Mounting Hardware for a floppy and another HDD

Hi George3095,

Google found these (although I'll admit it's not obvious what to search for). For the floppy drive, there is already a bay in the case under the CD/DVD drive bays.

Hey, osprey4.

You're right about the bay, but what's there is the rectangular opening in the front of the metal case, a tab (with a screw hole in it) coming down from the CD-DVD sheet metal enclosure and three sheet metal "hooks" on the underside of the CD/DVD case. What the designers came up with is sort of a "three-sided sling" mounted under and to the CD/DVD case. One would mount the "sling" and then slide the floppy into it, using a couple of screws to keep it in place.Similarly, the sheet metal case for holding the HDD has provisions for another sheet metal case that, presumably, was available for purchase during the early days of the Dimension 3000. But, today? Who knows?

 george3095

A Dimension 3000 Dell OEM Floppy Drive Tray, can be purchased from HERE and a Dell 0T962, Dimension 3000 Bracket for a second hard drive can also, be purchased off eBay for $5.95.

Bev.

Bev, I hope you don't mind yet another question, but I hoped you'd know the answer. Both brackets you pointed me to have arrived and both fit. Thank you. I'm sure there will be NO problem installing a hard drive with its new bracket, but here's my question: no matter how I try (and I'm very handy with my hands), a floppy drive does not fit as expected. I'm sure it's not the bracket. With a "standard" floppy in place, the "built-in" eject button that's part of the case's front (removable) panel is so long that, with a floppy disc inserted, just pushing slightly on the plastic case ejects the floppy. I have two floppies, one NEC; one Panasonic and both have the same problem. Can the floppy for the Dell Dimension 3000 be a non-standard floppy? I'm stumped.

 george3095

Have tried removing the plastic front bezel from the floppy drive and see if this makes a difference?

I did this to replace a Dimension 8400 Dell OEM FD, it worked and still does, perfectly, but there will not be a 'Dust Flap', as it's attached to the bezel, whereas Dell's OEM FD's has it attached to the drive's metal chassis.

When Dell made the Dimension 3000, they only sold the floppy drive, bracket and data cable as a kit, not separately.

A Dell OEM refurbished  Dimension 3000 floppy drive, can be purchased/seen HERE

Bev.

Bev, thanks for responding. The bezel is not the problem; it is the button on the floppies that extend too far, although the built-in button on the case front MAY be modified, so I'll look into that. I'm a bit reluctant to remove the dust cover because I once saw a friend's computer and the floppy was full of lint and dust, and ugh! Needless to say, I had to replace the floppy and show him to vacuum the computer regularly. Thanks again.

 george3095

The Floppy Drive's Latch/Release Button does have a plastic extension that can be removed, from the metal part.

Other than this, I think your only other option is to buy a Dell OEM floppy drive.

Bev.

I've got a big smile on my face, Bev. The NEC floppy drive was the one that fit without a hitch. The Panasonic would have required some surgery. I removed the NEC's bezel (the dust cover stayed put) and the extension on the eject button and the rest was a snap. Thank you very much.

 george3095

That's excellent and I'm happy to have helped.    :emotion-21:

Bev.