Floppy Problems

[MooShoe]

Curious issue with a floppy drive. After installing Win2k, the drive seems to have died. Before I loaded up Win2k, I was able to use the floppy drive. I know this because it came from an old system, plus, after I connected it to the new system, I was able to boot from a floppy with it. Now that I have Win2k loaded up, if I try to access the floppy, it keeps telling me to put a floppy in the drive. Could Win2k have messed up the read capability of a floppy drive?

 

[caballo]

It sounds more like your floppy is at the end of its life. Since Windows is prompting you to mount a floppy it looks like you have FDD controller enabled in bios setup. have you opened your case, check that the FDD cable is secured on the motherboard and the floppy; check the power connection to the floppy too.

 

[mindslash]

If the OS asks for a floppy to be inserted, even though the floppy might go through its grunts and light up during boot-up, it's generally dead.

Inexpensive Check:
Remove the floppy from the existing machine and put into a machine where there is an already working floppy. If the floppy works there -- then the problem indeed becomes interesting. Similarly, if the working floppy also plays dead in the exisitng machine but resumes operation when returned to the alternate machine

The other option, buy a $15 floppy and get on with life.