Changed Motherboard battery -- Floppy diskette seek failure

Question

I replaced the motherboard battery on my OptiPlex 745 and received the Floppy diskette seek failure message. I went into Setup and made sure the boot was set to the SATA hard drive. However, every time that I restart the computer, it gives me the same message. What am I missing or is there something else I should change so the desktop will boot to Windows. Thanks.

bradthetechnut · Accepted Answer

If you chose Win7 fresh install, it's too raw to do much of anything without Microsoft sending updates to it anymore. Some settings won't work and it's difficult to use the internet. If you had a fully working Win7, you'd have to run your own security software.

On a working PC, download Win10 ISO to a 8GB or bigger blank flash drive formatted to FAT32. They often come that way anyway. Download Windows 10 Disc Image (ISO File) Microsoft site Boot from flash drive on your 745 to load Win10.

When a window pops up asking what partition to load Win10 on, delete all previous partitions. Then click on Next or Install. Win10 will then automatically create the appropriate partitions and load. When a window pops up asking for product key, click on link that says "I do not have a product key." Win10 will then continue to install using the product key that's imbedded in BIOS.

gbaileybna · Answer

Thanks. Will check that when i restart. Crazy thing is that I was offered an upgrade to W10 -- then Dell said they wouldn't support this box running Windows 10.

JOcean · Answer

If you are running Windows 10 then the first choice in the boot menu should be Windows Boot Manager.

redxps630 · Answer

enter bios>drive>diskette drive and choose OFF, save changes, exit bios.  when you replace battery you need to take out old battery, pc then loses battery power completely for a brief time duration and bios defaults to factory setting which is FDD enabled.

bradthetechnut · Answer

Check connections and reseat them. Redxps advice will eliminate the error at startup. But if want to use the drive, it needs to be on. There is the possibility that turning it off BIOS, Save changes, then turn back on again, Save changes, may fix it. Also, drive may be worn causing the error message.

Unsupported doesn't always mean not working (Win10). Just that the 745 was introduced before then. A 380 can run Win10, just not very well.

gbaileybna · Answer

Question then would be: Would I be better off to wipe the hard drive and reinstall Windows 7? Because Dell doesn't support Windows 10 on this box, I cannot update the BIOS.

redxps630 · Answer

you do not need Dell support to install Windows 10 on 745.  I have installed Win 10 on 745 more than 20 times.  It works if cpu is core 2 duo.  you do not need any Dell driver as the default Microsoft driver installed by Win 10 automatically works well.  otoh if you chose to install Win 7 that would be more inconvenient because Win 7 often does not automatically install many drivers and you have to manually search on Dell driver site to guess which one you need and install on your own.  Win 7 is also not safe on internet at all.

bradthetechnut · Answer

Your welcome and always happy to help.  : )

gbaileybna · Answer

This is excellent advice and many thanks for the follow up.

gbaileybna · Answer

I backed up my computer, wiped it clean and followed the instructions to reinstall Windows. After loading Windows, i received the same error and realized that I needed to change the boot sequence back to the hard drive. After doing so, however, I received the same 'floppy diskette seek failure message.' So I hit F1 to continue and the computer appears to be loading Windows. Is there any other way to resolve the 'floppy diskette' message?

bradthetechnut · Answer

May be try disconnecting it if you don't want to use it? Tried any disks in it to see if it works? Try replacing it if you want to.

The floppy disks can be so unreliable not a one of mine held on to data from the 2000's.

Chino de Oro · Answer

You may try the solution offered by redxps630, go to BIOS and turn off your diskette drive.

The error message would displayed at every boot if your machine doesn't have a floppy disk drive but it turned ON in BIOS.

bradthetechnut · Answer

The error message would displayed at every boot if your machine doesn't have a floppy disk drive but it turned ON in BIOS." - Quite true

What made me think of disconnecting floppy drive is my previous 755 had a card reader in its place. I then replaced it with USB 3.0, so nothing connected where the card reader was connected. USB 3.0 via PCIe card in the back and front USB 3.0 ports plugged into PCIe card. No error messages.

The error message mentioned Chino mentioned if disconnected, but still on in BIOS, is still quite possible.

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Changed Motherboard battery -- Floppy diskette seek failure

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