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Floppy drive query

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7 replies

by shortstuff

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I have a bit of a puzzle here. I have a floppy drive that reads / write from a disk, but wont format the disks. I've replaced the drive with the same results. I've also checked the floppies in 2 othere systems & they format fine.
Everythings register ok in the bios, & used to work fine untill recently. Thinking it may be a program etc thats affected the system I re-installed (win98SE). The results are the same.
Any ideas?

7 replies

by jeffb

Try booting off of a w98 floppy disk or w95 floppy disk and then format a floppy. That should narrow out software as the problem. If it works then your OS is the problem. If it doesn't then your mobo, bios, or drive is the problem.

by johnm

Try replacing the cable between the floppy and the mobo, though I don't see any obvious candidate for a bad wire on the standard pinout. If it reads/writes OK but won't format for two different drives, tha cable is the place to start.

by simon

Hi, how are you trying to format the floppy disks?

If your in DOS then it sounds like a hardware problem if your in windows you have to be careful how you do it.

In Windows the best way (for me) is to double click on my computer then put the disk in the floppy drive, now right click the floppy drive icon and select 'Format'. This way windows isn't trying to read something you are trying to format :-)

HTH

Simon.

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