That's where this cable comes in. It has a matching 4-pin molex connector to the hard... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/425) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/425/guides) ![4-pin AT/ATX/IDE power cable](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/425-02.jpg) ### Adafruit Feather RP2040 [Adafruit Feather RP2040](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4884) A new chip means a new Feather, and the Raspberry Pi RP2040 is no exception. When we saw this chip we thought "this chip is going to be awesome when we give it the Feather Treatment" and so we did! This Feather features the  **RP2040** , and all niceties you know and... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4884) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4884/guides) ![Angled shot of black rectangular microcontroller "Feather RP2040"](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4884-04.jpg) ### FeatherWing Doubler - Prototyping Add-on For All Feather Boards [FeatherWing Doubler - Prototyping Add-on For All Feather Boards](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2890) This is the **FeatherWing Doubler** - a prototyping add-on and more for all Feather boards. This is similar to our [FeatherWing Proto](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2884) except there are two! The magic of the Doubler comes when stacking a Feather and another... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2890) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2890/guides) ![Double prototyping feather wing PCB with socket headers installed](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/2890-01.jpg) ### Part: Compatible 3.5" Drive quantity: 1 3.5" floppy drive with 34-pin IDC connector ### Part: Power Supply quantity: 1 +5/+12V power supply with Molex and/or Berg Connector Compatible power supplies can be bought inexpensively as part of a "USB to IDE" kit. See [this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BIE996S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1155GBV4DPEXU&psc=1) as an example, they can be found at many retailers for reasonable prices. Optional for 5.25" floppies: ### Part: Compatible 5.25" Drive quantity: 1 5.25" drive with 34-pin card-edge connector ### Part: 34-pin IDC to card-edge connector quantity: 1 For connecting a 5.25" floppy drive - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-floppy-featherwing-with-34-pin-idc-connector/pinouts.md) ## Primary Products ### Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing with 34-Pin IDC Connector [Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing with 34-Pin IDC Connector](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5679) Relive the days when storage was counted out in kilo-bytes not giga-bytes, using the  **Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing** on a Feather board - perfect for interfacing with 34-Pin IDC Connector floppy drives that were ubiquitous on PC's. This 'Wing has level shifting... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5679) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5679/guides) ## Featured Products ### Rainbow 34-pin Dual Row IDC Floppy Ribbon Cable - 30cm long [Rainbow 34-pin Dual Row IDC Floppy Ribbon Cable - 30cm long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5453) Often used for floppy drives, 34 pin IDC cables have a 2x17 array of pins. This cable will let you connect one port to another with a festive rainbow design! Both ends have strain relief and keyed connectors. Perfect for retro archiving projects or whenever you have a 2x17 0.1" header on... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5453) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5453/guides) ### 4-pin AT / ATX / IDE Molex to Berg Floppy Drive Power Cable [4-pin AT / ATX / IDE Molex to Berg Floppy Drive Power Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/425) For big projects, with big power needs, an AT or ATX power supply is a handy place to grab 5V or 12VDC. Only problem is that these supplies have connectors that only plug into motherboards or hard drives. That's where this cable comes in. It has a matching 4-pin molex connector to the hard... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/425) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/425/guides) ### Adafruit Feather RP2040 [Adafruit Feather RP2040](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4884) A new chip means a new Feather, and the Raspberry Pi RP2040 is no exception. When we saw this chip we thought "this chip is going to be awesome when we give it the Feather Treatment" and so we did! This Feather features the  **RP2040** , and all niceties you know and... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4884) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4884/guides) ### FeatherWing Doubler - Prototyping Add-on For All Feather Boards [FeatherWing Doubler - Prototyping Add-on For All Feather Boards](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2890) This is the **FeatherWing Doubler** - a prototyping add-on and more for all Feather boards. This is similar to our [FeatherWing Proto](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2884) except there are two! The magic of the Doubler comes when stacking a Feather and another... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2890) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2890/guides) ## Related Guides - [Introducing Adafruit Feather RP2040](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-rp2040-pico.md) - [LED Rocket Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-rocket-lamp.md) - [Blahaj Alarm and Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/blahaj-alarm.md) - [MIDI Laser Harp with Time of Flight Distance Sensors](https://learn.adafruit.com/midi-laser-harp-time-of-flight-sensors.md) - [32x32 Square Pixel Art Animation Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/32x32-square-pixel-display.md) - [Animatronic Cosplay Wings](https://learn.adafruit.com/animatronic-cosplay-wings.md) - [Discord and Slack Connected Smart Plant with Adafruit IO Actions](https://learn.adafruit.com/discord-and-slack-connected-smart-plant-with-adafruit-io-triggers.md) - [Circle of Fifths Euclidean Synth with synthio and CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/circle-of-fifths-euclidean-synth-with-synthio-and-circuitpython.md) - [Flying Faders](https://learn.adafruit.com/flying-faders.md) - [Edit CircuitPython Code on iOS with Runestone](https://learn.adafruit.com/editing-circuitpython-on-ios-with-runestone.md) - [FeatherWing Proto, Doubler and Tripler](https://learn.adafruit.com/featherwing-proto-and-doubler.md) - [HID Reporter](https://learn.adafruit.com/hid-reporter.md) - [Talking Musical NeoPixel Clock with Infrared, BLE and Touch Controls](https://learn.adafruit.com/talking-musical-neo-pixel-clock-with-infrared-ble-and-touch-controls.md) - [Quickstart - Raspberry Pi RP2040 with BLE and CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/quickstart-raspberry-pi-rp2040-with-ble-and-circuitpython.md) - [Air Quality Sensor 3D Printed Enclosure](https://learn.adafruit.com/air-quality-sensor-silo-house.md) - [Open Sesame! A SMS-controlled door lock](https://learn.adafruit.com/open-sesame-a-sms-controlled-door-lock.md)