Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit - Floppy drive driver issue

Hello!

I have been running Windows 7 build 7100 since it was released to the
public to try out. It has been running without problems, so I bought,
and installed the just released final version. However, I have found
that I can't format floppy disks, with the newly installed OS.

At first I thought that my floppy drive had gone bad, but after having
replaced the drive, with a drive from my second PC, and another drive
that I have in stock :-) as well as a new cable, I have come to the
conclusion that the problem is related to the OS.

In order to try to find the reason for the issue, I did a clean
installation of both WinXP64 and Vista x64. The problem didn't occur
when those OS'es were installed.

I even did a clean install of build 7100, to see if the problem was
there when I had that version installed. I found that the issue was
there too, but that I apparently hadn't noticed it :-)

I know that floppy disks aren't used much these days, but I find a
bootable diskette useful if I want to make a Ghost image, flash a Bios,
or disks for adding "F6 drivers" when/if I install WinXP64 or Vista etc.

I would like to know if the issue is related to my system only, AMD
"Dragon" platform :-) or it's a common problem.

My system:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

Processor AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H
RAM 2x2048 MB DDR2 SDRAM 1066 MHz OCZ
GFX Club 3D Radeon PCI-E HD4870 Extreme OC 1GB
Hard-Disk WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS
Sony Floppy drive 1.44MB
PSU Thermaltake Toughpower 750W

Kind Regards
LDJ

LDJ:
I have Win-7 Enterprise x64 and Professional x64 running without a
floppy drives installed so for testing I had to use a USB floppy. Both
systems are RTM not beta and format floppies without problems. One thing
that I noticed that when formatting a floppy there was about a 15-20 delay
from the format request and getting the format window, possibly caused by
the USB floppy drive. What you may try is go into Device Manager delete the
floppy controller and click delete files, reboot the system to reinstall the
controller. Or another possibility is a stunt that I've done inadvertently
when installing the floppy drive is reverse the cable so that pin 1 isn't
aligned on the MB & floppy drive, but you said that the drive works on
different operating systems so that shouldn't be the problem. Have a great
day.

--
Dennis Pack
Win-7 Enterprise x64, Win-7 Professional x64.
"LDJ" <> wrote in message
news:u$...
> Hello!
>
> I have been running Windows 7 build 7100 since it was released to the
> public to try out. It has been running without problems, so I bought, and
> installed the just released final version. However, I have found that I
> can't format floppy disks, with the newly installed OS.
>
> At first I thought that my floppy drive had gone bad, but after having
> replaced the drive, with a drive from my second PC, and another drive that
> I have in stock :-) as well as a new cable, I have come to the conclusion
> that the problem is related to the OS.
>
> In order to try to find the reason for the issue, I did a clean
> installation of both WinXP64 and Vista x64. The problem didn't occur when
> those OS'es were installed.
>
> I even did a clean install of build 7100, to see if the problem was there
> when I had that version installed. I found that the issue was there too,
> but that I apparently hadn't noticed it :-)
>
> I know that floppy disks aren't used much these days, but I find a
> bootable diskette useful if I want to make a Ghost image, flash a Bios, or
> disks for adding "F6 drivers" when/if I install WinXP64 or Vista etc.
>
> I would like to know if the issue is related to my system only, AMD
> "Dragon" platform :-) or it's a common problem.
>
> My system:
>
> Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
>
> Processor AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
> Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H
> RAM 2x2048 MB DDR2 SDRAM 1066 MHz OCZ
> GFX Club 3D Radeon PCI-E HD4870 Extreme OC 1GB
> Hard-Disk WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS
> Sony Floppy drive 1.44MB
> PSU Thermaltake Toughpower 750W
>
> Kind Regards
> LDJ
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
> signature database 4561 (20091031) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>


__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4561 (20091031) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

LDJ,
You are not alone.
I started having issues with floppy drives ever since I switched to AMD
motherboards. First a 790FX one and now a 770.
Couldn't figure out the root cause and I also swapped drives and cables.
I finally gave up and removed the floppy drive for good.
All I use now is an MS-DOS USB pen drive that comes in handy for BIOS
flashing and putting "F6" drivers.
Please note that neither Vista nor Win 7 need floppies any more for the F6
thing.

Carlos

"LDJ" wrote:

> Hello!
>
> I have been running Windows 7 build 7100 since it was released to the
> public to try out. It has been running without problems, so I bought,
> and installed the just released final version. However, I have found
> that I can't format floppy disks, with the newly installed OS.
>
> At first I thought that my floppy drive had gone bad, but after having
> replaced the drive, with a drive from my second PC, and another drive
> that I have in stock :-) as well as a new cable, I have come to the
> conclusion that the problem is related to the OS.
>
> In order to try to find the reason for the issue, I did a clean
> installation of both WinXP64 and Vista x64. The problem didn't occur
> when those OS'es were installed.
>
> I even did a clean install of build 7100, to see if the problem was
> there when I had that version installed. I found that the issue was
> there too, but that I apparently hadn't noticed it :-)
>
> I know that floppy disks aren't used much these days, but I find a
> bootable diskette useful if I want to make a Ghost image, flash a Bios,
> or disks for adding "F6 drivers" when/if I install WinXP64 or Vista etc.
>
> I would like to know if the issue is related to my system only, AMD
> "Dragon" platform :-) or it's a common problem.
>
> My system:
>
> Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
>
> Processor AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
> Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H
> RAM 2x2048 MB DDR2 SDRAM 1066 MHz OCZ
> GFX Club 3D Radeon PCI-E HD4870 Extreme OC 1GB
> Hard-Disk WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS
> Sony Floppy drive 1.44MB
> PSU Thermaltake Toughpower 750W
>
> Kind Regards
> LDJ
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> .
>

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:59:45 +0100, LDJ <> wrote:

>I would like to know if the issue is related to my system only, AMD
>"Dragon" platform :-) or it's a common problem.


Good question. I have not used a floppy in years, I wonder if Win7 supports
it too. Have you tried formatting it in XP mode?

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:59:45 +0100, LDJ <> wrote:

>Hello!
>
>I have been running Windows 7 build 7100 since it was released to the
>public to try out. It has been running without problems, so I bought,
>and installed the just released final version. However, I have found
>that I can't format floppy disks, with the newly installed OS.
>
>At first I thought that my floppy drive had gone bad, but after having
>replaced the drive, with a drive from my second PC, and another drive
>that I have in stock :-) as well as a new cable, I have come to the
>conclusion that the problem is related to the OS.
>
>In order to try to find the reason for the issue, I did a clean
>installation of both WinXP64 and Vista x64. The problem didn't occur
>when those OS'es were installed.
>
>I even did a clean install of build 7100, to see if the problem was
>there when I had that version installed. I found that the issue was
>there too, but that I apparently hadn't noticed it :-)
>
>I know that floppy disks aren't used much these days, but I find a
>bootable diskette useful if I want to make a Ghost image, flash a Bios,
>or disks for adding "F6 drivers" when/if I install WinXP64 or Vista etc.
>
>I would like to know if the issue is related to my system only, AMD
>"Dragon" platform :-) or it's a common problem.
>
>My system:
>
>Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
>
>Processor AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
>Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H
>RAM 2x2048 MB DDR2 SDRAM 1066 MHz OCZ
>GFX Club 3D Radeon PCI-E HD4870 Extreme OC 1GB
>Hard-Disk WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS
>Sony Floppy drive 1.44MB
>PSU Thermaltake Toughpower 750W
>
>Kind Regards
>LDJ
>

I've done both quick formats and a full format on a floppy using Windows 7 Prof
64-bit doing a "custom install" after running Windows XP Prof (32 bit). I note
that there is a floppy disk driver in the system that seems to have been
produced by Microsoft.
--ron

and you made sure things are setup / working correctly in BIOS?

sometimes floppy settings are disabled or get reset ..

also if this is USB floppy a) enable legacy mode in bios and b) sometimes
eject / re-insert the floppy will make a difference.

B is important if you have the Virtual XP stuff installed.

--
thanks
..paul

/*++

Paul Russell

--*/

"LDJ" <> wrote in message
news:u$...
> Hello!
>
> I have been running Windows 7 build 7100 since it was released to the
> public to try out. It has been running without problems, so I bought, and
> installed the just released final version. However, I have found that I
> can't format floppy disks, with the newly installed OS.
>
> At first I thought that my floppy drive had gone bad, but after having
> replaced the drive, with a drive from my second PC, and another drive that
> I have in stock :-) as well as a new cable, I have come to the conclusion
> that the problem is related to the OS.
>
> In order to try to find the reason for the issue, I did a clean
> installation of both WinXP64 and Vista x64. The problem didn't occur when
> those OS'es were installed.
>
> I even did a clean install of build 7100, to see if the problem was there
> when I had that version installed. I found that the issue was there too,
> but that I apparently hadn't noticed it :-)
>
> I know that floppy disks aren't used much these days, but I find a
> bootable diskette useful if I want to make a Ghost image, flash a Bios, or
> disks for adding "F6 drivers" when/if I install WinXP64 or Vista etc.
>
> I would like to know if the issue is related to my system only, AMD
> "Dragon" platform :-) or it's a common problem.
>
> My system:
>
> Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
>
> Processor AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
> Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H
> RAM 2x2048 MB DDR2 SDRAM 1066 MHz OCZ
> GFX Club 3D Radeon PCI-E HD4870 Extreme OC 1GB
> Hard-Disk WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS
> Sony Floppy drive 1.44MB
> PSU Thermaltake Toughpower 750W
>
> Kind Regards
> LDJ
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

"LDJ" <> wrote in message
news:u$...
> Hello!
>
> I have been running Windows 7 build 7100 since it was released to the
> public to try out. It has been running without problems, so I bought, and
> installed the just released final version. However, I have found that I
> can't format floppy disks, with the newly installed OS.
>
> At first I thought that my floppy drive had gone bad, but after having
> replaced the drive, with a drive from my second PC, and another drive that
> I have in stock :-) as well as a new cable, I have come to the conclusion
> that the problem is related to the OS.

hmmm... My PC is running W7 Ultimate 64-bit (OEM). The motherboard has an
Intel X58 chipset and there is a Sony floppy drive attached to the board's
34-pin connector that works as it should. You might have a driver/chipset
issue. Pretty tricky one, that.

Oh lordy lordy! My ample collection of 3.5" 1.44MB useable diskettes has
whittled away over the years to a mere two useable diskettes. Floppy rot.
They all die from it sooner or later.

Tony

--
Christchurch, New Zealand
email: anthony,neville@paradise,net,nz

Hello Tony!

Fierce Guppy wrote:
> "LDJ" <> wrote in message
> news:u$...

>> I have been running Windows 7 build 7100 since it was released to the
>> public to try out. It has been running without problems, so I bought,
>> and installed the just released final version. However, I have found
>> that I can't format floppy disks, with the newly installed OS.

> hmmm... My PC is running W7 Ultimate 64-bit (OEM). The motherboard
> has an Intel X58 chipset and there is a Sony floppy drive attached to
> the board's 34-pin connector that works as it should. You might have a
> driver/chipset issue. Pretty tricky one, that.

As your system, based on a different chipset, with a similar floppy
drive connected to the onboard crtl. works, I think the issue is related
to the combination of my AMD chipset (RS780D with integrated Radeon HD
3300 graphics which I have disabled) and the Windows 7 64bit OS.

I have had clean installations of both WinXP64 and Vista64 running,
where the floppy drive worked without issues.

The first thing I do, after having installed, and activated, a new OS,
is to make a Ghost image of the clean installation, and save the image
for future use. It wasn't much trouble to restore the images, in order
to test for the problem.

I probably wouldn't ever have discovered the problem, if it wasn't for
the fact that I downloaded a new BIOS version for my second PC, from my
running Window 7 machine, and copied the BIOS to a floppy diskette.

I thought that everything was fine, until I had flashed the BIOS,
rebooted the computer, and got a hair raising msg. about a corrupted
BIOS, when the machine woke up :-) I am still surprised that it didn't
die totally :-)

> Oh lordy lordy! My ample collection of 3.5" 1.44MB useable diskettes
> has whittled away over the years to a mere two useable diskettes.
> Floppy rot. They all die from it sooner or later.

My collection is on the loft. When I go, the inheritors can throw it out
:-)

Thanks for taking the time to test for the issue, and thanks to the rest
of you who replied to my msg.


Kind Regards
Leif Dahl-Jensen
AKA LDJ

I don't think there is a problem with Win 7 and floppy drives but the
default setting in Win 7 for drives without media to not be displayed.

I have an AMD 770. With Win 7 default settings neither an A: drive is
displayed nor and E: drive, my optical drive. When you insert a floppy
Win 7 doesn't scan it and show A: drive, but if you "Open" the computer
it's shown under removable drives and the A: drive can be opened from
there. I have no problem reading, writing, or formatting the floppy then.

You can change the setting in Windows Explorer to display all drives if
you so desire.


Carlos wrote:
> LDJ,
> You are not alone.
> I started having issues with floppy drives ever since I switched to AMD
> motherboards. First a 790FX one and now a 770.
> Couldn't figure out the root cause and I also swapped drives and cables.
> I finally gave up and removed the floppy drive for good.
> All I use now is an MS-DOS USB pen drive that comes in handy for BIOS
> flashing and putting "F6" drivers.
> Please note that neither Vista nor Win 7 need floppies any more for the F6
> thing.
>
> Carlos
>
> "LDJ" wrote:
>
>> Hello!
>>
>> I have been running Windows 7 build 7100 since it was released to the
>> public to try out. It has been running without problems, so I bought,
>> and installed the just released final version. However, I have found
>> that I can't format floppy disks, with the newly installed OS.
>>
>> At first I thought that my floppy drive had gone bad, but after having
>> replaced the drive, with a drive from my second PC, and another drive
>> that I have in stock :-) as well as a new cable, I have come to the
>> conclusion that the problem is related to the OS.
>>
>> In order to try to find the reason for the issue, I did a clean
>> installation of both WinXP64 and Vista x64. The problem didn't occur
>> when those OS'es were installed.
>>
>> I even did a clean install of build 7100, to see if the problem was
>> there when I had that version installed. I found that the issue was
>> there too, but that I apparently hadn't noticed it :-)
>>
>> I know that floppy disks aren't used much these days, but I find a
>> bootable diskette useful if I want to make a Ghost image, flash a Bios,
>> or disks for adding "F6 drivers" when/if I install WinXP64 or Vista etc.
>>
>> I would like to know if the issue is related to my system only, AMD
>> "Dragon" platform :-) or it's a common problem.
>>
>> My system:
>>
>> Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
>>
>> Processor AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
>> Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H
>> RAM 2x2048 MB DDR2 SDRAM 1066 MHz OCZ
>> GFX Club 3D Radeon PCI-E HD4870 Extreme OC 1GB
>> Hard-Disk WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS
>> Sony Floppy drive 1.44MB
>> PSU Thermaltake Toughpower 750W
>>
>> Kind Regards
>> LDJ
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> .
>>

Hi, LDJ.

You didn't say HOW you are trying to format a floppy in Win7.

I haven't actually formatted one recently, but the process in Win7 Ultimate
is the same as in Vista: Start | Computer | Right-click on Drive A: |
Select Format from the menu. The last choice on the Format menu is still,
"Create an MS-DOS startup disk".

Is Home Premium different?

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

"LDJ" <> wrote in message
news:u$...
> Hello!
>
> I have been running Windows 7 build 7100 since it was released to the
> public to try out. It has been running without problems, so I bought, and
> installed the just released final version. However, I have found that I
> can't format floppy disks, with the newly installed OS.
>
> At first I thought that my floppy drive had gone bad, but after having
> replaced the drive, with a drive from my second PC, and another drive that
> I have in stock :-) as well as a new cable, I have come to the conclusion
> that the problem is related to the OS.
>
> In order to try to find the reason for the issue, I did a clean
> installation of both WinXP64 and Vista x64. The problem didn't occur when
> those OS'es were installed.
>
> I even did a clean install of build 7100, to see if the problem was there
> when I had that version installed. I found that the issue was there too,
> but that I apparently hadn't noticed it :-)
>
> I know that floppy disks aren't used much these days, but I find a
> bootable diskette useful if I want to make a Ghost image, flash a Bios, or
> disks for adding "F6 drivers" when/if I install WinXP64 or Vista etc.
>
> I would like to know if the issue is related to my system only, AMD
> "Dragon" platform :-) or it's a common problem.
>
> My system:
>
> Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
>
> Processor AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
> Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H
> RAM 2x2048 MB DDR2 SDRAM 1066 MHz OCZ
> GFX Club 3D Radeon PCI-E HD4870 Extreme OC 1GB
> Hard-Disk WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS
> Sony Floppy drive 1.44MB
> PSU Thermaltake Toughpower 750W
>
> Kind Regards
> LDJ