need help..floppy drive problems at startup..

[rojkai]

hi,
i just finished putting together my computer....i got everything connected(and it all seems like its working fine) except the fact that the floopy drive is not working..everytime the computer is restarted it keeps giving me the error: floppy drive failed (40)
but when i checked in the bios, the floppy drive is listed there..any clues as to how i can fix this..?? thanks in advance..

 

[Richard98]

Check the cabling if you haven't already done it. I've installed the floppy cable backwards a couple of times.

 

[Lalakai]

besides having it in wrong, those cables are noted for breaking on the inside; I always have a couple spares that i can readily change just to make certain that cable itself it okay. Other then that, if it's recognized in cmos, you should be able to "talk" to it.

keep us posted

 

[rojkai]

hrm..well.i checked all the cables and switched them and its still not working..the green light on the drive is always on and its not going off..any more suggestions..??

 

[r0tt3n1]

There is a twist in floppy cables, the twist goes to the drive, may wanna check that too..........

 

[Tedtalker1]

I hope you didn't put the power connector on backwards like I did once.I saw a puff of smoke and goodbye Floppy Drive.You should also go into your bios and check that it's the first boot device and that it's configured properly.Also I've had a drive go out on me when I was building a PC by not handling it gingerly enough.They are very fragile it seems.I now always insert a floppy disk into it before I take the drive out,lean the PC over,etc.I have had the green light stay on like yours and I fixed it somehow(can't remember-might have bought a new drive,LOL)-maybe push in the cable as far as it will go as it might not be making perfect contact.It might be something simple or you might need to make a trip to CompUSA for a new drive.At least it's only 20 bucks or less.Good luck.

 

[rojkai]

yes, i noticed the twist..that was the first thing that caught my eyes...anyhow..im installing winXP rite now..ill see how it goes from there..will be posting more afterwards..

 

[rojkai]

well..nothing changed..i made sure all the connections are tite and secured and correct..the stupid green light is still on..i can see the drive on winXP but i try accessing it and keeps giving the stupid msglease insert a disk and try again(even with a disk in)....any more suggestions..??

another problem:winXP and at the boot screen only shows 256 mb of ram..i have 512 in the system..do i need to change any bios settings..?? my mobo is a epox 8kha+ with the default bios version..the funny thing is, the computer wont boot up without two sticks in..i tried one and it wouldnt boot up..i tried the other and still the same..any hints as to how i can fix this will be appreciated..thanks..

 

[DSTA]

[...] the stupid green light is still on [...]

That's a 99.99% chance the floppy cable is on backwards. Try turning it around one more time.

To be really sure the calbe is on correctly you could remove the drive from the case, take a look at the connector and find out which pin is "pin 1". It's usually printed on the drive's PCB.

The red striped cable on the FDD ribbon cable goes to "pin 1". Assuming the connector on the mobo is "keyed" (i.e. there is a notch to prevent connecting it the wrong way around on the mobo) it's got to work.

 

[rojkai]

!!!!!i must be really stupid..its working now..the cable was on backwards..cant believe i missed this twice!!!oh well..thanks all for helping..now on to solving problem #2..why mobo is picking up only 256 mb of my 512 ram..

nm..got everything working fine now..hehe.

 

[Rubenski]

Wow im just having the same problem right now!

But i tried switching the plugs around and still show (floppy disk) (40) on there what can it be?

 

[Odoacer]

Did you get generic ram from somewhere like Fry's or outpost.com? They sometimes mislabel their ram and give you the wrong kind

 

[GregMal]

I got that error once.....the old cable had bent 2 of the pins on the back of
the floppy drive. Luckily (and very slowly) with my needle-nose pliers I was
able to bend them back. Then I used a new cable...........
Greg

 

[Rubenski]

so your saying if its not strait it wont work...

mines not striaght but i still can put it in...

so whats going on please help