A: Drive "Please insert disk"

I was trying to download to a floppy, and prompt kept asking to install disk, disk was installed. I tried to open other floppies, that I had, and same response. Haven't used A: drive in some time.
So I uninstalled A:, and don't know how to find wizard to install. I am a beginner with this.

Any help is most appreciated
Mark

 

When you say you uninstalled it did you do this through device manager or did you physically remove the drive?

It may be worth checking your BIOS settings and see if the drive is detected in there.

You may also want to check the physical cables (both power and data) to the drive and M/Board. If the data cable has heads for two drives a single drive should be connected to the end connector (after the twist in the cable)

A disk head cleaner may help but only if the drive is detected in BIOS.

If your drive is detected in the BIOS then XP should reinstall the driver automaticaly on startup.

Finally a new drive isn't that expensive but do you really need one? I can't recall the last time I used a floppy disk.

 

Nope, there are better tools available.

 

I'm not very good at this but I tried your suggestions, and nothing.

 

"nothing "... Not much feedback there is there?

Why don't you tell us what you have tried and the actual results (expand a little on nothing )?

The main question is does your BIOS see a floppy drive connected. To enter BIOS setup you need to press a key (usually Del or F1) on startup... Have a look around but don't change anything. It would help if you supplied your BIOS version often shown at the top of the BIOS Setup Screen.

 

When I tried to run floppy, in My Computer, A:, message is, Please insert disk in drive A: ( disk was inserted )
Looking at BIOS Setup.
It reads Pheonix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup and Utility. In the Advanced BIOS Features, Seek Floppy......[ Disabled ]
Thank you for your help in advance
Mark

 

Hi Mark,

Ok go back into the BIOS and change that seek floppy to enabled, don't change any other settings but this time save and reboot. Let me know if you get a

Code:

floppy drive failure press F1 to continue

or similar error on startup.

 

It is still telling me to insert disk when I go to My Computer, A:

 

On start up it says floppy disk fail

 

Ok, time to get your hands dirty

If you're confident enough open your case (to be safe disconnect the power cable completely and press and hold the On/Off switch for at least 10 seconds) then check the power cable to the floppy drive (small white connector with 4 wires) and the data cable both at the drive and M/Board (wide gray ribbon cable). If all seems in order try swapping the data cable for a new one and changing the power connector if another is available.

If you still get that failure error then it's time for a new floppy drive.

 

Wildfire;
You are a life saver !! I changed the four wire connection, and I now have A: drive.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate this
Mark

 

Hi Mark,

Can you put the original 4 wire connection back in place for testing purposes, if your floppy drive fails again I'd be a little concerned about your power supply unit.

 

Wildfire;
I had to change power supply about six months ago due to electrical storm. I'm not sure but feel A; drive has not functioned since then ( never had to use it )
I will try to make original connection and see what happens

 

Wildfire;
You really know these machines,. Don't you ?
I made the original connection, and A: drive works fine, no problems on either connection.

I had to replace power supply approximately six months ago due to an electrical storm, I suspect that A: Drive has not functioned properly since then ( I haven't used it lately )

As stated, I really do appreciate your help.

Thank You Wildfire

Mark

 

That would explain it, you probably didn't connect the floppy it properly when you switched power supply.

Happy to help Mark