Floppy Drive still not working

[Tybee]

Floppy drive still won't read. Changed drive...checked memory modules...checked cables...BIOS reads 1.44mb...
Is it likely that i need to change cable? The drive worked a few days ago. I'm getting a bit frustrated with this thing.

 

[edfair]

Can be controller, cable, or drive. Is seek at boot active? Does drive select light come on? Very easy ot miss by one position when replacing cable, and you would get these symptoms. Backwards cable would give continuous select light. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.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.

 

[Garyeag]

Are U using ME? I had this problem with windows ME.
I've also had it on an erratic basis due to power supply problems.
Do you have a second floppy you can check with and attach it outside the machine.
What error message are you getting? Failed floppy (40)?
Check your bios and set everything to default/fail safe. Gary

 

[Tybee]

to answer your questions edfair, the light does come on and go off on the floppy when booting up. Guess I should go ahead and replace the cable; i'll do that later tonight. Could there be something i need to fix in the OS...i'm using win 98.
To answer your questions Garyeag, i'm using Win 98. I am using a second floppy now and they both won't read. The error says that drive is not accessible. Haven't changed any of the BIOS...What exactly will i change to default/fail safe?

 

[cdogg]

First thing I would do is test it from a DOS prompt. Hit F8 during bootup, and choose command prompt only. Insert a floppy that's not blank after getting the C:> prompt. Type A: and hit enter, then type dir and hit enter.

This test will tell you whether it's the OS or not. If it doesn't work, then it must be either a hardware issue or BIOS issue...

 

[Guest_imported]

Or even better still, set BIOS to boot first from the floppy drive, and insert a known good DOS v6.22 system disk. Then you're not even touching files on the hard drive...

ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[ceh4702]

I had the same problem with my FIC AD11. Someone was saying the other day that sometimes these faster processors get to the floppy or the drives before they are initialized. In the BIOS I noticed there are settings to verify the floppy or go to a fast boot, when it tries not to Read test the foppy. I played around with the order of the Boot Devices in the Bios for a while. I think I was booting from the CDROM first and then the Floppy until I could FDISK to set up the hard drive and then format the harddrive and load windows ME. Then somehow I got it working. After that I changed the boot order of the drives.

It might be something totally unrelated like after putting the cables off and on a few times waring off the tarnish from the connectors or something like that. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[edfair]

Should have light twice, once on POST if seek on boot is active and second on attempt to boot from floppy. Drive swap should be disabled. Floppy should be on the end (or next to the end if 2 connectors)nearest the cut and twist. From here I would suspect the floppy controller. And if you have the current design, it probably means the M/B needs replacing, or at least the floppy drive is disabled and an A/T-IO card is installed. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.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.

 

[Tybee]

cdogg, I tried the c:> prompt test and got nothing but a screen full of program instructions. No lights on floppy.
I've already changed the drive so maybe it is a BIOS issue. What would that be and how would I fix it?
edfair, only got a light at first when booting to windows. How do i disable the "drive swap?" MOBO is new but under warranty. What should I do now?

 

[edfair]

Setup, generally second page allows floppy seek on boot up. On same page is a drive swap yes/no choice. This may not be in all bioses.
When you tried the c:> prompt test, what happened when you put in the a: and hit the enter. If there isn't a drive recognized you should have received an invalid drive message. If it is recognized, then reinsert the floppy , retype the dir, and hold your fingers on the drive opening. You should feel a click, and possibly some vibration if the drive is turning. The click will be the drive pin falling into the drive hole. If it is turning but no light , then check what connector you are in. If you were using the b: drive connector this would explain the problems. Or if the cable was possibly defective. And verify the cut and twist is between the floppy and the next floppy connector. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.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.

 

[smitee]

Tybee

There may be some new info here but I doubt it.
Looked useful in any case

http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/comp/fdd/fail_Controller.htm