Also check to be sure:
* BIOS set to 3.5" 1.44MB floppy (which I presume you're using)
* turn off "type 3 floppy" (an odd variation used only in Japan)
if present in BIOS
* turn off "switch Drive A, B" (or similar language) if present
(this would make drive A work as drive B and vice versa)
* make sure the floppy is in the end of the cable after the
twist (due to IBM's 1981 decision to include only a 62 Watt
power supply which couldn't support both floppy drive motors
being on at once, and the clone makers who have slavishly
followed that brain-damaged design down to the present day)
You said IDE cable -- do you have an LS-120 floppy? That requires a whole
different setup and a compliant BIOS.
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