Cannot Access Floppy Disk Drive and Removable Media After Changing Device Boot Order in the BIOS (305337)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
This article was previously published under Q305337

SYMPTOMS

If you change the primary boot device order on a computer with an Advanced Power Management-compatible (APM-compatible) BIOS from a floppy disk drive to another removable device such an an LS-120 drive, or vice versa, the devices may not function properly. For example, both drive letter A and B may operate the same drive, or you may receive an error message stating that the drive is not ready:
A:\ is not accessible. The device is not ready.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because Windows maintains a real-mode Device Control Block (DCB) for the floppy disk drives as well as using the pre-existing registry entries to enumerate the floppy disk drives.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, remove the floppy disk drive controller before you reboot the computer to change the order of the devices. If you have already changed the devices, remove the floppy disk drive controller and then reboot the computer. To remove the floppy disk drive controller:
  1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
  2. Click the Device Manager tab.
  3. Double-click Floppy Disk Controllers.
  4. Click the floppy disk controller, and then click Remove to remove the controller.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Restart your computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/14/2001
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbprb KB305337
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.