It sounds like you may have a motherboard problem. With all the drives
disconnected you should not be getting that message. Next thing I would try,
still with all the drives disconnected, I would go into the BIOS while the
computer is starting up and make sure that no drives were being indicated.
You may have to manually change the floppy ( "a" drive )to "none installed".
Then let the computer start. It should not have any message about an "a"
drive since it doesn't know that there is one. If there is a message about
"a" drive, the motherboard is suspect.

If  there is NO message, for the next start, connect only the "a" drive. If
you have a data cable with two floppy drive connectors, use the one at the
end of the cable. While starting, enter the BIOS and "install" the
appropriate "a" drive and set the boot order to have the floppy drive first.
Let the computer start and you should get a message asking to insert a disk
into "a" drive. Insert the boot disk and press "enter". If the next message
is about an "invalid system disk", there is a problem with the disk such as
bad sectors, corrupted files, missing system files, etc.  In that case
obtain a new boot disk for Windows ME. You might also want to try this with
the other floppy drive you mentioned to assure that the drive is OK and that
the disk is the problem. Also the floppy drive data cable could have a
problem and, if you have a spare, you may want to try it.

Also you mentioned that the floppy drive LED was on. If the light is staying
on, you may have the data cable reversed at the connection to the drive or
it could be another indication of a faulty data cable.

Once you can boot the computer through "a" drive, you can start reconnecting
the other drives (one at a time might be less frustrating but take more
time). Make sure the BIOS correctly acknowledges each drive as you proceed.
Good luck.

Tom Mayer

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dianne" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 11:36 AM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk


Hmmm,
I am getting very frustrated, and don't quite know what to do next.  I
removed all the connectors, the cd, hard drive and floppy and dvd.  The
computer gave me the message that I should "insert the boot diskette into
a:"  So I reconnected the a: drive, and put the boot disk in, back to same
old Invalid system disk message.  So I got another a drive from another
computer and got the same message.  The lights were on on both the a:
drives, by the way.
I cant get into safe mode because the computer will not take me to an A:
prompt.
I then disconnected the HD and connected it into an old computer.  Nothing
happens, not even an error message.  BUT.....I am not sure about the mother
board in the machine I tested it in.  The HD is a Samsung SpinPoint SV0484H.
I am afraid of trying the hard drive in my own computer, as I don't want to
mess around with it, it has all my work in it.  Any suggestions.  Would I be
better to take it in and have it diagnosed somewhere?
Dianne

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