Dimension 4600

Question

I just purchased a Dimension 4600 at a computer show in KC. I thought it had a 3.5 floppy. I found out I was mistaken when I got it home. I need a floppy drive in this machine as it is for a church and they have their info on floppies. My question is this... Will a generic floppy drive work? Do I have to take the face plate off the drive? Are there special mounting brackets (unique to Dell)  that I have to purchase?  Appreciate any help I can get.

shesagordie · Answer

newbie24.

You will have to buy a floppy drive kit from Dell, that comes with the drive, brackets, cable and screws.
The cost should be approximately $20.00 the same as if you purchased it with the system. Try contacting Dell Spare Parts Phone 800.372.3355 Ext 69937 for this kit.

The following instructions are for installing the floppy.

http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dim4600/en/4600i/sm/parts.htm#1138667

Bev.

newbie24 · Answer

Thanks everyone... I was afraid I was going to have to do that (call Dell and buy their parts). I read some old messages from back in October that said basically the same thing. Trouble is, getting someone on the line that understands my plight. I will keep plugging along. Thanks again.

BigBrother · Answer

newbie24, Call the Dell Techies and ask them if they have a kit which would include the drive mountinng hardware and the faceplate as well as the floppy drive. Steve

shesagordie · Answer

newbie24.

You're Welcome. It's a real pain in the buns, that Dell does not sell just the Floppy drive bracket by itself, but, that's marketing.

Bev.

Message Edited by shesagordie on 11-09-2003 09:07 PM

newbie24 · Answer

You are absolutely right Bev... One would think that brackets would come with the case... This is my first experience with Dell. Other than this, and the phone conversations, I have no complaints. Hopefully, the folks that will be using this computer daily will have no problems. (Just another reason why I build my own pc's) Unfortunately, 'they' wanted name brand... Go figure.  Ed

iKlaatu · Answer

The alternative to a floppy diskette drive might be to get a small-sized memory key which works with the USB ports. A 16MB one can be bought for around $10 these days. All you'd need to do is be sure all computers concerned are compatible for its usage. Other names they go by are Pen Drive, Flash Drive. That's what I'll be doing, I skipped on the floppy drive for my 4600 (arriving today, yea!).

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-963747.html for a year-old article about Dell and those things. Stated there that you cannot use one as a boot-up drive but that seems to have changed now. See http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/acc/p60684/en/intro.htm

Brian_R170 · Answer

I kind of have the opposite dilemma. I just got my new Dimension 4600, too. It came with a floppy drive as part of the package, but I won't likely use it much and I'm thinking about replacing it with an 8-in-1 internal flash card reader that fits in a 3.5" drive bay (I prefer the internal type to the external USB type). However, if I do that, I have to get a whole new front cover because the current cover has only a slot for the floppy drive and I need it to be a rectangular 3.5" opening.

Can I get a replacement front cover with a rectangular opening from Dell?

shesagordie · Answer

Brian_R170. Try Dell Spare Parts Phone # 800.372.3355 Ext 69937 for this part. Bev. Message Edited by shesagordie on 11-10-2003 05:57 PM

dalem29 · Answer

Would this USB Memory Key work with  my 4100? I still have some files on that computer that I would like to tranfer to my 4600. I tried to transfer with a parallel cable, but the wizards did not seem to like the connection. In the meantime I am doing a lot of 'manual labor' on the files, but this kind of device would speed it up if will take the files from a USB port on the 4100 and load them to my 4600

shesagordie · Answer

dalem29.

I can't see why not, I've been using memory keys to transfer files, etc, between systems, if a OS is 98/98se then you will need to install a driver to use a key, see the following.

http://www.memorykeytools.com/win98.asp

Bev.

newbie24 · Answer

Hi Guys.. Just a quick update on my floppy dilemna. After several painstaking hours of trying to communicate with Dell folks, having to call 4 different numbers only to have a techie tell me my service tag was for a 2400 not a 4600 (don't know where he got that one from) he could get me the floppy kit for 19.95 in 7 to 10 days. I thanked him and went and bought an external USB floppy drive for 20 more bucks. I guess I should have done that in the first place. Needless to say, my first couple of experiences with Dell have been somewhat interesting. Now I know why I build my own pc's.  I'm sure I'll be talking to you all again soon. You're all a neat bunch with tons of very good and interesting comments and suggestions.. Thanks again... Ed

Emi03 · Answer

Sorry to hear about your negative experience also.. I just had 2 negative expeiences with DELL also! They didn't ship out MS Suite with my 4600.. I called they said they would replace it, they sent out WIN XP CD! Then I call again, they say sorry we'll send out the right one overnight... 1.5 wks later I call and they said someone cancelled my order for no reason, now they are back-ordered for the CDs... DELL is losing it, I highly doubt my next PC to be a DELL!

dalem29 · Answer

I had a similar experience about having an order cancelled. I ordered a key drive that Bev mentioned in her reply to me above. I checked back after it didn't arrive, and found that it had been cancelled for no reason. The person who took the order did not return an e-mail. After a few fruitless phone calls I gave up trying to order it again...(they did not want to put it on the same account as my computer). Went out and go one locally. I would say they are losing  a lot revenue on parts sales because of this less than good customer service.

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Dimension 4600

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