Can't Format, Read, or Write to Floppy Disk ? 2

[DRAMO4298]

Hello:

After 7-yr. old children used the computer (opening games - but not closing each previous one) . . . I noticed in Device Manager that the MOUSE was checked as "disabled."

I also noticed that the 3.5" Floppy Drive button was pushed-in and down . . . and I had to use a small knife to get it back into the socket.

Now, I cannot READ, WRITE-TO, or FORMAT any floppy disk in this A:\ drive . . . even tried checking the "Boot Disk" I previously made on this Floppy Drive - but it couldn't be read in Windows Explorer.

I haven't tried anything yet from SAFE MODE or DOS.
I just created a "BOOTABLE CD" for this machine on my computer . . . but can't try it until this PROBLEM COMPUTER's owner comes home.


MESSAGES I RECEIVED (pertain to):

Unable to access - do you want to format this disk?
Cannot format this disk - wrong format, or disk is damaged, or a Disk Utility has "locked" this drive.


QUESTION(s):

Does it seem this drive itself "damaged" or "out-of-alignment?"
Are there some settings I should check (that may have been changed) that would cause my inability to use this floppy drive?
Does it seem like I need to CLEAN the read/write heads with a 3.5" floppy disk cleaner?

Any help, info or advice about this?

THANK YOU.

 

[edfair]

You probably have a floppy that isn't working any more. Try turning the disk to a spot you can identify, then insert and remove to see if it moved. If not , the drive pin didn't turn it.
They are cheap now. Time to replace it. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[DRAMO4298]

Hi EDFAIR:

I will try your advice as soon as I can get back to that computer (today or tomorrow).

I did try (3) floppy disks,) i.e., . . . the Boot Disk I made on that machine, as well as, (2) Win95-b formatted floppies.

The PROBLEM computer is running WinME ( 4.90.3000 ) and is an "eMachines eTower 667ir" computer.

I believe the problem floppy drive is a "Samsung SDF-321B" drive ( $8.95 - $42 cost ).

STRANGE FACT:
My son had a similar problem with his floppy drive which could read and write only from his Win98SE computer - but could not read any floppies from a Win95-b or Win98 created floppy disk.

What's strange is that he washes his clothes in the PROBLEM computer's home . . . computer is only 5 feet away from washing machine . . . he is down there for about one hour-and-half . . . he recently SOLD his computer . . . now (this) floppy drive has a similar problem ??????

I am wondering if he "switched" floppy drives while down there since he knows how to change components ( Hmmmmmm ?).

Thank you for advice and will let you know any results.

 

[edfair]

No, total failure to read-write-format is different than a disk interchange problem.
Kids are trouble, but cut him some slack this time.

Is he surfing while the clothes wash and dry? You could always charge extra for the internet cafe use. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[mudskipper]

This is just my 2 cents in case you have a similar issue--kind of a long shot, though....

Incidentally, you said that the button was smashed in--let's let our imagination wander for a bit....

I had one computer with button smashed in. Come to find out that the floppy would not come out of the drive, so the user started to get frustrated and smashed the button. The floppy was almost out, but still stuck. They finally forced the floppy out, but the part that was caught (the sheath that slides back and forth) popped off inside the drive. We could still insert floppies, but none of them worked!!

Needle nosed pliers and a flashlight solved that one....

I had another that had the glass from a small picture frame inserted in the drive by a 3 year old...almost couldn't see that one and just about replaced the drive!

Maybe you have a similar issue here....?

BTW, edfair is right--floppy drives are so cheap now, that it may just be easier to replace it than to fuss with it for too long! Good luck! Mudskipper
___________________________________________________________________________________

Groucho said it best- "A four year-old child could understand this! Quick! Run out and find me a four year-old child: I can't make heads nor tails out of this!"

 

[DRAMO4298]

Hi EDFAIR & MUDSKIPPER:

The "Bootable CD" I made works, so at least I can still restore the Registry files, if necessary (also saved on CD-R disk).

I inserted a 3.5" floppy drive (Cleaner Disk) and heard it spinning "very fast." Have to try it on my floppy drive and listen - to see if the "very fast" speed is normal.

EDFAIR: I manually turned the open square (on back of the floppy disk) to a 12-o'clock location, inserted it into the drive, clicked on 3.5 Floppy Drive (A in Windows Explorer, got message ( This disk is not formatted. Do you want to format it? )

Anyway, when I finally took it out, the location of the "open square" on back of floppy was around 4-o'clock.
Whether it ended up there after "many" revolutions or only moved there from 12-o'clock to 4-o'clock . . . I can't tell.


When trying to FORMAT the floppy - I got this message . . .

FORMAT - 3.5" FLOPPY (A
Windows could not format this disk. Either the selected capacity is not valid for this disk, or the disk is damaged and may need to be replaced.

Trying to format from DOS MODE ("Bootable CD" = A: drive):
B:\>DIR
General Failure reading drive B
Abort, Retry, Fail?


I also removed the Floppy Drive from the computer, removed the screw on its cover, and inserted and reinserted a floppy disk. Everything seemed to work correctly; should have REALLY examined the insides (as per MUDSKIPPER) to see if anything was "broken or logged" in there.


CUTE FACT:
WIFE of this computer owner told me, one day a couple of weeks ago, she was using Microsoft Word Processor and concentrating on the screen. Suddenly, the game MOTOCROSS MADNESS 2 appeared on the screen. Her 3-year old daughter who plays this motobike game, got the game CD, opened it, took out the CD, placed it in the CD-ROM drive (as she saw others do when allowing her to play it ), and then pressed the CD-ROM drive button . . . this brought up the Game Screen.

So, somehow, I believe, this "little-one" is the culprit, and probably, while playing in the finished basement, decided to go into the Computer / Laundry area . . . and tried to start up the machine so she could play "Bicycle" (as she calls the Motocross game.) She knows some BUTTON "starts-up" the computer and probably figured she needed to REALLY-PUSH the button in.


The only things I haven't tried yet is . . .
1) Bring the entire computer/monitor/keyboard, etc upstairs in better lighting, remove the floppy drive (but keep all cables connected), examine the insides well, insert a floppy disk, and actually SEE what is turning or not.

2) Purchase NEW floppy disks and try them, since most of the disks I have been trying have been formatted on my Win95-b computer . . . which in the past, I noticed this computer would give me the message that the floppy disk needed to be formatted (but NOT "every" time).

After this, I will just BUY a new "Samsung SFD-321B" floppy drive and install it (since I promised the Owner I would always take care of the machine for him).

NOTE: I read that this SAMSUNG drive should last for 20,000 hours ( which is 2-years and 3-months ) - so since this computer was purchased on 02/17/2001, this drive SHOULD have lasted until 05/17/2003 . . . however, I noticed it said ( 97 ) on that drive (seemed like a manufacture date) so maybe this drive had some years of use on it before it was installed on this machine (although I doubt this).

The "little-one" DID IT !!!!!! :>)

THANK YOU for the replies, information, and help.

 

[edfair]

If the disk was in a different position it passed the test. I was thinking that the floppy wasn't getting where the drive pin could spin it.

20,000 is MTBF, operative is mean. Enough last past the 20K to offset the ones that fail before 20K.

You could also set the CMOS to seek on POST and listen for the heads to do a ZIIIP-ZIIIP during post and again just before boot. Would signify that the heads are moving.

And even if everything seems right, you'll probably end up buying another drive.

Sure does seem fortunate. I don't get to blame anybody else. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[DRAMO4298]

Hello again:

Here's something I was wondering about . . .

What if, after I purchase and install a NEW floppy drive, I should get the EXACT same problem and error message(s)?

If that happened . . . what would I need to checkout?

Would it still be considered a HARDWARE problem or would there be some SETTINGS or SOFTWARE that I would need to check?

This is just curiosity because I agree with you that I probably need to buy a NEW floppy drive . . . but, if there were other things to check, I would rather check them NOW rather than ending up with an EXTRA floppy drive. :>)

 

[edfair]

Using BIOS to set CMOS on the M/B FDD is enabled, Seek on boot to get an indication that the drive is moving, drive type set correctly, and drive swap not active.
And you may want to check that the cable is seated. You could have bad cable or bad FDC. But there isn't any reason either should have gone bye at the same time little fingers helped daddy. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[DRAMO4298]

Thanks EDFAIR for info and patience (with my curiosity).

I am going to try a "TEAC FD-235HF" 3.5 Floppy Drive that I have on hand.

The "TEAC" has the same size measurements as the "Samsung" - except that the "TEAC" has an open bottom. I hope the screw holes line up with the casing (I don't think I'll get into drilling NEW holes just to test this TEAC DRIVE).

Well that's about it for this issue. I'll let you know the FINAL outcome (once all is well again) . . . whether I bought a new SAMSUNG or whether the TEAC worked or not.

Best regards to all.

 

[DRAMO4298]

Just an UPDATE:

The "TEAC" floppy drive worked - so I left it in the system.

The "Samsung" floppy drive was damaged, as everyone here assumed. :>)

THANK YOU everyone for the help.