Windows 2000 can't access floppy drive unless disk in drive when starting

[MikeBramm]

This is a really strange problem.  Windows 2000 has problems accessing my 3 1/2" floppy drive.  If I try to access a drive through Explorer or a DOS box, Windows can't read the disk.  At first I thought it was a bad drive so I removed it and tested it in another system and found it worked just fine.  I then re-installed it in the system in question and found that I can boot to the floppy drive just fine.  I then rebooted the system with a non-bootable disk in the drive.  When I received the "Non-system disk.  Remove and press any key..." prompt, I ejected the disk, let Windows start and immediately put the disk back in the drive.  Since there is now a disk in the drive as Windows is starting up, it allows access to the disk from Explorer and a DOS box.  It seems that Windows will only allow access to a floppy if it's in the drive when Windows starts up.  Installing a disk in the drive after Windows is up and running doesn't allow access.

Any ideas?

[soybean]

I would try this.  Remove the floppy disk.  Open Device Manager and uninstall the floppy drive.  Then, restart the computer.  Does Windows recognize new hardware and install it?

[MikeBramm]

Thanks for the help.  It worked perfectly.  Windows found the drive and re-installed the driver without any user intervention.

Strange thing is, while testing previously (before posting here), I uninstalled the drive from Device Manager but instead of rebooting, I clicked "Scan for hardware changes" from the context menu.  At that point, Windows found the drive and re-installed the driver but it still wouldn't work.

Thanks again for the help.

[soybean]

Glad to hear it's working.  And, by the way, welcome to the forum.  Come back anytime.