phantom floppy drive ?

Darkst4r · 6 Jan 2010 at 18:13

Hi, I have recently been given a pc to repair for a friend. I planned to do a fresh install of windows but have come across a problem. On startup I get a message about a floppy drive not being detected press f1 or f2.The pc doesnt even have a floppy drive !

I planned to disable it in the bios but I need an admin password. He bought the PC second hand so retrieving the password is nigh on impossible.

Is there a way to disable the pc from picking up the phantom floppy through windows itself ?

Ive tried disabling and uninstalling the drive and drivers in device manager but windows auto installs them again after startup.

This problem is driving me mad !

Anyone know of a fix ? I'd be most grateful !

Darkst4r · 6 Jan 2010 at 18:20

The actual startup message is "floppy diskette seek error"

me227 · 6 Jan 2010 at 18:23

Remove the battery from the motherboard and leave it unplugged for a while. Should reset the CMOS and clear the password.

Darkst4r · 6 Jan 2010 at 18:24

tried that for 3 hours but to no avail

reflux · 6 Jan 2010 at 18:25

Maybe the floppy drive controller is switched on by default. It usually is.

Darkst4r · 6 Jan 2010 at 18:34

reflux said:
Maybe the floppy drive controller is switched on by default. It usually is.

how do I fix this without having to go through bios ? ive already tried disabling and uninstalling the floppy controller via device manager.

me227 · 6 Jan 2010 at 18:38

Don't uninstall it just disable it. Worked fine for me in the past for other devices.

Are you getting this error message in Windows or while booting into Windows?

reflux · 6 Jan 2010 at 18:39

Darkst4r said:
how do I fix this without having to go through bios ? ive already tried disabling and uninstalling the floppy controller via device manager.

You need to disable it in the bios....but since you can't get into the bios

Daegan · 6 Jan 2010 at 19:05

It's probably Boot Up Floppy Seek, again an option in the BIOS. Which means having to get the BIOS password or find some way to reset it.

ns400r · 6 Jan 2010 at 20:31

Try looking up a 'backdoor' password for your BIOS.

Nicked from the first result in Google - http://www.pwcrack.com/bios.shtml

For Award BIOS’ try these backdoor passwords:

AWARD_SW
j262
HLT
SER
SKY_FOX
BIOSTAR
ALFAROME
Lkwpeter
j256
AWARD?SW
LKWPETER
syxz
ALLy
589589
589721
awkward
CONCAT
d8on
CONDO
j64
szyx

For AMI BIOS’ try these backdoor passwords:

AMI
BIOS
PASSWORD
HEWITT RAND
AMI?SW
AMI_SW
LKWPETER
A.M.I.
CONDO

For PHOENIX BIOS’ try this backdoor password:

phoenix

Darkst4r · 6 Jan 2010 at 23:12

ns400r said:
Try looking up a 'backdoor' password for your BIOS.

Nicked from the first result in Google - http://www.pwcrack.com/bios.shtml

Tried that already, no good

Darkst4r · 6 Jan 2010 at 23:14

me227 said:
Don't uninstall it just disable it. Worked fine for me in the past for other devices.

Are you getting this error message in Windows or while booting into Windows?

while booting. I dont see how the problem arose in the first place if the bios cannot be changed without the password.

No-One · 7 Jan 2010 at 00:15

Is there no CMOS reset jumper on the motherboard? Also, when you removed the battery from the motherboard, did you try disconnecting the power cable and pressing the power button?

PhillyDee · 7 Jan 2010 at 00:17

Failing that, connect a floppy drive and nail it inside the case.

Darkst4r · 7 Jan 2010 at 08:16

No-One said:
Is there no CMOS reset jumper on the motherboard? Also, when you removed the battery from the motherboard, did you try disconnecting the power cable and pressing the power button?

Not sure where to look for that, ill have a google. Thanks.

RobH · 7 Jan 2010 at 12:36

You may also be able to flash a new BIOS to the motherboard which will erase the password.