I still have a 5 1/2" drive. You just wait, I'll be the one laughing when Windows 2010 comes out on 3000 360K floppy disks!
the Microsoft meeting that determines to use floppies:
Manager: Well, Billy says we need to be more "innovative". Any suggestions?
Ronald: How about instead of annoying our customer with the software itself, we make setup as long and boring as possible, and prevent users from leaving the computer for more then 30 seconds during the installation?
Manager: Well, It's already pretty long, and the ads don't exactly scream interest, but I like the leaving the computer prevention, makes them at least see the boring ads.
Freddie: How about we make software that works fine and is easy to install?
Manager: your fired. Anyway, I suppose we should use a outdated medium...
I'd go on, but the results are obvious! Ha! Now I at least will not need to by a drive for Microsoft's innovative new removable storage system!
Anyway- back to the problem at hand
Now, somebody could have switched the CMOS setting accidentally wasn't saying you guys used 5 1/4" drives
. Let's see what info we have here:
Original:
attempts to read floppy give:
A:\ is not accessible. The floppy disk controller reported an error that is not recognized by the floppy disk drive
(PS: don't you have that backwards? wouldn't it make more sense(well, to me it would anyway) like this:
A:\ is not accessible. The floppy disk drivereported an error that is not recognized by the floppy disk controller
in any case- you replaced the floppy drive, and no longer get that error, now I am supposing you are recieving simply the generic device not ready error for A:.
Hmmm. It's a shot in the dark, but you could try a different floppy cable. I know I've had ATA hard drives have problems with bad cable, floppy drives are probably susceptible as well.
If that doesn't work, it's also possible that the Floppy disk controller has failed... (as you probably know, thats integrated on the mobo, so let's hope that isn't the case).
You could also check the CMOS for settings. I know I've had problems with settings like "floppy 3-mode support" or something. pretty much just look for floppy drive related settings.
