Stale Directory Listings from a Floppy Drive After changing diskettes, the system keeps showing the previous disk's directory. The drive tests fine in a known-good system. What should you replace next in the original system?

Introduction / Context:
Legacy floppy subsystems rely on a disk-change signal to inform the operating system when media has been swapped. If that signal is not conveyed, the OS may continue to present cached directory entries from the prior diskette.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The suspect drive works normally in a test bench system.
• Only the original host system exhibits stale directory listings.
• Cable orientation and pin integrity are known issues in floppy setups (twist cable, pin 34 disk-change line).

Concept / Approach:

Because the drive itself is verified good, the fault likely lies in the cabling or motherboard connector that conveys the disk-change signal (commonly on pin 34). A damaged, mis-crimped, or incorrectly oriented ribbon cable can prevent the host from detecting a media change, causing persistent old directory data to be reported.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

After replacing the cable, the OS should properly detect new media and refresh the directory. If problems persist, test the motherboard floppy controller header or consider a controller add-in card.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Device driver: Unlikely if the same OS works with other drives; symptom matches a hardware signal path failure. IDE controller: Irrelevant; floppy drives are not on IDE. Power supply: Would cause broader instability, not a specific disk-change issue. None of the above: Incorrect because the cable is the most probable failure point here.

Common Pitfalls:

Reversing the cable; using a cable without the necessary twist; overlooking bent pins; assuming the drive is bad when the issue is signaling.

Final Answer:

Floppy drive ribbon cable