Floppy Drive A

[katherine]

Since I installed windows xp home edition, whenever I try
to read or write to my A drive, it tells me I do not have
an ID address, or that the floppy needs to be
formatted. This would wipe out all the data on the
floppy. How do I correct this problem? Thank-you.

[Sharon F]

katherine wrote:
> Since I installed windows xp home edition, whenever I try
> to read or write to my A drive, it tells me I do not have
> an ID address, or that the floppy needs to be
> formatted. This would wipe out all the data on the
> floppy. How do I correct this problem? Thank-you.

Have you tried a new floppy disk or even a different fresh disk from the
same supply? The quality of the floppy disk can deteriorate with handling
and storage conditions. If the disk is from an older supply, it may have
reached the point that it no longer usable.


--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User

[Unknown]

If the disk is from an older supply it may have reached the point that is no
longer usable? Are you saying they have a short shelf life??
"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
> katherine wrote:
> > Since I installed windows xp home edition, whenever I try
> > to read or write to my A drive, it tells me I do not have
> > an ID address, or that the floppy needs to be
> > formatted. This would wipe out all the data on the
> > floppy. How do I correct this problem? Thank-you.
>
> Have you tried a new floppy disk or even a different fresh disk from the
> same supply? The quality of the floppy disk can deteriorate with handling
> and storage conditions. If the disk is from an older supply, it may have
> reached the point that it no longer usable.
>
>
> --
> Sharon F
> Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User
>

[Sharon F]

Obviously, floppy disks that get dirty, that are placed close to an
electrical source that emits a magnetic field (speakers, for example) or are
otherwise mishandled are always at risk.

But yes, I do feel that floppy disk are not of the same quality that they
were a few short years ago. I used to keep backups on floppies for years
(still have my original DOS and Windows 3.x floppies) and was always
confident that the disks would be fine if handled properly. Now I use floppy
disks for short term storage only. I've had too many of the newer disks fail
to trust them for more than that.

Also feel that the quality of floppy disk drives has diminished. Have
received drives that are bad right out of the box. One decent name brand
drive was able to read/write but not capable of booting. The heads were not
aligned properly at the factory.

Anyhow a box of floppies is less expensive than a new drive but not by much.
If having trouble, I think it's worthwhile to try both - new disks and, if
no luck, a new drive as well.

--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User


Unknown wrote:
> If the disk is from an older supply it may have reached the point that is
no
> longer usable? Are you saying they have a short shelf life??
> "Sharon F" > wrote in message
> ...
>> katherine wrote:
>>> Since I installed windows xp home edition, whenever I try
>>> to read or write to my A drive, it tells me I do not have
>>> an ID address, or that the floppy needs to be
>>> formatted. This would wipe out all the data on the
>>> floppy. How do I correct this problem? Thank-you.
>>
>> Have you tried a new floppy disk or even a different fresh disk from the
>> same supply? The quality of the floppy disk can deteriorate with handling
>> and storage conditions. If the disk is from an older supply, it may have
>> reached the point that it no longer usable.
>>

[Unknown]

The original poster said "since I installed Windows XP HE". I interpret this
to mean everything worked OK before XP was installed. Still has same floppy
drive, same floppies etc. But now she cannot read OR write? Logic says there
is some programming causing her problem not hardware or floppy disk quality.
"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
> Obviously, floppy disks that get dirty, that are placed close to an
> electrical source that emits a magnetic field (speakers, for example) or
are
> otherwise mishandled are always at risk.
>
> But yes, I do feel that floppy disk are not of the same quality that they
> were a few short years ago. I used to keep backups on floppies for years
> (still have my original DOS and Windows 3.x floppies) and was always
> confident that the disks would be fine if handled properly. Now I use
floppy
> disks for short term storage only. I've had too many of the newer disks
fail
> to trust them for more than that.
>
> Also feel that the quality of floppy disk drives has diminished. Have
> received drives that are bad right out of the box. One decent name brand
> drive was able to read/write but not capable of booting. The heads were
not
> aligned properly at the factory.
>
> Anyhow a box of floppies is less expensive than a new drive but not by
much.
> If having trouble, I think it's worthwhile to try both - new disks and, if
> no luck, a new drive as well.
>
> --
> Sharon F
> Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User
>
>
> Unknown wrote:
> > If the disk is from an older supply it may have reached the point that
is
> no
> > longer usable? Are you saying they have a short shelf life??
> > "Sharon F" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> katherine wrote:
> >>> Since I installed windows xp home edition, whenever I try
> >>> to read or write to my A drive, it tells me I do not have
> >>> an ID address, or that the floppy needs to be
> >>> formatted. This would wipe out all the data on the
> >>> floppy. How do I correct this problem? Thank-you.
> >>
> >> Have you tried a new floppy disk or even a different fresh disk from
the
> >> same supply? The quality of the floppy disk can deteriorate with
handling
> >> and storage conditions. If the disk is from an older supply, it may
have
> >> reached the point that it no longer usable.
> >>
>

[Sharon F]

I guess I missed that part, Unknown. Thanks for pointing it out. I reacted
and responded when I read the reply where a new drive was suggested. Would
hate to see money spent when it doesn't have to be.

One suggestion for floppy drive problems that I've read about in these
groups and that's had good results for many might provide a workaround for
the OP. If they have a system accessible to them that can read the floppy
disks, copy the floppy disk contents to the hard drive. Then format a floppy
disk on the new XP machine. Take that floppy to the other machine. Copy the
data over to the floppy disk to transfer it to the XP machine.

A bit convoluted but at least it would be one way of getting the user's
important data files over to their new system.

--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User



Unknown wrote:
> The original poster said "since I installed Windows XP HE". I interpret
this
> to mean everything worked OK before XP was installed. Still has same
floppy
> drive, same floppies etc. But now she cannot read OR write? Logic says
there
> is some programming causing her problem not hardware or floppy disk
quality.
> "Sharon F" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Obviously, floppy disks that get dirty, that are placed close to an
>> electrical source that emits a magnetic field (speakers, for example) or
>> are otherwise mishandled are always at risk.
>>
>> But yes, I do feel that floppy disk are not of the same quality that they
>> were a few short years ago. I used to keep backups on floppies for years
>> (still have my original DOS and Windows 3.x floppies) and was always
>> confident that the disks would be fine if handled properly. Now I use
>> floppy disks for short term storage only. I've had too many of the newer
>> disks fail to trust them for more than that.
>>
>> Also feel that the quality of floppy disk drives has diminished. Have
>> received drives that are bad right out of the box. One decent name brand
>> drive was able to read/write but not capable of booting. The heads were
not
>> aligned properly at the factory.
>>
>> Anyhow a box of floppies is less expensive than a new drive but not by
>> much. If having trouble, I think it's worthwhile to try both - new disks
>> and, if no luck, a new drive as well.
>>
>> --
>> Sharon F
>> Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User
>>
>>
>> Unknown wrote:
>>> If the disk is from an older supply it may have reached the point that
is
>>> no longer usable? Are you saying they have a short shelf life??
>>> "Sharon F" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> katherine wrote:
>>>>> Since I installed windows xp home edition, whenever I try
>>>>> to read or write to my A drive, it tells me I do not have
>>>>> an ID address, or that the floppy needs to be
>>>>> formatted. This would wipe out all the data on the
>>>>> floppy. How do I correct this problem? Thank-you.
>>>>
>>>> Have you tried a new floppy disk or even a different fresh disk from
the
>>>> same supply? The quality of the floppy disk can deteriorate with
handling
>>>> and storage conditions. If the disk is from an older supply, it may
have
>>>> reached the point that it no longer usable.

[Unknown]

Correct. To analyze further a user should format, write, then read a floppy
on the same machine to verify its function. If for example, it cannot read a
floppy written on another drive it could be a simple head alignment problem
or even a bad driver that doesn't allow enough head settling time before
reading. On and on. A lot of facts are needed before coming to a diagnostic
conclusion..

"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
> I guess I missed that part, Unknown. Thanks for pointing it out. I reacted
> and responded when I read the reply where a new drive was suggested. Would
> hate to see money spent when it doesn't have to be.
>
> One suggestion for floppy drive problems that I've read about in these
> groups and that's had good results for many might provide a workaround for
> the OP. If they have a system accessible to them that can read the floppy
> disks, copy the floppy disk contents to the hard drive. Then format a
floppy
> disk on the new XP machine. Take that floppy to the other machine. Copy
the
> data over to the floppy disk to transfer it to the XP machine.
>
> A bit convoluted but at least it would be one way of getting the user's
> important data files over to their new system.
>
> --
> Sharon F
> Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User
>
>
>
> Unknown wrote:
> > The original poster said "since I installed Windows XP HE". I interpret
> this
> > to mean everything worked OK before XP was installed. Still has same
> floppy
> > drive, same floppies etc. But now she cannot read OR write? Logic says
> there
> > is some programming causing her problem not hardware or floppy disk
> quality.
> > "Sharon F" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Obviously, floppy disks that get dirty, that are placed close to an
> >> electrical source that emits a magnetic field (speakers, for example)
or
> >> are otherwise mishandled are always at risk.
> >>
> >> But yes, I do feel that floppy disk are not of the same quality that
they
> >> were a few short years ago. I used to keep backups on floppies for
years
> >> (still have my original DOS and Windows 3.x floppies) and was always
> >> confident that the disks would be fine if handled properly. Now I use
> >> floppy disks for short term storage only. I've had too many of the
newer
> >> disks fail to trust them for more than that.
> >>
> >> Also feel that the quality of floppy disk drives has diminished. Have
> >> received drives that are bad right out of the box. One decent name
brand
> >> drive was able to read/write but not capable of booting. The heads were
> not
> >> aligned properly at the factory.
> >>
> >> Anyhow a box of floppies is less expensive than a new drive but not by
> >> much. If having trouble, I think it's worthwhile to try both - new
disks
> >> and, if no luck, a new drive as well.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Sharon F
> >> Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User
> >>
> >>
> >> Unknown wrote:
> >>> If the disk is from an older supply it may have reached the point that
> is
> >>> no longer usable? Are you saying they have a short shelf life??
> >>> "Sharon F" > wrote in message
> >>> ...
> >>>> katherine wrote:
> >>>>> Since I installed windows xp home edition, whenever I try
> >>>>> to read or write to my A drive, it tells me I do not have
> >>>>> an ID address, or that the floppy needs to be
> >>>>> formatted. This would wipe out all the data on the
> >>>>> floppy. How do I correct this problem? Thank-you.
> >>>>
> >>>> Have you tried a new floppy disk or even a different fresh disk from
> the
> >>>> same supply? The quality of the floppy disk can deteriorate with
> handling
> >>>> and storage conditions. If the disk is from an older supply, it may
> have
> >>>> reached the point that it no longer usable.
>