Can floppy drives be repaired easily?

[pianowizard]

I have a really old laptop with a floppy drive that can read some (like ~20%) but not all files on every floppy disc that I have tested. I wonder if this can be fixed easily. I wish I could just discard this drive and get a new one, but it's not made any more. I tried blowing dust off the drive but that didn't solve the problem. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[elroy]

I've had some luck cleaning them with a Q-tip and alcohol. Usually you need to open the cover to see inside. You will see a place where the drive has a head that goes against the disk, at the back end, clean that. I've only done this on desktop floppy drives so I don't know how hard it would be to get a lappy floppy drive apart.

[johnnyis42]

an addition to that, if you go to a good computer store or just get lucky and they have it in stock at a place like Best Buy, there are floppy drive head cleaners that look like floppy disks but with a cleaning cloth instead of magnetic media inside them. they are usually pretty cheap (around 5 bucks) and will prevent the need to bust open the drive, although it's not really that dangerous to crack open the floppy drive if you're mechanically inclined. this little floppy cleaner thing will just make the job that much easier.

[charlielx]

Hi, floppy drives are so cheap I would just get a new one, If your hurting for money go to a local computer store I bet they would sell you a used one for $2.00 good luck.