Creating A New Device Node/Not A Valid Block Device
 

I didn't realize it until now, but when I installed Debian, it didn't recognize my 3.5" floppy drive.

I know this drive works, as it's recognized in the Windows XP part of my dual-boot situation.

This issue first became a problem when I tried to format a diskette, and check its contents before doing so. No matter which set of options I set with mount, mount still gave me an error. I quickly grepped an ls of /dev, and that's when it was confirmed: there was no /dev/fd0 node.

So, I created the node:
Tried mounting it again (as root and as a normal user), and still nothing.

Any ideas as to what the cause of all this could be? Before anyone suggests it, all the cables are in snugly.

Did you update /etc/fstab as well? Otherwise the kernel won't know where to mount the new node ;)

Yup yup - it's updated.
Me making the /etc/fstab entry was what led me to discovering I didn't have a node for my floppy drive, in the first place!

Is the module floppy and ide_floppy loaded?

Now debian uses udev so this will vanish after reboot.

Those modules are loaded.
But the floppy drive is still not being recognized.