Re: Inspiron suddenly won't recognise floppy

Although this unit is practically brand new and has had almost no use, that
is very possibly what has happened and why it suddenly stopped one day
almost while I was looking at it. Is there no way of cleaning it out or at
least getting it working for a while? (only a shortish while because I
don't anticipate using it much)

"Dan" <jasdfosd@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4vd6k1t369notrjaqvpm0b7pia50brgll2@xxxxxxxxxx
> If this is an older model Inspiron there's a good chance the floppy
> became clogged with dust. They're not always modular and sometimes
> require a technician (the floppy on some models also has a label on it
> saying "replacable only by trained technician" or some such phrasing).
> Honestly it's not too tough to replace if you're used to ribbon
> connectors...but in reality, who is? ;) They're all a pain in the
> ***.
>
> Dan
>
>
> On Mon, 3 Oct 2005 08:52:40 -0400, "news.rcn.com" <news.rnc.com>
> wrote:
>
>>I am suffering what appears to be a Dell issue (I have only had it on Dell
>>computers, - and too often on various different Dells), which is that
>>suddenly this computer wont recognise its floppy drive. It spins and
>>spins
>>and however many times I try to check the BIOS and boot off it, the
>>computer
>>wont boot off the floppy. So I cant get it to see whatever CD I put in the
>>drive.
>>
>>The unit wont see its floppy whether I put it into the bay or at the end
>>of
>>the cable. I don't think it is a BIOS revision issue OR is there some way
>>of
>>reinstalling the same BIOS as is in the unit already? Can an attempted
>>install of an OS screw up the BIOS? I haven't unplugged the Unit since all
>>this arose so I can't see this as a BIOS battery issue
>>
>>The full problem is that I have changed the hard drive and put one off a
>>ThinkPad in with Win 95 on it. It works. I tried to install 98SE off the
>>original install discs but, booting off the CD, the unit won't do a clean
>>install. I discovered that it also obviously won't install with the 95
>>win.com in place. Then suddenly after this failed install, the OS stopped
>>seeing the floppy (and, later, the CD as well)! Now I don't dare format
>>the hard drive and try to install 98 SE from the CD for fear that the unit
>>won't see its CD when I try this. I kinda presume that the not seeing the
>>CD
>>is not a hardware fault but is something to do with the OS although it
>>wont
>>see its CD on boot either. It booted off the CD when it was doing this
>>install but wont boot off it any more now after restarting the unit.
>>
>>Anyone know what causes this Dell floppy issue or is it simply a poor
>>quality hardware issue?
>>
>


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