No, a floppy drive isn't needed, I have a hardfile and I can access also from pctask...
with my config the hardfile can't be in a hard disk connected to a controller with DMA access. My system also has to boot from an IDE partition. I have the hardfile and the SYS: in an IDE partition.
I can't remember the key used for the setup... create a 10Mb hardfile with the install disks of the bridgeboard and format it and install everything from pctask. Then boot the pc from the bridgeboard and select a 10mb harddrive. That should work. Once you have booted you should check what are the IRQs and addresses of your card (I use a program from realtek for msdos that also allows you to change from half duplex to full duplex etc...), insert the data in the autoexec following the amiga.guide of the etherbridge.device and when everything works remove all the lines of the autoexec but the 2 used by the bridgeboard.
