Ref: 02880024
Title: Compaq Floppy Drive Hangs After Process Finishes
date: 1/3/90

Copyright 3Com Corporation, 1991.  All rights reserved.

Compaq 386 computers may develop an intermittent problem when
accessing floppy drives.  The drive appears to work okay but as
soon as a process is finished the drive hangs and the machine
needs to be rebooted, either by pressing the Reset button or
powering off the computer and turning it on again.

The problem is not in the drivers or TSRs (terminate and stay
resident programs), but in the hardware.  The Compaq 386 computer
uses 5 1/4" drives.  Occasionally, one of the two legs that fits
into the notches on either side of the floppy read area (the oblong
cutout) may break.  Then the central spindle mechanism grips or rubs
against the sleeve and causes the drive to hang.

