Floppy not reading

[Guest]

Looking at a Dell Dimension 8200 (P4/1.7GHz + 256 KB Mem) for a friend. BIOS
is rev A01 and latest for this model appears to be A09. problem is I can't
put to FDD as the FDD (1.44Kb according to BIOS) doesn't appear to read any
floppies I have - either blank formatted or some with known data. I can
read these on another machine. The FDD light just stays on but no "activity"
appears to be happening. Help appreciated as to what to do - new FDD???

 

[Bob I]

If floppy light is always on, it's an indication the data cable is on
UPSIDE down.

 

[Guest]

Bob I,

I should have been more specific. Data cable is on correctly. The only
time the FDD light is on is when it is being accessed. Unfortunately, access
achieves nothing. It doesn't appear to read a/any floppy at all; I lie, it
did once to say the floppy wanted formatting but it couldn't do that because
it said it was inaccessable (not write protected). The light remains on but
no activity. When I remove floppy, light goes out.

 

[Bob I]

Can you get your hands on a boot floppy, and see if that works.
Basically determine which you have, hardware or driver issues.

 

[Guest]

Set BIOS to boot from FDD first and loaded a win98 boot disc. This
succesfully read and loaded. What should I undrstand from this ??? Is
hardware OK but need to consider FDD driver ??? as problem

 

[Bob I]

I would delete/remove in Device manager and allow it to reinstall itself
then.

 

[Guest]

Did the trick....Thanks

I would delete/remove in Device manager and allow it to reinstall itself
then.

 

[Bob I]

Thanks for posting back, and you're welcome.

Did the trick....Thanks

: