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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
I'm not used to having a floppy drive on an XP machine.
I plugged in a NEW floppy drive, which I just got in the mail. I used that twist cable which I mentioned. (twist on drive end), and connected the power cable. Everything is plugged in properly. I am not seeing the A: drive in My Computer. I am not sure where else it should show up. I confirmed this drive works by plugging it into the existing cables connected to the internal floppy drive and it works fine. I read, wrote and formatted a floppy. In XP, I went to control panel, hardware, and I can see the floppy listed. It says it's working fine. I went to the command line, and typed A: It says "Invalid drive specification". The only thing I can think is that maybe that cable is defective??? |
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
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#3
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
James,
I am not seeing the A: drive in My Computer. I am not sure where else it should show up. Have you already checked for the B: drive ? The only thing I can think is that maybe that cable is defective??? Nope. That cable is designed to support *two* floppy drives, with one before the twist, and the other after (as regarded from the connector thats connected to the motherboard). In short: Move your drive from before the twist to after (or vise verse), and you most likely will see your A: drive appear. :-) Hope that helps. Regards, Rudy Wieser P.s. Googeling for "floppy cable with twist", or even "drive cable with twist" shows an explanation as the first hit ... |
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 16:34:35 +0100, "R.Wieser"
wrote: James, I am not seeing the A: drive in My Computer. I am not sure where else it should show up. Have you already checked for the B: drive ? The only thing I can think is that maybe that cable is defective??? Nope. That cable is designed to support *two* floppy drives, with one before the twist, and the other after (as regarded from the connector thats connected to the motherboard). In short: Move your drive from before the twist to after (or vise verse), and you most likely will see your A: drive appear. :-) Hope that helps. Regards, Rudy Wieser P.s. Googeling for "floppy cable with twist", or even "drive cable with twist" shows an explanation as the first hit ... It's a SINGLE cable. Only one drive connector, and that one has the twist. Yea, I did try B:. I planned to pull the (known to work) cable out of my Win98 puter, but I was downloading something at the time, and I try not to plug/unplug stuff from the MOBO while the machine is running. Unplugging just that cable probably woukd not hurt anything, but another cable could get unplugged in the process, with stuff being crammed together. I might go to the garage and see what's inside some of the real old computers that I have. I would assume they all have floppy drive cables. |
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 10:39:54 -0500, wrote:
On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 06:27:43 -0600, wrote: I'm not used to having a floppy drive on an XP machine. I plugged in a NEW floppy drive, which I just got in the mail. I used that twist cable which I mentioned. (twist on drive end), and connected the power cable. Everything is plugged in properly. I am not seeing the A: drive in My Computer. I am not sure where else it should show up. I confirmed this drive works by plugging it into the existing cables connected to the internal floppy drive and it works fine. I read, wrote and formatted a floppy. In XP, I went to control panel, hardware, and I can see the floppy listed. It says it's working fine. I went to the command line, and typed A: It says "Invalid drive specification". The only thing I can think is that maybe that cable is defective??? 5 wire twist or 7 wire twist? SEVEN (why do they make two different types?) The one which works on my Win98 puter is also SEVEN. Do you have the power cable plugged it? Yes Did you boot the machine? Yes, several times Does it spin on the boot? No Just for the heck of it, I booted a linux flash drive. I dont see A: or B: in there either. However, I am now wondering if it could be possible that something in the bios needs to be changed? I know I have it set to boot from a flash drive FIRST, then the HDD, and lastly the CD player. But since this computer has never had a floppy drive, maybe there is some bios setting to change????? I would have looked already, but I cant remember what key to hit to get into the bios. Its a homemade computer so looking that up may be tricky. I think I need to start putting labels on every computer saying what key needs to be pressed to go to the bios. |
#8
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 15:57:37 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
wrote: In message , writes: On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 06:27:43 -0600, wrote: I'm not used to having a floppy drive on an XP machine. I plugged in a NEW floppy drive, which I just got in the mail. I used that twist cable which I mentioned. (twist on drive end), and connected the power cable. Everything is plugged in properly. I am not seeing the A: drive in My Computer. I am not sure where else it should show up. I confirmed this drive works by plugging it into the existing cables connected to the internal floppy drive and it works fine. I read, wrote and formatted a floppy. To clarify: your computer already had a floppy drive, and connecting the new drive in its place, works. So how are you connecting it when it _doesn't_ work, presumably with the (new?) cable-with-a-twist you mention? To the same place on the motherboard as the existing one? If the existing one has a cable with no twist, which side of the twist are you connecting? Once again, you are not listening to what I said. The drive works fine on my WIN98 computer, using the cable inside that computer. It DOES NOT work on my XP computer.\ Two entirely different computers! In XP, I went to control panel, hardware, and I can see the floppy listed. It says it's working fine. I went to the command line, and typed A: It says "Invalid drive specification". Even with a (formatted OK) floppy in? Yes The only thing I can think is that maybe that cable is defective??? (Possibly, though I'd have thought it wouldn't show in control panel. Does it show a drive letter there [I presume you mean Device Manager]? Yes Does it show a drive letter for C: there?) Yes, as well as D: (CD drive) and other letters if I plug in any USB sticks. 5 wire twist or 7 wire twist? Do you have the power cable plugged it? I did wonder that too (-: Did you boot the machine? Does it spin on the boot? Good question: many BIOSes have a setting for whether it should try the floppy on boot; turning it off saves time (and arguably wear on the drive, though minimal). Though if there's something about that setting that's stopping it working, I'd have expected it to stop the existing one working, hence the question re how you're connecting the new one. Does its light flash - on boot? When you try to access it? At any other time? No |
#9
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
In message ,
writes: On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 15:57:37 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote: In message , writes: On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 06:27:43 -0600, wrote: I'm not used to having a floppy drive on an XP machine. I plugged in a NEW floppy drive, which I just got in the mail. I used that twist cable which I mentioned. (twist on drive end), and connected the power cable. Everything is plugged in properly. I am not seeing the A: drive in My Computer. I am not sure where else it should show up. I confirmed this drive works by plugging it into the existing cables connected to the internal floppy drive and it works fine. I read, wrote and formatted a floppy. To clarify: your computer already had a floppy drive, and connecting the new drive in its place, works. So how are you connecting it when it _doesn't_ work, presumably with the (new?) cable-with-a-twist you mention? To the same place on the motherboard as the existing one? If the existing one has a cable with no twist, which side of the twist are you connecting? Once again, you are not listening to what I said. The drive works fine on my WIN98 computer, using the cable inside that computer. Once again (I think - not sure about last time), you think you said something you didn't. What you said was, "I confirmed this drive works by plugging it into the existing cables connected to the internal floppy drive and it works fine." No mention of that being a different computer! It DOES NOT work on my XP computer.\ Two entirely different computers! _Now_ you tell us (-: In XP, I went to control panel, hardware, and I can see the floppy listed. It says it's working fine. [] The only thing I can think is that maybe that cable is defective??? Does sound possible. Borrowing the cable from the computer on which it works sounds worth trying. (And possibly the drive too, to check combinations of cables and motherboard.) [] Does its light flash - on boot? When you try to access it? At any other time? No Hmm. Are there volts at the power connector (should be, relative to the black wires, +5V on the red one and +12V on the yellow, IIRR). -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf If you believe in telekinesis, raise my right hand |
#10
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 13:58:54 -0600, wrote:
On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 10:39:54 -0500, wrote: Does it spin on the boot? No Just for the heck of it, I booted a linux flash drive. I dont see A: or B: in there either. However, I am now wondering if it could be possible that something in the bios needs to be changed? I know I have it set to boot from a flash drive FIRST, then the HDD, and lastly the CD player. But since this computer has never had a floppy drive, maybe there is some bios setting to change????? I would have looked already, but I cant remember what key to hit to get into the bios. Its a homemade computer so looking that up may be tricky. I think I need to start putting labels on every computer saying what key needs to be pressed to go to the bios. You are probably on to something. Go into BIOS setup and be sure the FDD adapter is enabled. I agree getting into BIOS can be tricky. The manufacturers all have their own trick, Google is your friend there. I usually write it on top of the power supply with a sharpie when I figure it out. If I don't scratch it in the paint with a screwdriver ;-) What brand are we talking about? |
#11
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
In message ,
writes: On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 13:58:54 -0600, wrote: [] I would have looked already, but I cant remember what key to hit to get into the bios. Its a homemade computer so looking that up may be tricky. I think I need to start putting labels on every computer saying what key needs to be pressed to go to the bios. On most, they tell you on screen during boot, especially desktops rather than laptops. (If a CRT monitor, sometimes before the monitor has warmed up, though, if it is turned on at the same time as the PC.) Sometimes hidden behind a splash screen, though _that_ usually has a "press xx to dismiss splash screen" on it somewhere. You are probably on to something. Go into BIOS setup and be sure the FDD adapter is enabled. [] Though the lack of any flash from the drive's LED makes me suspect it isn't getting power ... -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf If you believe in telekinesis, raise my right hand |
#12
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
wrote:
On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 10:39:54 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 06:27:43 -0600, wrote: I'm not used to having a floppy drive on an XP machine. I plugged in a NEW floppy drive, which I just got in the mail. I used that twist cable which I mentioned. (twist on drive end), and connected the power cable. Everything is plugged in properly. I am not seeing the A: drive in My Computer. I am not sure where else it should show up. I confirmed this drive works by plugging it into the existing cables connected to the internal floppy drive and it works fine. I read, wrote and formatted a floppy. In XP, I went to control panel, hardware, and I can see the floppy listed. It says it's working fine. I went to the command line, and typed A: It says "Invalid drive specification". The only thing I can think is that maybe that cable is defective??? 5 wire twist or 7 wire twist? SEVEN (why do they make two different types?) The one which works on my Win98 puter is also SEVEN. Do you have the power cable plugged it? Yes Did you boot the machine? Yes, several times Does it spin on the boot? No Just for the heck of it, I booted a linux flash drive. I dont see A: or B: in there either. However, I am now wondering if it could be possible that something in the bios needs to be changed? I know I have it set to boot from a flash drive FIRST, then the HDD, and lastly the CD player. But since this computer has never had a floppy drive, maybe there is some bios setting to change????? I would have looked already, but I cant remember what key to hit to get into the bios. Its a homemade computer so looking that up may be tricky. I think I need to start putting labels on every computer saying what key needs to be pressed to go to the bios. There is a guide here on the floppy cable design. The floppy drives are all (virtually) jumpered as B drives. The connector "after the twist" (your config) makes that defacto B drive, an A-drive. So the one on the end is A. http://www.pcguide.com/ref/fdd/confCable-c.html Now, what if your drive was so old, it actually had a jumper ? Then the problem might be that your drive simply isn't being selected at the moment. The twisted part, consists of four active signals. Two for each drive. The twist swaps the signals, so that one connector can have an A personality and the other a B personality. (Just like a CS Cable Select method.) The scheme described, works without problem if all the drives are internally jumpered as B. My spare drive here, there isn't any jumper position on it, just the data cable and four pin power. And there's nothing in the labeling to suggest B-jumpering (which becomes A for the connector after the twist). That doesn't explain though, why you have one equipment configuration that works. Which suggests a BIOS problem. I don't think your machine isn't that old, because it does have one IDE and two SATA. "ALIVE6100 VSTA [S754 AMD]" http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Pro...uID=24&LanID=0 IT8715F The manual "ALIVE6100%20_VSTA1.0B.pdf" has this - a single setting to disable the FDC. Enabled is the default. If you can see it in Device Manager, then that's probably proof enough this is set to Enabled. Onboard FDC Controller (Enabled) This option enables the onboard floppy disk drive controller. To get into the BIOS: Press DEL to enter SETUP which makes it the same as an Asus ? It should put that prompt on the first visible screen. The manual is from the year 2008, yet there is no mention of popup boot. The line below "Press DEL..." should identify the popup boot key (which gives a one-time boot menu for starting the system). A picture I can find of a Phoenix BIOS, doesn't show a popup boot key choice. Just the del one. HTH, Paul |
#13
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
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#14
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Hmmmm, Where is the floppy drive in XP?
On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 21:23:38 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
wrote: In message , writes: On Tue, 14 Nov 2017 13:58:54 -0600, wrote: [] I would have looked already, but I cant remember what key to hit to get into the bios. Its a homemade computer so looking that up may be tricky. I think I need to start putting labels on every computer saying what key needs to be pressed to go to the bios. On most, they tell you on screen during boot, especially desktops rather than laptops. (If a CRT monitor, sometimes before the monitor has warmed up, though, if it is turned on at the same time as the PC.) Sometimes hidden behind a splash screen, though _that_ usually has a "press xx to dismiss splash screen" on it somewhere. You are probably on to something. Go into BIOS setup and be sure the FDD adapter is enabled. [] Though the lack of any flash from the drive's LED makes me suspect it isn't getting power ... IT WORKS NOW. Turns out the bios was set to "NONE' for floppy drives. I changed that, and it works. It tried to boot from the floppy in that drive, which just contains a text tile. I had to remove the floppy so XP would load from the HDD. Thanks for all who helped. Is one of you who made me suspect the bios. I actually did not know floppies could be disabled in the bios. Now I do! |
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floppy drives and cables
In message , Paul
writes: [] The twisted part, consists of four active signals. Two for each drive. The twist swaps the signals, so that one connector can have an A personality and the other a B personality. (Just like a CS Cable Select method.) [] I've always assumed it was that, and thought it was a clever solution (admittedly, requiring unusual cable construction). So presumably there is something like (_at the drive_): 01 - A 10 - B (or vice versa). Does that mean there is the _possibility_ of _four_ drives, using up the 00 and 11 options? -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf I reckon in a few years we'll have GoogleBum. You'll type in someone's name and it will show you what their bum looks like. Even if they've never posted a nude picture, it will reconstruct their bum from bits of their face and leg and whatever else they can find. - Charlie Brooker, RT 2014/12/13-19 |
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