Faulty floppy disk?

[GSDog]

Hi all.

I bought a floppy disk drive (FDD) about 18 months ago and I installed it on my desktop PC, which I sold to my dad a few months ago. I never really needed to use the FDD, but my dad just told me that it doesn't seem to be working properly.
The PC can see the FDD fine, but when I put a floppy disk inside the drive, it can't seem to see the disk. I remember this happened shortly after buying the drive, but as I didn't need it I didn't bother trying to fix it.

What could cause this?
Do I need any drivers for it?
Do you think it is faulty?

Many thanks.

 

[BillytheImpaler]

Nah the drivers for a floppy controller have probably been in the kernel since NT3. My bet it that it's just plain defective.

 

[GhostlyPea]

Tempted to agree with Billy providing --> tried a different disk? may sound stupid but just to rule it out. Also i'd try a different cable if you can, if not new drives are dead cheap anyway

- Pea0n

 

[thefishdude]

has it ever workied ? if no then cable is prob in wrong way round on the back its easily done.

if yes it did work now doesnt then probably faulty fdd.

 

[r0cky]

Floppies and their drives are so unreliable, do you really need to get it working? How about a USB memory stick for your dad?

 

[Ch3m1c4L]

unplug cable, flip over, then put back in.
You can tell if the cable is in the wrong way round as the green light will come on solidly at boot but will not read a disk (iirc)

 

[GSDog]

I don't think the drive has ever worked, so it could be the cable in the wrong way.
I will try it tomorrow and if it still doesn't work then I will just buy a new one.

I do remember the green light coming on though.

 

[BillytheImpaler]

If you get a new one, get a USB floppy drive. It's loads better and you don't have to screw around with nasty floppy ribbon and power cables.