I Can"t download I get the message Disk need to be format then it want it said disk wrong size which is correct setting on size or no disk in or may be cropect I try differnt disk same thing something is wrong with my drive any help I really would appricated Thanks B Jones

One of the first things to try is to use a cleaning disk.

Where can I get a cleaning disk at? I never seen one

Most places like Circuit City, Staples, OfficeMax, even WalMart.

Floppy disk drives rarely fail, but they can if they are dirty inside, if the connection to the motherboard or power is bad or if they just give up the ghost...

If it still doesn't work after cleaning, try opening the case (if it won't void a warranty) and make sure the connectors to the drive are tight. Clean out dust in the case if needed. Make sure the power is off before you do this.

If it still doesn't work, you can post back with a lot more detail about your system and we can give you more options to try. Questions to address include: have you changed any hardware or sofware recently? What is the computer and how old is it.

If all else fails, a new floppy drive can be had for less than $20...

Oh, and Welcome to
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PCGuide TS FDDs (http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/comp/fdd/index.htm)

maybe the disk was bad. or it had a virus. i had the same problem with a boot sector virus.

solution:
BURN THE DISK!!!

The message is A: is not accessible the device is not ready windows will installed it 2 times i remove them soon as i start up I have 2 standard floppy disk I try cleaning it make sure it connect good still same thing Thank all you for you'll help BJ

If you are saying that you have already tried all the suggestions that we have made, it is probably time to start shopping for a new floppy drive. If you are in the USA, I would check www.newegg.com for deals.

It's not clear (to me anyways) whether the problem is with the diskette(s) or with the Floppy Drive itslef and also whether there is an associated problem with the size of the floppy diskettes. So:-

a)What size are these diskettes (700KB or 1.4MB or ...)?
b)Have they worked previously?
c)Do these diskettes work in another pc?
d)Do any diskettes that work in another pc, also have this problem in your pc?
e)BTW, which OS are you using?

Possibly the Floppy drive is actually problematic/dirty/etc but it is also possible there is a problem with its bios settings, its controllers, its connections or its drivers.

it set as 144 3.5in bios I have try differnt disk that i used before I didn't find the cleaning disk so I used q tips The light will come on and it take awhile but message is current drive is no longer valid I take off the extra one and soon as I restart my computer win 98 add it back so I end up with 2 I deleted the the bigfix and mem trubo i installed that the only 2 things I add since i used it my floppy is a Hewlett packard my computer sort old I also have trouble with my display adpeter Trident 9440 I have take it off in safe mode or my screen is just lines if I add another type driver it let screen show but will freezed up but all said it working no conflick I try a differnt floopy drive and I got same message but it was not a new one it one I had that come with some parts Thanks BJ

I didn't understand about half of that last post, but I did pick up that you seem to only be Removing one of the 2 floppy drivers and then Windoze reinstalls it. Try Removing both drivers in Device Manager (preferably while in Safe Mode) and then reboot. Windoze will install one floppy and you will then only have one on the system which may solve the problem. If that doesn't work, you will probably need to try another floppy drive that you know works or try the one you have on another computer to see if it will work.

I not to good at details I alway confuession Sorry I try to do better for I really need the help My Computer is a HP Don't know how old but it old I have win 98 I have took both drives of in safe mode and normal but doesn't matter win still add both back I can hear the disk when light come on I can hear a low hum then it said A:\is not accessible This device is not ready in my computer it listed 3 and one half Floopy (A) Drivers are C WINDOWS\SYSTEMiosubsys hslop pdr and C Windows System vmm32\ios.vxd Performance tab Drive A is using ms-dos compatiblity mode fils system detail tab said Drive X is using a ms-dos compotibility mode sys and config might not reconized it I try brand new disk 3 and half memorex same thing I don't have another computer to test it on Hope I did this right I sorry for being so confussed but I a novick as if you can't tell lol BJ

It sounds like you could be stuck in MSDOS compatibility mode and that windows is not even trying to load the 32bit drivers necessary for the drive to function in windows.

When this happens with HDDs a noide key may be created at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\vxd\ios in the registry. Not sure if this applies to floppies as well, but it could be worth checking to see if this key exists - just don't edit the registry when you are having a look - just yet anyways.

Reboot to a DOS prompt and insert a known good floppy diskette that contains some files/folders. Then type A: at the prompt and then type dir at the prompt and see if DOS can read the directory structure of the diskette. If it can, then we need to get the 32bit drivers functioning again so that things are recognised in Windows. I think config sys may need editing, but first post back with the results of the above.

The H_key didn't show any thing in ms-dos I try my sys files and another disk that had work before i got General failure readig drive A then I went in safe mode to take the 2 standard disk off when it load I know have Disk Drive 1 Generic IDE disk type 47 (2) Generic NEC floppy disk then my display adepter then next a disk controller Standard Floppy disk Are the disk drives suppost be listed device mrg? or just the controller disk Thank you BJ

Presumably, from a more recent post, this is due to viral infection. Sounds like a clean install is going to be the way forward.

Are you talking of just installing my A Drive or do a completed Format I can't used my A drive at all to back up my com I try a new A drive & new cables still said A is not accesiable I not sure how remove the A drive it keep comming back same way on com device then remove Thanks BJ

With the virus infection (worm) that you have, you will probably need to completely wipe the drive and start over. Your A: drive may very well work after that. The worm may be what is blocking use of the floppy, partly because using the floppy would be the only chance you have of getting rid of the worm without a complete wipe.

At this point I would download a zero fill utility from a known clean computer, either from the hard drive maker or a freeware program, and write protect it. Use it to wipe the hard drive at least once from a DOS prompt and then reinstall your Windoze. Make sure you shut the power off completely for a while before the reinstall since some viruses can lurk in RAM and reinfect if you don't. Whatever you have on the hard drive is probably a lost cause at this point. If your floppy drive is still not working in Windoze, let us know.

Thank Every one for you"ll help got it fix clean of virus but how I get the Modem installed ? I have a Lectron I down load the driver from them now when I go propertys said my modem corrupt remove it and readd it keep give me corrupts files I used the A drive then try created a new folder in C:\ Thanks BJ oh ps Are there any way to get the product key for Win 95 I have the disk but lost the book Thanks BJ

Did you reinstall your system from scratch after cleaning out the virus? If you didn't, it may still have damage that you may not be able to correct.

For Win95, if it is installed the key is in the Registry and there are a number of ways to find it. Belarc or Aida will get it for you if you have either of them. If not you can download them, they are freeware. If it is not installed, you are probably out of luck. The good news is that you can find Win95 cheaper than Win98 or higher, but it will still cost you. I don't think there is a way to get the key off of an uninstalled CD and you can't install without the key....