won't recognize disk drive while booting

[jonlee3]

trying to format a computer, but during the boot it won't recognize the disk drive. it WILL recognize it once windows 98 starts up. have looked in BIOS and changed the boot sequence to look for A drive first...but still doesn't work. any suggestions???

thanks!

[Paleo Pete]

What is the scpecific error message? Can't do much without it.

It might just be that the system files weren't transferred, which is fairly easy to fix. Boot to a Start Up disk, and at the A:\> prompt type sys c: then press [Enter]. After a few seconds you'll see the message System Files Transferred. Reboot and you should be set to go.

Only guessing though, post the specific error message and we'll have a better idea what to do.

------------------
If you had everything...Where would you put it?

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[jonlee3]

there is no error message. it just doesn't seem to look at the disk drive when booting up, so there is no way to boot up the computer with a disk. i've tried putting in a blank disk to see if the message "system disk not valid, please replace" but that doesn't even show up either. changing the boot sequence doesn't seem to help either.

so in other words...

computer will not even go to the floppy drive during the boot sequence.

[Paleo Pete]

Check the BIOS to see if "Swap Floppy Drive" is enabled or "Floppy 3 mode Support". Disable either or both. Enable "Floppy drive Seek at Boot". This is normally not necessary, since it's actually redundant, setting the boot sequence to A;C will make it look for the floppy twice, but in some cases it's useful for troubleshooting. After setting floppy seek, see if you see the drive's LED blink during boot. That will tell you if it's trying to access.

If none of this works, you can get a new floppy cable-the ribbon cable running from the controller to the floppy drive. Radio Shack should have them, or any computer related store that has parts. Also check the power cable and be sure it's plugged in. It can't be plugged in backward, that would take a good sized hammer and would destroy the drive, it's keyed...The ribbon cable CAN be plugged in backward, you'll know it is if the floppy drive's LED comes on and stays on. If it does, flip one end of the ribbon cable over, it's upside down. I always flip the end connected to the drive...

------------------
If you had everything...Where would you put it?

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[jonlee3]

i don't know if this helps people trying to solve this problem or not...but the disk drive isn't recognized in DOS at all. i go to MS-DOS prompt and type in a: and it says abort, retry, or fail. i restart in dos mode and it doesn't recognize the drive either.

[dewah]

sounds like a faulty connection between motherboard and floppy drive....unless the drives' packed in..

[Paleo Pete]

Yep, the drive's bad, the ribbon cable is not connected properly, or the floppy controller is bad. Try another ribbon cable first, the cable could be bad as well. Then try another floppy drive. If another drive works, you know the original is dead.

------------------
If you had everything...Where would you put it?

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[jonlee3]

the thing is...i don't think the drive is bad because it works fine in windows 98. it just doesn't recognize the drive if i go to DOS or restart in DOS.

odd.

[Jerkymom]

When you say the drive works fine in Windows, do you mean it will read floppy disks or that it just shows up in My Computer? If it is actually functioning correctly in Windows, the problem isn't with the drive. The only thing I can imagine that would cause the drive not to function in DOS is if it was set up wrong in the BIOS, perhaps as Drive B: instead of A:.

On the Standard Settings page of my Award BIOS setup is an option to select the type of floppy drive (3.5" or 5.25") and the drive letter (A: or B:). Check your BIOS to make sure yours is set to A:. If it isn't, you won't be able to access it by typing A: at the C:\> prompt.

Kim



[This message has been edited by Jerkymom (edited 10-30-2000).]

[jonlee3]

when i say it works in windows 98...i mean that it recognizes the drive in my computer and it can read and open files from the drive. so it works COMPLETELY in windows 98 is what i mean. i already did all the BIOS stuff earlier...and it's still not responding in DOS.

[Jerkymom]

Well, if it works perfectly in Win98, at least you know the drive's not bad and the cables are properly attached. If Win98 sees it as A:, then it must be set correctly to A: in the BIOS as well. I've never run into a PC that won't seek the floppy drive in DOS if the BIOS is set to boot sequence A;C;whatever (is there an option for A only?), the cable is right, and the drive isn't dead. This is a real stumper! I'm afraid I'm out of ideas, but if you figure it out please let us know. My curiosity is killing me! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Sorry I couldn't help more...
Kim