floppy disk problem

[susan6]

Help! Everytime I try to use my floppy drive, I get a message stating that it either is "device not ready, insert a disk and try again" or "Drive A is not accessible" . What seems to be the problem? The disks I use are formatted.

[Vernon Frazee]

Welcome to VirtualDr.

Got a bunch of questions:

1. Is this a laptop/notebook or a desktop PC?
   
2. When you power up the computer do you see the floppy drive LED flash?
   
3. Does the LED flash when you try to access the drive?
   
4. Is the CMOS/BIOS setting for the floppy drive set correctly?
   
5. If the drive is old and/or dusty/dirty have you tried cleaning it with a commercial cleaning kit?
   
6. Was the floppy drive working and then just suddenly started having problems or is this a new setup?
   
7. If a desktop PC, is the striped edge of the ribbon cable connected to pin 1 on both the floppy drive and on the motherboard?
   
8. If a desktop PC, is the power lead connected securely to the back of the floppy drive?

[susan6]

Answers to questions.
1. desktop pc
2.yes, LED flashes
3.No it does not
4.Sorry, I don't know what CMOS/BIOS mean
5. Not sure
6. Works some of the time and not other
7. Have no idea
8. Yes

[Leurgy]

When you say that it only works some of the time, are there particular floppy disks that don't work? Make a boot disk and try to boot the computer with the floppy in the drive.

More information about your computer would be a big help.

[susan6]

I use the same type of disks all the time. I have backed up some info on some and it worked just fine. When I try to "send to" , is when it doesn't work. I have an older computer running Windows 98 Second Edition on it. I am using anti-virus software and Spyware Blaster plus Search and Destroy.

[Vernon Frazee]

Has anyone been messing around inside the PC lately?

[susan6]

No one has been messing with inside since March of this year. I had it reformatted. Everything was removed and cleaned and had programs removed that I didn't use or need. I also had more memory installed. The floppy drive was working then and since then. It's just that it doesn't work all the time. I have no idea what the problem could be. I need to clear up some space , so I want to put the info onto floppy.

[photolady]

Then it could simply be the floppy's themselves are bad. Have you tried new ones or a different brand? Or it could be, your drive is dirty and needs cleaning.

[susan6]

Can you suggest some good brands to use? The ones I am using now are "Imation".

[Leurgy]

What program are you using when you use "send to"?. Are you in Windows Explorer? What is your procedure when you decide to free up some space?

[susan6]

I think I am using Windows Explorer when I want to "send to" something to my floppy. Right now I am not real sure. Usually when I want to clear some space I just delete the folders or files I no longer want to use. Also, the newbie that I am, I'm not sure when my disk is in the locked position or not. I thought on the back of the disk had an icon to show that, but mine don't have one. I have some older disks that the label that are on them tells which way but my new ones don't. They are made a little different also.

[Leurgy]

Hi Susan6

If a disk is in the locked position, you will be able to see through the two holes in the disk. When it is unlocked, one of the holes is covered with the tab that slides.

[susan6]

Thanks for the info. Now let me ask another dumb question. I can't remember if you have to have the disk in the unlocked position to send the info to it or not. You can laugh at me if you want for asking that. I'm good at laughing at myself all the time.

[BubbahGee]

edited by mod fink... useless post.

[Nix]

Originally posted by BubbahGee
I'm liking this to a mailbox. If it is locked and you send to it will the mail get in?

We're not playing a riddle game here.

It needs to be in the unlocked position to write data to the file.