A drive ate floppy

I put a floppy disk in. When it came time to take it out, the eject button didn't want to work. It was jammed. I disconnected the connections to the A drive on the inside of the computer, I took all the screws out that hold it in place and I removed the face of the computer so I could get to the A drive to remove it. But it won't come out.


Will it even be possible to remove the floppy disk once the A drive
is removed? Is there some way I can get the A drive out? I
mean, I don't want to force something and break something? Is there some step I am missing to remove the A drive?

Or will I have to take the computer to a tech service to get the A drive out?

Do you have a desktop computer? If so you should be able to remove it by removing the power cable, the data cable(flat cable with about 20 wires in it.) and two screws on either side of the drive. Whether a disk is in it or not shouldn't have anything to do with the drive being stuck. If it remains stuck, I would take it to a technician. Catman :cool:

I have removed all the power cords and the
power cords and the screws and the A drive
still won't come out. I guess it's a trip
to a tech. Sigh.

Before giving up hope, try pushing (lightly) on the floppy disk while pressing the eject button.
While power is disconnected (as stated above), use a butter knife to gently pry the floppy disk from the bottom-while pressing eject, then try prying from top. Other than that, I would call it a lost cause.

You could also try carefully grabbing the edge of the disk with a pair of eyebrow tweezers. Sometimes a sticky label will fold up or wrinkle when it's inserted into the drive and a bit of gentle force can get it out.

With what techs charge per hour, if you can't force the disk out simply buy a new drive. Usually around $12-15US.

Put a crowbar behind the old one. It'll move.

Zipulrich:
I usually use a twelve gauge instead of a crowbar. Catman :cool:

Fortunately, the computer is a Gateway.

They are giving me a new A drive since I
have the warranty. I just hoped that
someone could tell me how to get the old
drive out so I wouldn't have to go to
the techs.

I am afraid to beat on it since they want
the old drive back and I don't want
them telling me I voided the warranty by
beating on it. I just hoped there
was some trick that I could use
to get it out without wrecking it.

jamesclasater, 12 Ga works fine- if you take the drive out first. Dr seven, most drives come out toward the rear of the case, not the front, unless yours is not a tower? Again, a case where system specs would maybe help?

My Specs (short version)- (detailed version available on request)

Athlon T-bird 1.3Ghz
256Mb RAM
40Gb HD
16x10x40 CDrw

Win98FE (build 1998)
Office 2K
PC-cillin
Ad-Aware

It disk drive may not fit out through the front. The bad news you may end up with your box in pieces getting things out of the way.

OK. I tried pushing it out towards the back.

It doesn't budge. I think it going to
have to go to techs after all.

But thanks for trying to help!

Hi there,

Not quite sure what state of dismantling you are at with your system - bit difficult to see which bits you tried - glad you are careful of your warranty though!

Most floppy drives are attached to the tower bracket with screws on either side - usually about four of them - to see this you will need to remove the sides of the tower (that is if it is a tower). Then you will have to make sure that there is enough slack on the cables to allow movement.

Basically if you have been offered a replacement drive - free of charge - and fitted by the techs - that would be the best option - you would not be admitting defeat - just accepting a free service that is available to you and making sure your warranty is safe!

VP

p.s. advice would be entirely different for a machine out of warranty.

Sounds like Virtual Patient is giving good advice. I would take it, beside this way you would have someone to blame if things don't work out. Catman :D

Yes this is a tower. Yes I have taken
out all the screws. I have disconnected the
power cables. I took off the front of the
tower for ease of access. The drive is
stuck in there. I mean, I might be able to
get it out, but I don't know how much
force I would have to use.

I recieved the new drive today via UPS.

I will take it to the techs unless they
want an arm and a leg to replace it.

Thanks for caring enough to respond!

Do you,by any chance,have a Gateway country store within driving distance?

Even with the gas,it might be cheaper than a generic repair shop...:)

Hi again,

I didn't realise that you were in a situation where you have to replace the drive yourself!

Now I know you have the front panel of the tower removed - and I assume that the side panels are off as you have been able to remove all the screws and cables. On my three tower systems the floppy drives slide out of the tower through the front not backwards as mentioned in a previous post perhaps it's just a face plate that is stopping it from releasing. Also something to look for is a glob of silicon type glue! Sounds silly but some of my equipment has been held in place (for shipment purposes) with large globs of glue.

Hope this helps.

VP

Yes, I have a Gateway Country Store within
37 miles of where I live.

If the floppy drive would have came out I
could have saved a 84 miles round trip.
I have the new floppy drive in my possession.

But I will let them play with it. I don't
want to void the warranty.

Thanks for caring!