IBM T-21 USB support on startup

[LadyGrey]

Howdy,
Got an IBM T-21 laptop, running W2K, External USB Floppy Drive, Removable DVD-ROM Drive. Swappable drives, have both, but need both drives on startup hence the external USB floppy.
Now, floppy is recognized fine within W2K, but there is no support for it on startup i.e:cannot start from a 98 or any other bootdisk using this External USB floppy drive.
Is there a way around this?
Thanks much and much as always!
LG;)

btw, I've taken 5 quizzes and only missed one question, don't even ask what it was:o . Just goes to show what good teachers you all are!

[mjc]

Is there an option in the BIOS for Legacy USB support? (or something along those lines)?

If so, make sure it is enabled.

[LadyGrey]

I'll go look darlin. I know that in the setup>bootdevices I have options for CD, Network, HDD, and legacy floppy drive, nothing specific about USB, but I'll go look through everything this time. Not really much in BIOS on this machine, nothing like my desktops. I was kinda afraid of this but I don't think a USB CD ROM would fair any better so it's just a stall. As far as I know the BIOS is 2004, if there is even an update would trying to flash it help any, maybe give an option for USB support on startup? On second thought I'd need you guys right here with me to try that!:eek: The only drivers for this external drive are 95/98 but on startup the laptop recognized the drive, called it "B" drive, make any difference? Went into safe mode with command prompt and tried to change drives, just like I do normally, A:\>C:\ unless I've forgotten something in the middle, you know, old age and memory!:D but would not recognize it. Mercy you would think I would write these things down but it was along the lines of not being a drive or not being recognized. I'll try to replicate and get the exact message. Maybe since W2K isn't DOS based this has something to do with the wacked out message? Any suggestions welcome!
LG;)

[Erik]

I have used USB floppy drives on those before. Try setting the floppy drive as the first boot device, that should work fine. I have never had to do antything special to boot from a USB drive as opposed to one un the drive bay.