Bonnie, I'm not sure what computer you're referring to. But if your only problem is lack of a USB port, USB2 can easily be added to a desktop with an inexpensive internal PCI card. USB2 can likewise be added to a laptop by way of a PCMCIA card. I think you could connect an external floppy drive to either machine via USB. You could also connect the two machines to each other via a USB "link" cable to transfer files etc. It's a little less convenient than a new computer, but a lot less money. All the items I've mentioned would add up to about $100, average $25 each, if you shop the internet. Good luck. 

-----Original Message-----
>From: Bonnie Stanfield <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Mar 13, 2008 2:39 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Floppy Drive A
>
>Many thanks to all who responded to my dilema about a Floppy Drive A in my
>laptop.  With all the superb information you've all given me, I  have been
>able to resolve the problem.  Since this unit didn't have a USB port either,
>I've decided the best course of action is to replace it.
>
>Bonnie
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Russ Poffenberger" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 8:58 AM
>Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Floppy Drive A
>
>
>| Hi Bonnie,
>|
>| There are a couple possible explanations. The most likely is that your
>| desktop either has no floppy controller (these are pretty much dinosaurs
>| these days), or it is disabled in the BIOS. Thus no driver is loaded and
>it
>| does not show up. It may also be possible to hide it in the removeable
>media
>| manager.
>|
>| The laptop, while not physically in the computer, may have the controller
>| and a port to plug one in, or it may be an option for that laptop (it is
>not
>| uncommon in older laptops to be able to remove the CDROM drive and insert
>a
>| floppy drive module and vice-versa). There is not a good hardware method
>to
>| detect that a floppy actually drive exists, and Win 2K does not have
>nearly
>| the support for removeable media that XP does.
>|
>| So bottom line is that I would not worry about it. If you need to transfer
>| files between computers, that you use USB based thumb drives.
>|
>| Russ Poffenberger
>| [log in to unmask]
>|
>| > -----Original Message-----
>| > From: Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
>| > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bonnie Stanfield
>| > Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 8:30 PM
>| > To: [log in to unmask]
>| > Subject: [PCBUILD] Floppy Drive A
>| >
>| > Here is an oddity on a laptop:    My desktop XP has NO floppy
>| > drive A:     It also does NOT LIST an A: drive on the My Computer.
>| >
>| > The LAPTOP(Toshiba Tecra 8100 Windows2000) on the other hand
>| > HAS NO Floppy drive A:, BUT it does LIST one when I click on
>| > My Computer.  WHY would it LIST one if there is no PLACE for one?
>| >
>| > Thanks again,
>| >
>| > Bonnie  Stanfield
>| >
>| >          PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
>| >                      visit our download web page at:
>| >                   http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml
>| >
>| >
>| >
>|
>|                          PCBUILD's List Owners:
>|                       Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>|                        Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
>|
>
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