I have a Dell Dimension 2400, on log on it comes up BIOS Version A05, Diskette Drive 0 Failure. I have taken my security & firewall off & cleared most of my files. I have downloaded loads of PC fix-its, all to no avail. What now?

Angela, January 2009

Hi Angela, I've just had the same problem with another Dell. it is because the floppy drive doesn't exist. The bios is looking for one. If you go into the Bios (on Dells, you usually press F2 immediately after you switch your PC on). On the standard screen, you will see near the bottom that 1.44 Floppy Disk Drive is shown. Remove that then save the settings.

Nigel, January 2009

Hi guys, thanks for your input but still no joy here. There is no floppy drive on the system! Tried the hard drive setup & it is as you said it should be. Will I just throw it out the window????

Angela, January 2009

Chris, as it happens, I have a doctorate in computing and used to work for Dell. But, like you say, let the lady choose for herself.

Nigel, January 2009

Nigel, no I do not have the wrong end of the stick !!! The process of elimination is a simple process, so let the lady choose for herself, the professional ( that is me ) or not !

Chris, January 2009

Angela, I think Chris may have the wrong end of the stick with your problem. If you can already get onto your PC to take off your security & firewall and also to clear off most of your files, then it is not likely to be the bi-directional cable or the power supply cable. The bios checks that drives are connected and working properly in the sense of hardware. The bios has no control over the operating system. It is therefore also not likely that Windows is corrupt. If it was Windows corrupt then the error messages would appear on startup of Windows, not at the bios level.

If you are not getting any error messages when loading up Windows, the likely chances are that the hard drive is ok.

If you take the case off (making sure it is disconnected from the mains), you can disconnect the floppy drive. There are two cables to unplug. The first is the power cable which has a small connector clipping onto the back of the floppy drive. The second cable is the flat ribbon cable. It's best to remove this from the motherboard as it's easier to get to there. When pulling the ribbon cable off the motherboard, be very careful to pull it off gently and level. Lop-siding the cable can bend the pins on the motherboard.

If, after doing this, the problem disappears, as I expect it will, you can replace the floppy drive. If the problem persists, or if you are not technically minded to carry out the above, best to take it to a local shop.

Hope the above helps.

Nigel, January 2009

This points towards a bios recognition of the boot drive, i.e. the hard drive which under dos convention is called ide 0
At start up press del or whatever key is required to enter bios, once in there check to see if the hard drive is shown as being resident as primary master = the drive make, but it will be on ide 0 as the primary master. If the drive is shown, then the problem lies with the windows operating system on your hard drive. If it is not shown then the problem could be either the hard drive is no good, the power supply to the hard
drive is no good or the ribbon cable which is bi-directional is no good. When exiting bios you need to save the settings ! report on what happens at the next boot up, you will have either sorted it, or the hard drive is corrupt. Contact me for support by email on compdoctor2005@btinternet.com

Chris, January 2009

Sometimes the Diskette Drive 0 can relate to the floppy disk drive. Obviously, if this isn't fitted, then it is likely to be your HDD. That said, the error message you are getting usually refers to hardware rather than software. Therefore, if your HDD was faulty, you wouldn't even get into Windows in order to do your virus updates etc. Therefore, I think it's a floppy drive issue.

Nigel, January 2009