Floppy Drive Issues

I got my CF card reader for my 2000XL, but I need to install OS 1.20 first. It came with a zip installed but I don't have a zip drive for my computer. So, I'm trying to put it on through a floppy drive. I don't have the power cable for the floppy drive either. The floppy drive I took from my computer has the top row of pins but the bottom row only has 5 pins. I tried that drive using the power supply from my computer and it wouldn't light up or anything.

I took the floppy from an older PC I had which has all the pins except 2nd one from the lower left. It has a small arrow on the bottom left which I think is indicating where the red line should be from the cable. The only problem is the cable I have from my newer floppy has the line on the other side. I can't flip it either because of the notch.

When I plug this drive in it lights up, but it stays on and the MPC gives me a disk read error. It gives me the read error, but the drive doesn't actually try to read the disk. I'm thinking I need to flip the cable, but I don't know if it will work if I shave the notch off so I can flip it over. I'm trying to get this to work so I don't have to invest money in a zip drive for my computer just to install OS 1.20.

Also, can I get that power cable from an electronic store like Fry's? It's not a special cable I'd have to order is it? I'm about to try it but I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience with this type of problem.

I can take pictures, but I just tested some things out. It seems that if the light is on it will not give me the "no floppy device" error message, but it won't read a disk. I tried shaving the notch and flipping it but the light never comes on and I get the error message. It shouldn't matter that I'm using an outside power supply source for the floppy should it? I have the CF reader from mpcstuff.com, but it says that I have to be on 1.20 before it will work and I'm currently on 1.14.

If I hook up the CF reader I get the no floppy message and the CF card I'm using is a 512mb card. I was thinking of flipping the cable on the connection on the 2kxl's motherboard, but I can see a small arrow. The red cable lines up with that, so I don't think I need to flip it but I could try it. I can post pictures of the back of the different floppy drives if you think that will help.

Well according to this page http://akaiscsifaq.digidude.net/akaifaq_floppy.htm I need to have a floppy drive with jumpers or sliders. None of my floppy drives have either of those >_< I can spend the cash to get the zip drive for my PC, but you can't load an OS from a zip right?

I know you can use a CF reader with 1.14, but they state on the site that this particular one requires 1.20. I am going to go to Fry's and pickup some stuff to hopefully get this to work. If not I will probably just order the darn floppy drive from mpcstuff.com.

Can I load the OS from the zip drive?

Loaded the OS through the zip drive and installed the CF reader! So, you can load 1.20 from 1.14 through an internal ATAPI zip drive if anyone was wondering.

The issue that you are having with the floppy drive most likely has to do with the fact that AKAI in an effort to fudge up DIY folks, used a Standard Floppy Cable, But it is actually plugged into the B plug, NOT the A plug that comes after the twist.

Holy smokes! Well shoot wish I had known that a few days ago hehe. Thanks for the info!