Old floppy drive headache

[Tedster]

I occassionally use an old floppy drive for BIOS updates, windows backup boot files and the like.

Lately, my floppy drive won't read ANY disc. I swapped out the drive with another and I get the same results.

Could it be dirt?

 

[hewybo]

mobo connector?

If the OS is recognizing it, and drivers are in there, could the mobo out be bad? Cable?

 

[Nodsu]

Does the BIOS actually recognise your floppy drive?

Floppy drive cables are extemely easy to plug in wrong.. It does matter which way you connect the plugs. And if you have a cable with three connector sets then it does matter which plug goes where.

 

[Tedster]

well it's definately tring to read the discs. It makes several attempts. SOmetimes it can pick up a directory.... most of the time it times out.

 

[swker98]

if it gets to anoying, drop 10 dollors for a new one :stickout: :haha:

 

[Samstoned]

have you tried a new disc
I noticed my disc's just give up
of course they have been written to about a million times
and dropped and had coffee or beer spilled on them

 

[Tedster]

tried all sorts of discs.... all of them old though.

I'm gonna give the drive a thorough cleaning.

Maybe I gotta get old school and pop a disc in a microwave for 2-3 seconds.... remember when we had to do that to 5 1/4 floppies!

speaking of nostalgia... I'm thinking about buying an old 8bit Atari 800xl or 130XE off of ebay ... I kick myself in the rump for getting rid of my old one 10 years ago.

 

[Samstoned]

I had about 10 brand new 8086's in boxs with the crt's
could not give'm away 6 months ago one sold on ebay(not mine) for 80.00 remember what the original cost was around 4,000.
make a good automated system for the house.
never had atarie stuff had a tandy that played games ,can't remember what it was.
back to the F drive I guess you tried another machine too, eh

 

[Tedster]

Amazing what people will buy....I saw an old Atari on ebay yesterday sell for over $120