Floppy Drive Table of Contents

Please select one of the following two options:

• I have a Dell Dimension or Optiplex desktop system.
  
  
• I have a Dell Inspiron or Latitude portable system.
  
  

Desktop Floppy Drive Troubleshooting

• Troubleshooting floppy drive problems.
  
  
• Drive being accessed during boot on normal usage.
  
  
• Metal clip has come off.
  
  
• Floppy disk will not insert or eject.
  
  

[ Return to Desktop Floppy Drive Troubleshooting ]

Troubleshooting a floppy

1. Reset the system defaults in the BIOS.
   
   
   • How to reload the system default settings for a Dell Dimension Computer.

   • How to reload the system default settings for a Dell Optiplex Computer.
   
   
2. Try to format several disks to be sure the media is not the problem.
   
   
   • Right-click the floppy drive in My Computer and click Format.
   • If you can format a disk, you know that the drive is writing correctly.
     
     
3. Boot to a floppy boot disk or CD to see if the drive functions outside of Windows.
   
   
   • How to create and use a boot disk
   
   

   Did the computer boot to the floppy drive? You will see an A: on your screen if it did.

   • Yes, my system booted to the floppy drive.
     
     
   • No, my system will not boot to the floppy drive.
   
   

[ Return to Desktop Floppy Drive Troubleshooting ]

Drive being accessed during boot or normal usage

In Windows XP

1. Right-click the [Start] button, and then left-click Properties.

2. Click the Customize button and then click the Advanced tab.

3. Click the Clear List button.

4. Click [OK], and then click [OK] again.

5. Click [Start] | Turn Off Computer | Restart.

In Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium Edition (Me)

1. Click the [Start] button, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar and Start Menu.

2. The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window appears.

3. Click the Advanced tab.

4. Click the Clear button.

5. Click OK.

6. Click the [Start] button, click Shut Down, click Restart, and then click OK.

In Windows 98

1. Click the [Start] button, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar and Start Menu.

2. Click the Start Menu Programs tab.

3. Click the [Clear] button.

4. Click [OK].

5. Click the [Start] button, click Shut Down, click Restart, and then click [OK].
   

   The following Dell Knowledge Base Article explains the issue in more detail:

   • Information on floppy disk access noises.

6. Go to the Reply section of this document if you are still having access noise issues.

[ Return to Desktop Floppy Drive Troubleshooting ]

The Floppy Disk's Metal Clip is Stuck in the Drive

1. Unplug the computer.

2. Remove the cover.
   • How to remove the front cover.
   
   
3. Try inserting a metal fingernail file above the metal clip and pushing down on it while pulling the clip out of the floppy drive with a pair of tweezers.
   
   
   
4. If the clip will not come out, please go to the Reply section of this document.

[ Return to Desktop Floppy Drive Troubleshooting ]

How to Remove a Stuck Disk

1. Unplug the computer.

2. Remove the cover or front bezel to expose the floppy drive opening.
   • Remove the front cover (bezel).
   
   
3. Try removing the disk. Sometimes a pair of tweezers will help.

4. If you still can't remove the disk, go to the Reply section of this document.

Portable Floppy Drive Troubleshooting

• Troubleshooting a floppy.
  
  
• Disk won't eject.
  
  
• Hot swapping media bay devices.
  
  
• Using the CD and floppy together.

[Return to Portable Floppy Drive Troubleshooting]

Floppy Drive Troubleshooting

1. Reset defaults in BIOS.
   
   
   • Inspiron systems.
     
     
   • Latitude systems.
   
   
2. Reseat the drive.

   NOTE: The Inspiron 2600, 2650, 5000, 5000e, and Smartstep systems have fixed floppy drives.

   • Instructions to reseat the floppy drive.
   
   
3. Boot to a floppy boot disk to see if the drive functions outside of Windows.
   
   

• How to obtain a boot disk and boot to it.

Did the computer boot to the disk? You will see an A: on your screen if it did.

• Yes, my system booted to the floppy drive.
  
  
• No, my system will not boot to the floppy drive.

[ Return to Portable Floppy Drive Troubleshooting ]

Disk Won't Eject

1. Remove the floppy drive from the computer.
   
   
   • Floppy drive removal directions.
     
     
2. Using a fingernail file, try inserting it above the metal clip and pushing down on it while pulling the floppy disk out with a pair of tweezers.
   
   
3. If you can't remove the disk, please go to the Reply section of this document.
   
   
   
   

   ---

[ Return to Portable Floppy Drive Troubleshooting ]

Hot Swapping Instructions

Windows XP or 2000

Instructions for swapping:

1. Click the icon, near the clock, that has a green arrow pointed diagonally to the left over a gray rectangle. It will have a caption that reads Eject or Unplug Hardware, if you hold the cursor over it.



2. Click Stop.
   
3. Swap device.
   
4. Click Start.

The new device should now be recognized.

Note:

You may also change the media or mega bay device with the machine turned off. Turn the system on when the change is completed.

Windows 98, NT, or ME

1. Click the icon the icon, near the clock, that looks like a portable computer with a blue screen.



2. Click Remove / Swap or Insert.
   
3. Swap device.
   
4. Click Start.

If you don't see the icon, download the latest version of Softex Bay Manager. Go to:

• http://support.dell.com.

1. Click Downloads.
   
2. Select your operating system and choose System and Configuration Utilities.
   
3. Click Go.
   
4. Choose Softex Bay Manager.
   
5. Follow the links to complete the download.

A guide for using Softex can be found:

• View the Softex guide.

[ Return to Portable Floppy Drive Troubleshooting ]

Use CD and floppy together

Some systems come with a floppy cable. This cable is approximately 2 feet long and has a parallel port connector on one end. At the other end, it has a connector that will fit into the back of a media bay device. The CD, CDRW, or DVD drive must be used inside of the system. The cable will ONLY power the floppy drive.

• A list of systems shipped with floppy cables.

Appendices

[ Return to Table of Contents ]

Create a Boot Disk

• Windows XP
  
  
• Windows 95/98/ME
  
  
• Windows 2000
  
  
• Download a Windows 2000 Boot Disk.

Windows XP

1. Insert a blank floppy disk into the floppy (A:) drive

2. Open the My Computer icon
>
3. Right click the floppy (A:) drive
4. Left mouse click Format
5. Insert a check next to Create an MS-DOS startup disk
6. Click [Start], when done close all boxes
7. Open the My Computer icon
8. With the floppy disk still inserted, restart the system. When the Dell logo appears on the screen, press [F12] to change the boot sequence to boot to the floppy disk.
9. If the system boots to the floppy (A:) drive, the drive is fine.

Windows 95/98/ME

1. Insert a blank floppy disk into the floppy (A:) drive

2. Click [Start]| Settings| Control Panel| Add/Remove Programs.

3. Click the Startup Disk tab.

4. Click the [Create Disk] button.

[Return to Create a Boot Disk]

Windows 2000

1. Click the Download link below

2. Save the file to your Desktop

3. Go to your Desktop and double click Boot 98.exe

4. Insert a Floppy Disk and click [OK] to make the boot disk

• Download a Windows 98 boot disk.

[ Return to Troubleshooting a floppy ]

Computer Boots to a Boot Disk

1. Check for a virus.
   
   
2. Close all programs using the system Task Manager ( [Ctr] + [Alt] + [Delete] ).
   
   
   • Troubleshooting with the Windows Task Manager.
   
   
3. Run msconfig to clear Startup of any problem applications.
   
   
   • Instructions for running MSCONFIG
   
   
   • Illustrated guide to MSCONFIG

4. Reinstall the operating system according to the instructions on the system Reinstall Guide Web page.
   
   
   • Reinstall Guides Web page.
   
   

   Note:

   Be sure your system is selected in the Your System section at the upper left corner of the Reinstall Guides page.

[ Return to Troubleshooting a floppy ]

System Won't Boot to the Floppy Disk

1. Remove the cover.
   
   
   • How to remove the front cover.
   
   
2. Check the ribbon cable - try another cable if you have one or reseat the one you have.
   
   
   • How to remove floppy drive cable.
   
   
3. Try a different floppy drive, if available.
   
   
   • How to remove the floppy disk drive.
   
   
4. If the other FDD works it is a bad drive. If the other drive doesn't work it is a defective motherboard, as long as you know the cable is good.
   

[ Return to Table of Contents ]

Use an Antivirus Program

The preferred method is to use the Norton or McAfee Antivirus program that was shipped with your system. If this program has expired or is too far out of date, you might try one of the following programs:

• Housecall Internet antivirus program.
  
  
• AVG antivirus program.
  
  
• A choice from many programs.

Housecall antivirus program

1. Open Internet Explorer and log to:
   
   
   • Housecall antivirus site.
   
   
2. Click To scan your computer without registering, please click here.
   
   
3. Choose your country, click Go.
   
   
4. Give it 5 or 10 minutes to build the first time.
   
   
5. Put checks by your hard disk drive, floppy, or zip disk letters (whatever needs scanning).
   
   
6. Click Scan and Autoclean.
   
   
7. If a boot sector virus is found, have Housecall try to clean the virus.
   
   
8. Once the virus is cleaned, restart the system.
   
   
9. Insert a floppy disk into the Floppy (A:) drive.
   
   
10. Open the My Computer icon.
    
    
11. Open the floppy (A:) drive.
    
    
12. If you can see the floppy disk, the drive is functioning.

AVG Antivirus program

If you are behind a firewall that does not permit you to use the above link or wish to use a different virus scanner, try using the antivirus program at grisoft.

• Grisoft free antivirus program.

1. Click Free Downloads.
   
   
2. Click Download AVG Free Edition.
   
   
3. Click the Download AVG Free Edition button.
   
   
4. Agree to the license agreement.
   
   
5. Register for the service.
   
   

• Select an antivirus program.

[ Return to Computer Boots to a Boot Disk ]

How to close programs using the Task Manager

• Windows 2000 and XP

1. Press and hold the [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete] keys and release simultaneously to bring up a list of all running programs.
   
   
2. Depending on the configuration of your operating system press the [Task Manager] button and click the Applications tab or just click the Applications tab
   
   
3. Highlight a program and click the [End Task] button to close one program at a time.
   
   
4. The Task Manager window will close each time you end a task, so you will need to press [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete] to open it again before you can end another task.
   
   
5. Be careful not to reboot the system by pressing the sequence TWICE without ending task on a program.
   
   
6. In Windows 2000 and XP you can safely close all programs
   
   

Note:

If you restart your computer many of the programs that you have closed will also be restarted. You may then need to run Task Manager again.

• Windows 9X and ME

1. Press and hold the [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete] keys and release at the same time to bring up a list of all running programs.
   
   
2. Highlight a program and click the [End Task] button to close one program at a time.
   
   
3. The Task Manager window will close each time you end a task, so you will need to press [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete] to open it again before you can end another task.
   
   
4. Be careful not to reboot the system by pressing the sequence TWICE without ending task on a program.
   
   
5. Close all programs except for Explorer and Systray, which are required for standard Windows 9X and ME operation.

[ Return to Desktop Floppy Drive Troubleshooting ]

How to Remove the Front Panel and Cover

The front panel or the computer cover will sometimes obstruct the floppy drive opening. To find instructions on how to remove the front bezel or cover follow the procedure below:

1. Click on the Dell support site.
   
   
   • http://support.dell.com
   
   
2. Be sure that your system is listed in the Your System section on the left.
   
   
3. Click the Documentation link.
   
   
4. Select the Removing and Replacing Parts or the Adding Parts link.
   
   
5. Select the Front Panel or Cover link.

[ Return to System Won't Boot to the Floppy Disk ]

How to Remove Floppy Drive and Cable

1. Click on the Dell support site.
   
   
   • http://support.dell.com
   
   
2. Make sure that your system is listed in the Your System section. Click the Documentation link.
   
   
3. Select the Removing and Replacing Parts or Adding Parts link.
   
   
4. Select the 3.5-Inch Floppy Drive link.

   Note:You may need to click the Drives link to get to the floppy link.

   
   

[ Return to Table of Contents ]

How to Remove or Reseat a Device in the Media or Options Bay

1. Turn the system off.
   
   
2. Remove the media device by sliding the triangle or rectangle-shaped button on the bottom of the system and pulling the drive out of the bay at the same time.
   
   
3. Replace the device and ensure that it clicks into place. If it does, the drive is correctly inserted.
   
   
4. Turn the system on again and see if the floppy drive is working.

[ Return to Ideas to Fix the Floppy Drive in Your Computer ]

Drive Boots to Floppy Disk

If the computer will boot to the floppy boot disk, the floppy drive is mechanically sound. Please follow the troubleshooting steps below to fix software issues:

1. Check for a virus:
   
   
   • Use an antivirus program.
   
   
2. Use MSCONFIG to clear Startup.
   
   
   • Clean the Startup group in windows.
   
   
3. Uninstall Bay Manager.
   
   
   • Uninstall instructions.
   
   

   Note:

   Bay Manager does not exist in Windows XP or 2000. This function is built into the operating system.

4. Try system restore.
   
   
   • System restore in Windows XP.
     
     
   • System Restore in Windows Millennium.
     
     
   • System Restore in Windows 98.
   
   

5. Reinstall the PCI Bus (Windows 98 / Windows Millennium only).
   
   
   • Instructions for reinstalling the PCI bus .
   
   
6. Reinstall the operating system according to the instructions on the system Reinstall Guide Web page.
   
   
   • Reinstall Guide Web page.
   
   

Floppy Won't Boot to a Floppy Disk

1. Reseat the drive in bay.
   
   
   • Guidance on removing or reseating media drives.
   
   
2. Check to see if the drive is present in the BIOS.
   
   
   • Look for the drive in the BIOS.
   
   
3. Try using the drive on the floppy cable, if your system shipped with one.
   
   
   • A list of systems shipped with floppy cables.
   
   
4. Try booting to the floppy disk drive while it is connected to the floppy cable.
   
   
   • How to make a boot disk.

[ Return to Drive Boots to Floppy Disk ]

• To remove Bay Manager in Windows 98 and Windows Millennium (ME):

1. Click [Start] | Settings | Control Panel and open Add/Remove Programs.



2. Click the Install/Uninstall tab and highlight the Bay Manager program.



3. Click the Add/Remove button.

[ Return to Drive Boots to Floppy Disk ]

Remove the PCI Bus

1. Click on [Start] | Settings | Control Panel
   
   
2. Click on System | Device Manager.
   
   
3. Expand System Devices.
   
   
4. Right click on PCI Bus and choose Uninstall or Remove.
   
   
5. Reboot the computer.
   
   

   Note:

   Performing this from normal mode (within Windows) can cause instability in the operating system.

[ Return to Table of Contents ]

Reply Instruction

Please [Reply] to this message to contact a Dell technician. Be sure to include the following information:

Company name (if applicable):
Owners Full name:
System service tag:
Physical address (No PO boxes, include city, state and zip code):
Telephone number (with area code):
A detailed description of your troubleshooting (step numbers will mean nothing to the assisting technician):

[ Return to Floppy Won't Boot to a Floppy Disk ]

Look for the Drive in the BIOS

Follow these steps:

1. Restart the computer.
   
   
2. When the Dell logo appears on the screen press and release [F2] several times to go into the BIOS.
   
   
3. Look for a listing of the drive on a page of the BIOS.
   
   

   Note:

   This information should be listed on the first page of the system BIOS or the drive is listed under the System Information section on the Smartstep 200N or 250N.

If the drive doesn't show in the BIOS, please go to the Reply section of this document.

[ Return to Table of Contents ]

System has an external floppy cable

The following systems have an external floppy cable for connecting the CD (RW) / DVD drive and the floppy drive to the system at the same time.

Note:

The Inspiron 4100, Inspiron 4150, Latitude C610, and Latitude C640 are not shipped with the external floppy cable. If you want one, you must purchase this separately from Dell Software and Peripherals. You can get pricing and availability information from our Software and Peripherals Web site. Go to: Dell Software and Peripherals. Choose your business segment from the United States Customers list on the right. Enter Floppy in the search box at the top of the page. You may also search the Parts for Your Dell section. Click on Parts for Your Dell. Pick your system type and model or enter your service tag for suggested products for your Dell computer. Use the Narrow your results box to refine the search. If you need further assistance, please contact: 1-800-372-3355

Return to Table of Contents

Reply to this message if your system is under warranty:

If your warranty has expired:

The Dell Software and Peripherals Web site sells floppy drives.

You can get pricing and availability information from our Software and Peripherals Web site.

Go to:

• Dell Software and Peripherals.

1. Choose your business segment from the United States Customers list on the right.

2. Enter Floppy in the search box at the top of the page.

1. Click on Parts for Your Dell.
   
   
2. Pick your system type and model or enter your service tag for suggested products for your Dell computer.
   
   
3. Use the Narrow your results box to refine the search.

If you need further assistance, please contact:

1-800-372-3355