I have a user that has an OLD HP Brio pc on her desk. She is now getting a popup messages stating that drive (3.5) a:\ is not accessible.

I added a new floppy drive same problem.

How can I narrow down what the actual problem is?

TIA,
Bill
Data cable plugged in backwards is the most common problem. Does the light stay on? Is the floppy RECOGNIZED in the BIOS? Is the power cable plugged in also?

Have you tried a different disk in it?Sorry for not providing more info.

I just went back over to the workstation, after I installed the new floppy, I initially plugged it in the drive a connector on the cable. When it didn't work also, I plugged it in to the floppy drive b connector. User said it still didn't work.

It does work. But, it is identified as a 5 1/2 floppy.

This workstation will be replace SOON, so I do have a STOP GAP in place.

Thanks anyway,
bill
What about a new cable? May be a defect in it, and they are cheap. In the BIOS/setup can you choose what kind of floppy it is? It may be correctly set on 360KB or 1.2 meg instead of 1.44 meg.I cannot get into the BIOS. It has a password. And no ONE knows what it is (I have been here 3 days!), and the previous person was only here for 1 month.

It does work now.

Thanks for your help,
Bill
OK, glad you are up and running. You might be able to clear the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery for a few minutes. Some HP's have a dip switch on the motherboard, etc.