02B0 DISKETTE DRIVE A ERROR

Are you able to access your disk drive from Windows?

If not, to eliminate software causes for your floppy problems, see if you can boot the computer to the Dell Diagnostics disk. If you can, and you get to the Diagnostics menu, choose the option for "Run Specific Tests", hilight the option for floppy, press the letter 'R', and then the letter 'O'. Follow the instructions given. If you get a failure, I need to full syntax of the error. You can download a copy of Dell Diagnostics from the File Library.

If the system will not boot to the floppy drive, When the system is starting, as soon as you see the keyboard lights flash, press and hold the left CTRL key. You will see a list of start up options. Strike the F8 key (at the top of the keyboard) immediately. You will see a list of start up options. Select "Safe Mode Command Prompt Only" and that should take you to a C:\ prompt. Type in A:, and press Enter. See if you can access the drive in DOS.

If you still can't, we will need to reseat the floppy drive cables. First, you will need to open the case. After turning off the power and unplugging the computer, lay it flat down on its side to your right as you are facing it from the front. Locate the small round thumbscrew on the back of the computer near the cords and unscrew it as far as it will go. Then, push in the tab in the right rear corner of that side panel (which is now facing up). Hold it in with your right thumb, and with your left palm give the broad surface of that side panel several sharp slaps down and away from you, towards the back of the computer, until you begin to see some movement. Do the same for the left side of the panel, holding the tab in with your thumb and slapping the panel until it moves there as well. Alternate between the two sides until a gap appears in between the side panel and the front cover. It should move about an inch and then lift straight off of the computer.

On the inside, you should see a cable going between the floppy drive and the motherboard. On both ends of the cable, unplug and then replug the cable back to the connector. Replace the cover, and see if you can boot to the Diagnostics disk.

For the Dimension XPS R___, T___(r), & B___r and the Dimension Vxxx/c & 4100 series computers, try removing the front bezel and see if this allows you to access the floppy drive. With the computer flat on its side, you will notice that, along the metal strip where the plastic of the face plate meets the metal of the chassis, there are three arrows engraved in the metal. These point to indentations in the chassis. Now that you have located them, stand the computer up straight and face the front. With your fingers, push in at those spots until you feel the catches release. Peel the entire face plate off to the right. Try and boot to the floppy drive again. If you can now, replace the bezel, eject the disk, and try again. If you still can, then your bezel just needed to be reseated. If you can boot to the floopy drive when the bezel is off, but not while it's on, then we need to replace your front bezel.

If you still can't, you will want to contact Dell Technical Support for service.