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Hello,
Every time I boot turn on my computer it always gives me:A: DRIVE ERROR
B: DRIVE ERRORafter it does the memory test. My A: is a 5.25" 1.2mb FDD and my B: is a 3.5" 1.44mb FDD. I have messed up my computer and now it won't boot, even though everything works properly. The boot disk I have is for B:, but my BIOS does not allow booting from B:.
I need to make B: A: and A: B: so that my 3.5" FDD is A: and either the 5.25" FDD is disabled or switched. Don't FDD's have jumpers for Master and Slave? If it involves switching jumpers, I need to know the jumper settings. Can anyone help me?Thanks,
jkidP.S. I don't know if this will help, but my computer was manufactured by IBM. Perhaps they will have something on thier web site?
Changing the boot drive from CMOS might not be an option on older machines.
Floppies aren't jumpered as 'master & slave' (afaik) - depends on the physical placement on the ribbon cable - after the 'twist' is the A: or boot drive.Depending on the cable, you may be able to switch positions, 5¼" & 3½" drives usually have different style connectors (edge vs pin).
You might try bboot.
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Have you checked the BIOS settings to make sure the "A:" drive is still listed as 5.25" 1.2mb FDD and "B:" drive is listed is a 3.5" 1.44mb FDD? Have you reseated all connectors on the floppy drive data(ribbon)cable and the power cables going to them?
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That what I said in initial reply hwood!, the 5.25 drive is usually at end of cable 3.5 drive middle and the priority is listed in BIOS.
I presume this unknown PC does support 1.2MB 5.25 floppy drives??
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It's a 486... so it'll support any of the standard FDDs, from 360K to 1.44M
A: DRIVE ERROR
B: DRIVE ERRORdoes not sound good though - either (as suggested) the CMOS is misconfigured or there could be a mechanical problem with the drives or cables.
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Either format of fdd can be A:, and therefore booted from.
This is determined by which connector is used on the interface cable, and the bios setup asto what type of drive is connected.
When the pc boots, do either of the drives's leds light up, when the pc tries to access?
I would check carefully all the connections on the interface cable (there are 5 maximum), the mobo and fdd's. Is it possible a pin has been bent when you were disconnecting/connecting
Good luck - Keep us posted.
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Once you're done with the HardWare configuration you may need this:
ftp://ftp.uwasa.fi/pc/bootutil/boot_b.zipI had the opportunity to mention it not so long ago, sorry if that
sounds redundant but that was handy when i needed it myself... :)
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I'm having after thoughts relatively to the hardware configuration
issues. 1st, i'm wondering if the floppy cable wouldn't be one of
those without any cross-wiring at all - is it 100 % flat?... 2nd,
was there a B; drive in it before you began your modifications and
3rd, is that one of those machines which came with a configuration
diskette? I find that taking note of any jumper positions if it's
still untouched usually makes my LEGACY hobby less frustrating but
it is too late, i guess, to recommend you the same. :( Anyway, i
suggest that it may help to know what model it is exactly, so that
no doubt remains about special diskettes... I wish you goog luck!
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<bicephale>
1) There is a 'twist' in the ribbon cable just before the location of the FDD connecters at the end.2) Yes, there was a drive B: to start with
3) Not sure if it came with a configuration diskette. I have not moved the jumpers on the FDD units. By the way, they are fully operational. All I really need is a 3.5" floppy drive, but if that breaks, I can just get a new one. Model number won't do any good here-it's a custom built computer. But, here are some of the specs of my system
CPU: 486
CLOCK SPEED: 66 MHz
MEDIA SOURCES: cd-rom, 5.25" floppy, 3.50" floppy
MANUFACTURED BY: IBMI doubt this has anything to do with it, but here is some of my BIOS specs
MANUFACTURE: AMERICAN MEGATRENDS INC. (AMI)
VERSION: v2.0
COPYWRITE: 199240-0220-001107-111192-OPT495SX-F.
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HI all
On your first post 'I have messed up my computer and now it won't boot' . Was this before or after the floppy errors? If before did you mess with the hardware and if so what? If before messing with hardware you likely have a bad floppy drive.You should be able to disconect the 51/4" drive and place the 31/2" drive at end connector. you will then need to enter bios setup and change drive A: type to 31/2".
it should then boot to it if A: is listed as first boot device.Most 31/2" drives have not jumpers, the 51/4" drives may. If you have not messed with the jumpers, they would be correct.
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My 3.5" FDD is now at the end of the cable, but it still says "A: DRIVE ERROR" I know my drive still works, because now the "busy indicater" lights up after the memory test. This was after the computer would not boot. I did not tinker with any of the hardware in the computer.
Thanks,
jkid
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So it's a cross-wired floppy cable and it had two drives connected.
Fine, but the IBM world is vast! You should look for a type/model:
i've read that the floppy drive for one model won't do with another
and yet a drive for the later suits both!!! Oh, and not to mention
some 34 vs 40 pins cable issue. I'll confess i'm curious about how
it all started as well... Anyway, we won't know what the Reference
or Diagnostic Diskette(s) accomplish until you've found out what it
is. Visit ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/ or ftp.ps-2.org/ibm-ps2/
and search the /refdisks/ directory (that's where the IBM diskettes
happen to be), www.tavi.co.uk/ps2pages/ wouldn't hurt neither. ;^)
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If the light remains on that means the cable is on backwards. Reverse it so that 'pin 1' mates to the coloured edge of the cable.
Seriously, I think that you are making this seem much more complicated than it is.
If it's not an IBM PS2 model then it uses standard cables.
Reference disks aren't necessaray - you have CMOS setup, right?
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HI all
"I know my drive still works, because now the "busy indicater" lights" that is an assumption that might not be correct! The only way to know would be to put it in different comp to see.the error would indicate to me one of 3 items
likely bad. 1)FDD controler 2)FDD cable 3)floppy drive. 4)power supply 5)bios not set correctly
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Seriously, jboy... You, me and x86 we can't tell it's no PS/2; me
and topfarmer had to wonder about the background and i believe it's
not possible to conclude to cable reversal until it's clear the FDD
light stays on... There's been non-standard cables/drives in other
brands anyway and hence that's more reason to ask about type/model;
also, i've used `Boot_B.ZIP', not the rest of "BBoot"... At least,
i realize now there's the AMI CMOS Setup, contrary to my 8556/56SX;
i suppose my attention was focused on fighting Computing.Net's Web
interface!!! Well, i do know this: jkid did ask about IBM's site,
etc., as it might make life simple, now or later. :) No kidding!
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For some reason I'm reminded of a page in my (now very old) copy of "Repairing PCs for Dummies"
Changing a floppy drive:
tools required - screwdriver
IQ required - 90
Carry on, and good luck.
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