---
title: "FDD 3 Disk Drive system"
id: 12542
type: "product"
slug: "fdd-3-disk-drive-system"
url: "http://localhost/product/fdd-3-disk-drive-system/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/product/fdd-3-disk-drive-system.md"
published_at: "2019-11-30T01:42:08+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-22T13:13:34+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-and-computer.jpg"
  caption: "Timex Computer 2068 with FDD 3 system."
excerpt: "Four piece disk drive system designed for the TC 2068. Base system included disk controller, disk drive, system connector and twister board to convert the TS 2068 to the Spectrum bus. The system uses 3\" single-sided floppy disk drives. Each side holds 160K; the disk must be flipped to read/write the other side. The controller…"
category:
  - name: "Disk Drive Systems"
    slug: "disk-other"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/hardware/disk-other/"
post_tag:
  - name: "English Micro Connection"
    slug: "english-micro-connection"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/english-micro-connection/"
  - name: "Sum-Ware"
    slug: "sum-ware"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/sum-ware/"
  - name: "TC 2068"
    slug: "tc2068"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/tc2068/"
  - name: "Timex Portugal"
    slug: "timex-portugal"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/timex-portugal/"
  - name: "TS 2068"
    slug: "ts2068"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts2068/"
  - name: "Zebra Systems"
    slug: "zebra-systems"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/zebra-systems/"
  - name: "ZX Spectrum"
    slug: "zx-spectrum"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/zx-spectrum/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair ZX Spectrum"
    slug: "zxspectrum"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/zxspectrum/"
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 2068"
    slug: "ts-2068"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-2068/"
genre:
  - name: "Disk Drive Systems"
    slug: "disk-drive-systems"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/disk-drive-systems/"
  - name: "Hardware"
    slug: "hardware"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/hardware/"
gallery:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-and-computer-2.jpg"
    caption: "View of the FDD 3 system with a Timex Computer 2068."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-3-stacked.jpg"
    caption: "Stack of FDD 3 components. Controller module with cable to interface on the bottom, 3\" drive in the middle, power supply on top."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-3-rear.jpg"
    caption: "Rear of FDD 3 components. Power supply on the left, controller in the middle and drive on the right."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-3-interface.jpg"
    caption: "FDD 3 interface and controller module."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-and-computer.jpg"
    caption: "Timex Computer 2068 with FDD 3 system."
company:
  id: 11402
  title: "Timex (TMX) Portugal"
  type: "company"
  url: "http://localhost/company/timex-portugal/"
rarity: "Uncommon"
producturl: "https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Timex%20Peripherals/Timex%20Floppy%20Disk/"
related_content:
  - id: 21852
    title: "A Half Dozen or More TOS Tools"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/a-half-dozen-or-more-tos-tools/"
  - id: 21664
    title: "A TOS (Zebra) Disk Newsletter"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/a-tos-zebra-disk-newsletter/"
  - id: 21893
    title: "D..base-1 for TOS"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/d-base-1-for-tos/"
  - id: 10520
    title: "FDD Specifications"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/fdd-specifications/"
  - id: 23557
    title: "Fixing my FDD3000"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/fixing-my-fdd3000/"
  - id: 38186
    title: "Hitachi HFD305S Instruction Manual"
    type: "document"
    url: "http://localhost/document/hitachi-hfd305s-instruction-manual/"
  - id: 21508
    title: "More on TS Disk Drives"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/more-on-ts-disk-drives/"
  - id: 49076
    title: "Mystery clouds Amstrad deal"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/mystery-clouds-amstrad-deal/"
  - id: 16018
    title: "Portuguese Timex T-2068 Computer & Timex Disk Drive System: A Hands-On Evaluation"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/portuguese-timex-t-2068-computer-timex-disk-drive-system-a-hands-on-evaluation/"
  - id: 15426
    title: "“S” and “Q” Keys with “CAT*” Command"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/s-and-q-keys-with-cat-command/"
  - id: 21762
    title: "Serial Printers, The FDD 3000, and TOS"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/serial-printers-the-fdd-3000-and-tos/"
  - id: 22731
    title: "TIMACHINE and the FDD System"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/timachine-and-the-fdd-system/"
  - id: 35579
    title: "Timex Computer FDD3000 Service Manual"
    type: "document"
    url: "http://localhost/document/timex-computer-fdd3000-service-manual/"
  - id: 49075
    title: "Timex disc drives arrive"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/timex-disc-drives-arrive/"
  - id: 7581
    title: "Timex FDD 3000"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/timex-fdd-3000/"
  - id: 23317
    title: "TOS System Repair"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/tos-system-repair/"
  - id: 21512
    title: "T.O.S. Disk Drive “Start” Program"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/t-o-s-disk-drive-start-program/"
  - id: 21784
    title: "TS 2068 VARS Save and Reload: TOS Disk System Version"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/ts-2068-vars-save-and-reload-tos-disk-system-version/"
  - id: 21702
    title: "Using the OS-64 Cartridge with TOS"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/using-the-os-64-cartridge-with-tos/"
  - id: 22800
    title: "Zebra FDD"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/zebra-fdd/"
  - id: 35601
    title: "Zebra Systems – 1985 Fall/Winter Catalog"
    type: "document"
    url: "http://localhost/document/zebra-systems-1985-fall-winter-catalog/"
  - id: 15418
    title: "Zebra/Timex FDD Disk System"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/zebra-timex-fdd-disk-system/"
  - id: 53289
    title: "Zebra Floppy Disk Drive System user manual"
    type: "document"
    url: "http://localhost/document/zebra-floppy-disk-drive-system-user-manual/"
product_reviews:
  - id: 15426
    title: "“S” and “Q” Keys with “CAT*” Command"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/s-and-q-keys-with-cat-command/"
  - id: 21852
    title: "A Half Dozen or More TOS Tools"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/a-half-dozen-or-more-tos-tools/"
  - id: 21664
    title: "A TOS (Zebra) Disk Newsletter"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/a-tos-zebra-disk-newsletter/"
  - id: 21893
    title: "D..base-1 for TOS"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/d-base-1-for-tos/"
  - id: 10520
    title: "FDD Specifications"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/fdd-specifications/"
  - id: 23557
    title: "Fixing my FDD3000"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/fixing-my-fdd3000/"
  - id: 21508
    title: "More on TS Disk Drives"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/more-on-ts-disk-drives/"
  - id: 49076
    title: "Mystery clouds Amstrad deal"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/mystery-clouds-amstrad-deal/"
  - id: 16018
    title: "Portuguese Timex T-2068 Computer & Timex Disk Drive System: A Hands-On Evaluation"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/portuguese-timex-t-2068-computer-timex-disk-drive-system-a-hands-on-evaluation/"
  - id: 21762
    title: "Serial Printers, The FDD 3000, and TOS"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/serial-printers-the-fdd-3000-and-tos/"
  - id: 21512
    title: "T.O.S. Disk Drive “Start” Program"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/t-o-s-disk-drive-start-program/"
  - id: 22731
    title: "TIMACHINE and the FDD System"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/timachine-and-the-fdd-system/"
  - id: 49075
    title: "Timex disc drives arrive"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/timex-disc-drives-arrive/"
  - id: 7581
    title: "Timex FDD 3000"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/timex-fdd-3000/"
  - id: 23317
    title: "TOS System Repair"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/tos-system-repair/"
  - id: 21784
    title: "TS 2068 VARS Save and Reload: TOS Disk System Version"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/ts-2068-vars-save-and-reload-tos-disk-system-version/"
  - id: 21702
    title: "Using the OS-64 Cartridge with TOS"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/using-the-os-64-cartridge-with-tos/"
  - id: 22800
    title: "Zebra FDD"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/zebra-fdd/"
  - id: 15418
    title: "Zebra/Timex FDD Disk System"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/zebra-timex-fdd-disk-system/"
  - id: 60178
    title: "Special Timex Notes from CATUG"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/special-timex-notes-from-catug/"
  - id: 64793
    title: "Review: Disk Drive by Timex of Portugal"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/review-disk-drive-by-timex-of-portugal/"
image_gallery:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-and-computer-2.jpg"
    caption: "View of the FDD 3 system with a Timex Computer 2068."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-3-stacked.jpg"
    caption: "Stack of FDD 3 components. Controller module with cable to interface on the bottom, 3\" drive in the middle, power supply on top."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-3-rear.jpg"
    caption: "Rear of FDD 3 components. Power supply on the left, controller in the middle and drive on the right."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-3-interface.jpg"
    caption: "FDD 3 interface and controller module."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FDD-and-computer.jpg"
    caption: "Timex Computer 2068 with FDD 3 system."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3615.jpeg"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3616-scaled.jpeg"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3617-scaled.jpeg"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3618-scaled.jpeg"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3619-scaled.jpeg"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3620-scaled.jpeg"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3621-scaled.jpeg"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3622-scaled.jpeg"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3623-scaled.jpeg"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FDD-3-a.webp"
    caption: "Photo by Pawel Pieczul, http://oldcrap.org."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FDD-3-b.webp"
    caption: "Photo by Pawel Pieczul, http://oldcrap.org."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FDD-3-c.webp"
    caption: "Photo by Pawel Pieczul, http://oldcrap.org."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FDD-3-d.webp"
    caption: "Photo by Pawel Pieczul, http://oldcrap.org."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FDD-3-e-scaled.webp"
    caption: "Photo by Pawel Pieczul, http://oldcrap.org."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FDD-3-f.webp"
    caption: "Photo by Pawel Pieczul, http://oldcrap.org."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FDD-3-g.webp"
    caption: "Photo by Pawel Pieczul, http://oldcrap.org."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FDD-3-h.webp"
    caption: "Photo by Pawel Pieczul, http://oldcrap.org."
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FDD-3-i-scaled.webp"
    caption: "Photo by Pawel Pieczul, http://oldcrap.org."
companies_products:
  - id: 10854
    title: "English Micro Connection"
    type: "company"
    url: "http://localhost/company/english-micro-connection/"
  - id: 22417
    title: "Sum-Ware"
    type: "company"
    url: "http://localhost/company/sum-ware/"
  - id: 11402
    title: "Timex (TMX) Portugal"
    type: "company"
    url: "http://localhost/company/timex-portugal/"
  - id: 11469
    title: "Zebra Systems, Inc."
    type: "company"
    url: "http://localhost/company/zebra-systems/"
---

# FDD 3 Disk Drive system

Four piece disk drive system designed for the [TC 2068](http://localhost/product/timex-computer-2068/). Base system included disk controller, disk drive, system connector and twister board to convert the TS 2068 to the Spectrum bus.

The system uses 3″ single-sided floppy disk drives. Each side holds 160K; the disk must be flipped to read/write the other side. The controller has a Z80 CPU, 16K RAM and two RS-232c serial ports.

TOS (Timex Operating System) loads into the controller’s RAM and extends the commands built-in to the TS 2068.

TOS allows full control over disk access including saving and loading of programs, and random or sequential file handling of data. TOS supports an MSDOS-like tree directory structure with named diskettes, named files (8 character names plus a 3 character file extension) with attributes (protection and catalog), path names, wildcard file selection and up to 16 file or serial channels open at the same time. New commands added to Timex BASIC by TOS include:

- CAT*
- LOAD*
- SAVE*
- OPEN*
- PRINT*
- INPUT*
- LIST*
- RESTORE*
- MERGE*
- GOTO*
- GOSUB*
- DRAW*
- CLOSE*
- FORMAT*
- ERASE*
- LET*
- ATTR*
- MOVE*

Each unit is about 4.5″ wide x 2″ high x 6″ deep.

[Zebra Systems](http://localhost/company/zebra-systems/) and [English Micro Connection](http://localhost/company/english-micro-connection/) both imported this disk drive system to the United States.