Reference number: CH000287

Floppy drive works in Windows but not MS-DOS.

Issue:

Floppy drive works in Windows but not MS-DOS.

Cause:

Because the floppy works in Windows this is an indication that physically your hard disk drive works. However, because the floppy does not work in MS-DOS, this can be caused by any of the below possibilities.

1. Another Hardware device connected of floppy controller not compatible with MS-DOS.
2. Not setup properly in CMOS.
3. LS120 or Super Disk is being used as floppy drive.
4. Different drive letter.

Solution:

Before following any of the steps for troubleshooting a floppy drive not working in MS-DOS, ensure that you are unable to read the floppy diskette booting to a MS-DOS prompt or exiting to a MS-DOS prompt. If you are unable to boot to a bootable floppy diskette please refer to document CH000279.

Another Hardware device connected of floppy controller not compatible with MS-DOS

Another device is connected in between the floppy and the motherboard that may not work in DOS and therefore is causing the floppy not to work.

If you have any other devices such as a tape drive connected on the floppy controller, attempt to disconnect this device.

Not setup properly in CMOS

Ensure that the floppy is setup in CMOS as 3.5" 1.44MB or similar. Also, while in CMOS, verify that the boot options are setup properly. For example, if available, boot options should read:

Floppy
CD-ROM
Hard Drive

Additional information about CMOS and how to enter can be found on our CMOS page.

LS120 or Super Disk is being used as floppy drive

If this is not a standard floppy drive and instead is a LS120 or Super Disk drive, verify that CMOS is setup properly to detect a LS120 or Super Disk drive and not a 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy diskette unless instructed otherwise by the computer manufacturer.

Autoexec.bat or Config.sys contains lines causing the floppy not to work

Verify that a line within your autoexec.bat or config.sys is causing your floppy drive not to work by temporarily renaming these files. To do this, follow the below instructions.

1. Type the below at the prompt:
   
   c: <press enter>
   cd\ <press enter>
   ren autoexec.bat autoexec.ch <press enter>
   ren config.sys config.ch <press enter>
   
   
2. Once completed, reboot the computer and attempt to access the floppy drive.

If this does resolve your issue you can leave these renamed as they are not needed by Windows 95 or above. If you have Windows 3.x, wish to determine which line is causing the floppy drive not to work, or if this did not work, rename these files back to there original names by following the below instructions

1. Type the following at the prompt:
   c: <press enter>
   cd\ <press enter>
   ren autoexec.ch autoexec.bat  <press enter>
   ren config.ch config.sys <press enter>
2. Once completed, reboot the computer and attempt to access the floppy drive.

Different drive letter

Verify that your floppy diskette drive is not being setup or placed on a different drive letter. It is possible, in some circumstances, that the floppy may be B: and not A:. At the prompt try accessing B: instead of A: