floppy drive problem

[b3blues]

My Win98SE can no longer access the A: Drive floppy disk.
I have replaced the ribbon cable, used two new (refurb)
Teac drives from Dell parts, deleted the controller and
redetected it and still the same problem. The drive
whirrs went I try to access it thru Windows Explorer and I
get the following message "A:\ is not accessible. The
device is not ready" If I attempt to use the Send to:
Floppy command; I get the whirring sound and the following
message "There is no disk in drive A. Insert a disk and
try again."
Device manager says both the controller and Generic floppy
disk are working properly with no conflicts. Help please
from anyone with a similar situation.

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

Here are some steps to take for troubleshooting floppy drive problems.
Consider the steps that you have not tried.
1. Check to see if drive is unchecked in Tweakui.
2. Check system to make sure it is free of a Virus or Spyware.
3. If installed, turn off Dr. Solomon anti virus program.
4. Restart the computer. Hold CTRL while the system is booting.
Pick Command prompt only and test the drive.
5. Restart your computer by holding down the ctrl key and use the
"boot menu" to enter a safe mode windows session. Then in Device
Manager, locate and delete floppy drives *and* the floppy disk controllers.
Restart to see if Win98 re-detects properly.
6. If using a tape backup unit, remove/disconnect to see if
floppy function returns; if so, hunt for new tape drivers.
7. If using Norton Utilities, upgrade to 3.07 (or later, if
available) and/or disable Disk Doctor against the floppy drive.
8. Start | Run | msconfig | Selective startup | Un-select all
entries | restart | turn on one startup item, in turn, with restarts
between | when floppy ceases to function, you know the problem
is in the last file activated, so search and edit as needed.
9. CMOS settings are incorrect: write down all settings, then
re-set to defaults, restart to CMOS, re-enter the written down settings.
10. CMOS settings are incorrect: if "Swap Floppies" is enabled,
disable it.
11. Ribbon cables are 180 degrees out, or otherwise
mis-aligned/tilted: to correct, properly position connectors and
tracer color wire always to pin number 1 at both ends.

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/
How to Configure Outlook Express for Internet News:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=171164

"b3blues" wrote
> My Win98SE can no longer access the A: Drive floppy disk.
> I have replaced the ribbon cable, used two new (refurb)
> Teac drives from Dell parts, deleted the controller and
> redetected it and still the same problem. The drive
> whirrs went I try to access it thru Windows Explorer and I
> get the following message "A:\ is not accessible. The
> device is not ready" If I attempt to use the Send to:
> Floppy command; I get the whirring sound and the following
> message "There is no disk in drive A. Insert a disk and
> try again."
> Device manager says both the controller and Generic floppy
> disk are working properly with no conflicts. Help please
> from anyone with a similar situation.