floppy failure

[Guest]

i have a w2888 e-machine i nstalled a older 1.44 floppy drive. I have use
this repeatedly without problems until recently my xp troubleshooter says
that it is fuctioning but when I put in a disk it does not recognize that it
is there. I tried another drive with the same effect is this a software
problem, or is there a failure in the motherboard itself

 

[Thane of Lochaber]

Does it give any errors when you try to read the disk, and have you tried
others to make sure it isn't just a bad disk?

 

[V Green]

Does it give any errors when you try to read the disk, and have you tried
others to make sure it isn't just a bad disk?

If you have one of those newer system cases, where the front
panel sits on top of the floppy drive slot, and the "real" front panel
of the floppy is actually behind the case front panel, any misalignment
between the slots can cause the floppy disc to not seat properly
in the drive, and/or twist the entire drive with the results you describe.

Take your box apart, pull out the drive and set it on a cardboard
box or something next to your system. Reconnect all the cables.
Power up the system, put a disc in and see if it reads.

I always buy cases that allow me to remove the cutout over the floppy
so that the "real" front panel of the drive is flush with the front panel.

Spent a couple hours finding this out a few years ago...