Computer and Software Support


Floppy Troubleshooter

Read the Safety Procedures. Very Important!!!

When a computer is turned on, it goes through a boot process before going to windows or other boot device (such as a CD-ROM, floppy or hard drive). Click here for an explanation of the boot process.

Use this tool if your floppy drive is not working. (click on the link for more information or help)

  1. Before troubleshooting there is specific questions you need to answer Click here for the questions.
  2. If you are getting Diskette drive 0 seek failure message, click here
  3. Make sure there is nothing stuck inside the drive. Push the eject button and see if anything pops out.
  4. Try a different floppy disk.
  5. Try booting to a floppy disk and try accessing the floppy drive in DOS Click here for help on booting to dos (if it won't work in Windows and will work in DOS then it is a windows issue Use the Software Troubleshooter tool)
  6. Try reseating the floppy cable. Click here for instructions on installing a Floppy drive.
  7. Try reseating the power to the floppy drive.
  8. Make sure the floppy cable is connected correctly. On some systems the cable can be inserted backwards and it will not work then.
  9. Make sure the floppy is turned on in the BIOS.
  10. Set the BIOS to default and Clear the NVRAM (some systems have the clear NVRAM feature. Some don't)
  11. Update your BIOS to the latest version.
  12. Disconnect all PCI cards (such as modems, sound cards, etc.) Click here on how to remove PCI cards.  You may have a conflict with one of them. If the problem goes away with them disconnected, reconnect one at a time till problem comes back.
  13. Disconnect all IDE and SATA drives (such as hard drives, CD-ROM drives) to see if you can boot to a floppy. Click here for info on removing a CD-ROM. Click here for info on removing a hard drive. You may have a conflict with one of them. If the problem goes away with them disconnected, reconnect one at a time till problem comes back.
  14. Try another floppy cable. If another cable works than it was a bad floppy cable.
  15. Try another floppy drive. If another drive works than it was a bad floppy. If after trying another cable and drive, you have either a bad motherboard or a bad power connector. Chances are it will be the motherboard. Some systems only have one power cable for a floppy but if it has two, you can try the other one.