MFD-2HD floppy reader for MAC

Are there any floppy readers for MAC? I have Sony High Density MFD-2HD (formatted for IBM, PS/w and compatibles 1.44MB disks) from 2001 ~ to 2007 with files that I want to open.


Please advise on a reader that I can buy.




MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.2

Posted on Dec 27, 2024 9:40 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 27, 2024 1:54 PM

Potentially, yes.


Those would be the:


Important Notes

  • Most USB floppy drives follow the USB Mass Storage protocol, so they should work natively without additional drivers.
  • Since the disks are formatted for IBM/PC, the file system is likely FAT12/FAT16, which macOS can read, but specific file formats (e.g., WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3) may need compatible software or converters.
  • If the files use outdated formats, tools like LibreOffice or WPS Office can help open and convert old documents or spreadsheets.
  • Some external floppy drives may need additional power when connected through hubs. You may need to connect them directly to your Mac in this case.
2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 27, 2024 1:54 PM in response to PegPros

Potentially, yes.


Those would be the:


Important Notes

  • Most USB floppy drives follow the USB Mass Storage protocol, so they should work natively without additional drivers.
  • Since the disks are formatted for IBM/PC, the file system is likely FAT12/FAT16, which macOS can read, but specific file formats (e.g., WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3) may need compatible software or converters.
  • If the files use outdated formats, tools like LibreOffice or WPS Office can help open and convert old documents or spreadsheets.
  • Some external floppy drives may need additional power when connected through hubs. You may need to connect them directly to your Mac in this case.

Dec 27, 2024 2:30 PM in response to PegPros

Yes, as Tesserax mentioned, the good news is that a PC/FAT-formatted 1.44 MB floppy as such may be read by a modern Mac. Reading an old Mac-formatted diskette on the other hand will be limited to earlier macOS versions... The following article has more about this.

https://www.siber-sonic.com/mac/newmillfloppy.html


However, the second part is to find a USB floppy drive that is compatible with a modern Mac. You may find some additional indications via the drive reports in the aforementioned article.


Alternatively, it may be easier to borrow a Windows computer and use a (USB) floppy drive there for your PC/FAT-formatted 1.44 MB disks. If necessary and possible, you could then transfer any read files (using a USB flash drive or via a network) to the modern Mac.

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MFD-2HD floppy reader for MAC

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