I have a 3.5" hard disc 2HD, 1.44 MB, that I would like to read. It's probably 25-30 years old? Is there a disc reader that will be compatible with either my 10th gen iPad or Mac-Mini M2 chip? Easier for me if it will work with my iPad.
If "3.5" hard disc 2HD, 1.44 MB" = a floppy disc, then:
The short answer: Forget about using your iPad. Instead, get a USB floppy drive for your Mac mini. The iPad route won’t work directly, but once the data is extracted on the Mac, it’s easy to move it over. If the data is critical and the disk isn’t mounting, consider sending it to a data recovery specialist.
A bit longer answer: You'll want a USB external floppy disk drive that’s macOS-compatible. Look for one that is explicitly plug-and-play with macOS Ventura or later. Brands like RAAYO, YEHUA, or Generic USB floppy drives found on Amazon or eBay often work, though compatibility can vary — ideally pick one that mentions M1/M2 chip Macs in the description.
Unfortunately, iPads (even the 10th-gen with USB-C) don’t support USB floppy drives — even with a USB-C hub. The iPadOS file system drivers just don’t include support for legacy floppy disk file systems, so while you can physically plug a floppy drive in, the iPad won’t know what to do with it.
If you really need iPad compatibility, the workaround would be:
1. Use your Mac mini to read and copy the files.
2. Upload them to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or AirDrop them to your iPad.
If "3.5" hard disc 2HD, 1.44 MB" = a floppy disc, then:
The short answer: Forget about using your iPad. Instead, get a USB floppy drive for your Mac mini. The iPad route won’t work directly, but once the data is extracted on the Mac, it’s easy to move it over. If the data is critical and the disk isn’t mounting, consider sending it to a data recovery specialist.
A bit longer answer: You'll want a USB external floppy disk drive that’s macOS-compatible. Look for one that is explicitly plug-and-play with macOS Ventura or later. Brands like RAAYO, YEHUA, or Generic USB floppy drives found on Amazon or eBay often work, though compatibility can vary — ideally pick one that mentions M1/M2 chip Macs in the description.
Unfortunately, iPads (even the 10th-gen with USB-C) don’t support USB floppy drives — even with a USB-C hub. The iPadOS file system drivers just don’t include support for legacy floppy disk file systems, so while you can physically plug a floppy drive in, the iPad won’t know what to do with it.
If you really need iPad compatibility, the workaround would be:
1. Use your Mac mini to read and copy the files.
2. Upload them to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or AirDrop them to your iPad.
3.5" hard disc reader that will work with either 10th gen iPad or M2 chip mac mini...
