You should be starting with a kit like the one pictured here, which includes:

• Ribbon Data Cable

• Securing Screw

• Floppy Drive preinstalled in the bracket

This is what your Dell mini-tower should look like prior to adding a floppy drive using this kit.  Note the floppy drive slot below the 2 optical drives has a plastic slot cover installed.  The example unit that we'll be using for the pictures is a Dimension 4700.

The back of the system case.  There is a side panel release lever on the back of the system.  In the picture it's located toward the bottom right of the case. (the end of "affordabletech" points to it)

Want to see the Dell Instructions Instead?  Go here:

Push the lever down to release the catch that holds the side panel locked in place.

Pull back on the side panel as you push down on the release lever.  You're sliding the side panel back towards the rear of the case.

Once you've pulled the side panel back it can be pulled away from the case.  Set it aside somewhere to avoid scratching.

Now that the side panel is off you'll need to release and remove the front bezel.  The bezel is held in place by two plastic (or metal on some cases) tabs.  One towards the bottom of the case and one towards the top. 

To release the tabs place your fingers or a small screwdriver behind the tab and apply a small amount of pressure until it releases and you feel and see the front bezel release.

Repeat this process for both tabs.

Once the tabs are released the front bezel will be free to swing open.  Take care not to let the bezel fall off the case if you have it on a desk or a table.  You wouldn't want to crack the plastic at this point.

You'll need to remove the plastic insert that filled the floppy drive slot area.  Turn the front bezel around and find the two tabs at either end of the cover and squeeze them gently inwards.  The cover will pop out quickly and easily.

This is what the front bezel should look like right now.

Don't be scared by the photo.  What you're looking at is the system board (motherboard) on the inside of the case.  Find the largest power cable in the case as a reference point. There should only be one available connector on the board,  unless your system came with no hard drive and no CD drive in it.  That connector looks like the black one in the picture.  Note that there is a notch in the plastic.  This makes it impossible to install the cable incorrectly.

Time to find the ribbon cable.

Now we need to attach the ribbon cable that came with the drive.

Note that the cable is labeled to show you which end goes where.  The FD Drive end plugs into the floppy drive.  The SYS BRD end plugs into the motherboard. (AKA System Board)

Time to attach the cable to the system board.  Remember, the cable is labeled and only fits one way into the connector.  Don't force it.  Gentle, even force.

Attach the other end of the cable to the floppy drive.  Just like the system board, there is only one way to connect the cable.  Take your time.

Connect one of the available power cables to the floppy drive.  You may have to remove an orange or black cap from the power cable to expose the connector.

Take a closer look at the drive bracket and note the cutouts in the top of the bracket.  You'll need to line these holes up with metal flanges inside the case in just a minute.

Underneath the CD drive cage in the case you'll see 3 metal tabs/flanges that the floppy drive bracket will connect to.

Line up the floppy drive inside the available spot in the case and press up on it while sliding it forward so that the tabs in the previous picture fit into the slots in the top of the floppy bracket.  This will hold the drive bracket snuggly in place in the case.

When the drive is in place correctly, the screw holes in the drive bracket and the flange that acts as an anchor will line up.  Note also that the front of the drive lines up with the CD drive at the front of the case.

Put the screw that came with the kit in place and secure the drive bracket tightly.

Reinstall the front bezel by lining up the 3 plastic tabs on the front edge with their corresponding slots in the case edge.

Pivot the bezel closed until it snaps into place.  Inspect both edges for a close fit.  If it's off a little anywhere, release the bezel and try it again.

This is what the front of your system should now look like.

Replace the side panel by lining up the metal tabs and the corresponding slots in the case.  Slide it forward until it clicks and locks into place.

Time to turn the system back on.  But skip down to the next step and be ready to execute those instructions quickly after turning on the PC.

Press the F2 key a few times as the system begins to start up.  This will get you into the system setup.  (AKA the BIOS)

This is what the main system setup screen looks like.

Note:  As of late December 2005 users have reported and we have confirmed that Dell has changed the BIOS in some of their systems. Notably the 1100/B110. In early 2006, Dell also made changes to the BIOS of the Dimension 3000. 

For the remaining instruction steps, please see the notation after "Does your BIOS look different?"

Use the keyboard arrow keys to scroll down the list to "Drives".   Press Enter.

Does your BIOS look different?:

For those systems, use the down arrow key to scroll down to "Drive Configuration" and hit the "Enter" key.

Using the keyboard arrow keys, scroll to "Diskette Drive" and hit Enter.

Does your BIOS look different?:

Just look for the label "Diskette Drive" or "Removable Drives" and scroll to it until it's highlighted and hit "Enter" 

Using the right keyboard arrow key, scroll to the right until "Internal" is highlighted and hit Enter.

Does your BIOS look different?:

On some newer systems a Box will have popped up that gives you the choice of "Not Installed" or "Installed"   Use the right arrow key to highlight "Installed"

Hit the "Esc" key.  Scroll right to "Save/Exit" and hit Enter.

Does your BIOS look different?:

There is an additional step you need to take.  Look for a menu entry entitled "Integrated Devices".  Scroll to it and Hit "Enter".  Set the floppy drive controller to "Auto".

Once you've made this change, hit the "Esc" key again to see the option to "Save and Exit".  Hit "Enter".

The system will restart automatically.

Once the system reboots, and you are in Windows, the floppy drive can be seen by going to My Computer.

If the drive does not appear here, you've missed an important step along the way.  Return to the top of the page and go back over your work.

The majority of users experiencing problems at this point find that there's a cable connection (either power or data) a little loose somewhere.  Check your cable connections again.

Or, if you see the drive:

Congratulations!

You're done!