What's wrong with my floppy drive?

[MikeyPutsOut]

1. It won't read my disks... disks that I'm sure should work. It says "disk is not formatted...", then asks me to format, which I do, then it says windows can't continue with the format.

2. I bought a "new" floppy, same thing.

3. I flipped the cord, thinking it may be backwards, that didn't work.

4. Yes, the IDE cable is the one that is twisted halfway.

What could it be?

 

[EeyoreX]

Have you tried a new ribbon cable? If not that's what I would do. Also, it is possible the floppy controller on the motherboard is bad.

\Dan

 

[Texun]

What happened before you started seeing this? Have you made any hardware changes? Years ago I had something similar to what you are experiencing and it turned out to be a virus.

Just in case.....

Hope this helps.

 

[MikeyPutsOut]

It can't be a virus, as I have formatted numerous times recently. I did, though, recieve what I think was a virus, in which case I formatted. (I was actually unplugging and replugging my HDD and floppy for related reasons) And I think the floppy stopped working after that point.

I am not ruling out that something is wrong with my motherboard. How do I go about fixing that?

I will go out and get a new ribbon cable though, and see if that work.

 

[MikeyPutsOut]

Well, what I just did was get my ribbon cable from my other PC, and use it on this PC. When I put the cable in, the seemingly correct way, it doesn't light up ever. It doesn't try to read at all. When I put it in backwards, it does that whole light-up-all-the-time thing

I'm going to try some different cable configurations between both of my floppys. BUt I don't think that'll work. please help!

 

[EeyoreX]

Unfortunately, if it is a motherboard problem, I am pretty sure there is no way to fix it, short of replacing the motherboard.

\Dan

 

[Hyperfocal]

Try the drive on a different system. Also, check the drive for built-up dust. A friend's computer wouldn't read floppy disks, the FDD was clogged with dust.

You can always get a USB floppy drive if the controller on your motherboard is bad.

 

[MikeyPutsOut]

The problem is, I DON"T WANT TO GET A USB FLOPPY!! I just want my cheap little floppy drive to work! 🙁

Is there anyway to check to see if at least it's a motherboard prob?

Asus nVidia nForce 2

 

[Texun]

Originally posted by: MikeyPutsOut
The problem is, I DON"T WANT TO GET A USB FLOPPY!! I just want my cheap little floppy drive to work! 🙁
Is there anyway to check to see if at least it's a motherboard prob?
Asus nVidia nForce 2

Not as far as I know, at least not without swapping parts; trying another drive, cable, using yours on another board... that sort of thing.

 

[ShyGuy91284]

*would spend $5 on a new drive himself......*
Lol. Might as well try to make sure it isn't the mobo first though.