The machine boots up OK, but when the person tries to access the Floppy Drive
a message comes up after a very long delay, "Error reading drive A"
"Retry." "Cancel." I have checked the BIOS setting and it is set correctly. It also appears in Windows Device Manager as being configured OK for a Floppy Drive. I can't see if a Floppy Drive is mentioned during boot up where it tells you about a keyboard and a Floppy Drive being installed, (At least it does on my own machine) whatever is there comes up on the screen like lightning and disappears. When I put any number of Floppies in the drive that are OK, the light comes on for a very long time and the same error message comes up after considerable delay. This is a second hand machine, just purchased privately, so we don't know what the seller might have done to it, or when the A drive was working last. I have read up about it in the PC Troubleshooting Guide, but don't have the experience to understand half of it. The OS is Windows 98

------------------
Novice

Hi Novice, before the troubleshooting guys come on you could check the floppy cable. Make sure it is fitted properly with the red stripe on pin one of the floppy drive and the motherboard. If it is, it may just be a little loose. If this doesn't work post back a few more system specs.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
You are making progress if each mistake is a new one!

Sig from Here (http://www.oneliners-and-proverbs.com/)

geebee76@hotmail.com

Make sure the ribbon cable is not on backwards.Drive A must be connected to the connector on the ribbon cable that is after the twist.I.E. the cable should have a connector that connects to motherboard then two connectors at the end that attatch to the drives, with the farthest connector proceded by a twist in the cable.Or you may just have a bad cable
or you might have some corrupt files.geebe is correct the red striped cable has to be away from the power connector.

------------------
What have I gotten my self Into now (ROFLMAO)

[This message has been edited by YODA74 (edited 09-29-2001).]

Just to ease things a bit...if that stuff doesn't work and there are no problems listed in the device manager, a new one can be had for $8-12. Second-hand may mean "I've been in storage for a while" and the read/write head could be dirty. They make those cheap head cleaners like they did for the cassette players...it's just a floppy with some of that abrasive material.

------------------
Join the Circus (http://www.helpfromtechs.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi) friday nights.

Flush 'N' Forget (http://www2.apex.net/users/hwuswtp)

Geebee 76, thank you very much and all who replied to my post. How do I identify the floppy cable please? Excuse my denseness. This is all new to me.
I wouldn't know a motherboard from an ironing board. I even had to take my own PC into a shop to have the RAM upgraded, which took 30 seconds and cost thirty quid for labour alone.What specs would you like me to post, and is there any other information I could give that might be of help. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

------------------
Novice

Hi Novice, Give this a try before posting specs.

Be sure to switch off the power at the wall socket.
Take the case off the computer.
Look at the front of the computer where the floppy drive is and follow it through to the back.
The floppy cable is the one with the twist in it. You'll see a small group of wires in the middle of the cable that are twisted. Follow the previous instructions.

Be sure to periodically touch your computer casing to avoid any static discharge. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
You are making progress if each mistake is a new one!

Sig from Here (http://www.oneliners-and-proverbs.com/)

geebee76@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by geebee76 (edited 09-29-2001).]

http://members.tripod.com/~mfpmax/floppymod/floppymod.html

scroll thru this there's some pics good luck.

------------------
What have I gotten my self Into now (ROFLMAO)

I had the same problem. Turns out the drive was just dirty. Get one of those cheap floppy drive cleaners that someone mentioned and run it. You say it's a 2nd hand machine, that's probably the problem. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif