cpu boot problems

[cpu doctor]

i am having trouble getting my 486dx2/66 to boot to a floppy.i am using a win 98 system to format the floppy(command com)but it gives message not ready reading drive a:.i have tryed three different floppy drives all will light up and spin but all give the same message.what could be causing this?everything in the bios looks correct but i could be wrong.could the cables be crossed?could i have driver problems?motherboard?.one note i just bought these 486,s(2) from a guy i know and both do the same thing.could i have jumper settings wrong?any help would be nice.thank you,

DOC

[golfcart]

Is the drive connected before or after the twist in the cable?

[Rat]

what files do you have on the floppy disk? to make a bootable floppy in win98, go to start/settings/control panel/add remove programs, click on the startup disk tab and click on the create start up disk button. this will give you a bootable start up disk.

rat...

[cpu doctor]

you lost me with the twist in the cable.it is connected at the split in the ribbon.the floppy i am using has command com only but it will boot 4 other 486,s that i have as well as my win98 sys.

[golfcart]

if the ribbon cable has 3 connectors, the middle one is for the "b" drive(before the twist) and the end one is for the "a" drive(after the twist). Its been a while since ive worked on a 486 but i dont think the "b" drive will work unless there is also an "a" drive connected.