Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

A: Drive cannot read any diskettes

0 helpful
10 replies

by scottmci

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Win 98 peer to peer 2 w/s on a 6 node network. A: Drive cannot see the contents of any diskettes. When I click to open it says "disk is not formatted. Do you wish to format now?" Properties on any diskette says 0 bytes on ones made by the computer or another computer. I have uninstalled and reinstalled and replaced the hardware twice with the same results.

10 replies

by thechas

Does the drive work as a boot drive, or if you boot to the command prompt?

If so, try installing an updated IDE driver for the chipset on the motherboard.

Don't ask me why, but some chipsets require the IDE driver in order to properly access the floppy drive.
If the drive doesn't work in DOS mode, check that the BIOS is set for the correct type of drive, and that none of the special settings for the floppy are enabled. (mode 3, deny access, swap drives)

The only other thing that I canthink of is a cable problem, or a bad floppy disk controller on the motherboard.

by shanghai sam

Hi I think the problem is not the disk drive. The problem is from the mother board Disk controller or the cable going to disk drive, because you've tried twice already and still the problem occurs.

by jlouis45

check the cable of the floppy drive and also that the power supply cable to the floppy drive is fine and kicking. Also you have to check that the cable of the floppy drive should be connected correctly to the respective IDE

by wizardj

Is this a Dell? I have run into the same problem on several Dell computers in the last year - and only on Dell's .... check their support site if this is what you have.
good luck - I remember seeing something from them about a jumper on the board, but darned if I can find the document now.

This discussion is closed to new replies.