Can't open files in A drive!

[fm]

I have Win XP with all the latest updates.

Two days ago I everything was fine. Yesterday I tried to open a spreadsheet
I had in the floppy A drive and am unable to do so. A smaller spreadsheet on
the same floppy opens OK. I had worked on both of these spreadsheets the
previous day without problems. Now, when I try to access the larger
spreadsheet, the MS Works opening screen briefly appears and then disappears
and all activity in in the A drive stops. If I then try to open the smaller
spreadsheet I get the message that Works can only open one spreadsheet at a
time - which is not so as I have had several open at the same time in the
past. If I then go to Task Manager and End Task wherever wkss.exe shows I am
then able to open the small spreadsheet but still can't open the larger one.

I even tried copying the larger spreadsheet to the desktop and tried to open
it from there to no avail. I checked Properties on both spreadsheets and,
except for the name and size, found them to be identical.

Please help. I have no idea what to try next.

 

[Rob Schneider]

I have Win XP with all the latest updates.

Two days ago I everything was fine. Yesterday I tried to open a spreadsheet
I had in the floppy A drive and am unable to do so. A smaller spreadsheet on
the same floppy opens OK. I had worked on both of these spreadsheets the
previous day without problems. Now, when I try to access the larger
spreadsheet, the MS Works opening screen briefly appears and then disappears
and all activity in in the A drive stops. If I then try to open the smaller
spreadsheet I get the message that Works can only open one spreadsheet at a
time - which is not so as I have had several open at the same time in the
past. If I then go to Task Manager and End Task wherever wkss.exe shows I am
then able to open the small spreadsheet but still can't open the larger one.

I even tried copying the larger spreadsheet to the desktop and tried to open
it from there to no avail. I checked Properties on both spreadsheets and,
except for the name and size, found them to be identical.

Please help. I have no idea what to try next.

The sad truth is that current day applications don't really work
reliably when run directly off a floppy disk. I don't know about your
Works spreadsheet program, but many programs just need more "space" to
work that is typically available on a floppy disk. Word is known to
have this problem and will corrupt files that are worked on directly off
a floppy disk.

It could be that your file has become corrupted and you'll have to go to
a backup copy. I hope you have backups?

Copying the corrupted file from A: to desktop probably does just
that--copy a corrupted file--which probably is why it doesn't work for
you after copying.

The "best practice" is to store files like this on your hard disk, say
in "my documents" folder and work on them from there. Also prudent to
*copy* these files to floppy disk (if they fit) for backup purposes.
Avoid using floppy disk as a working disk.

 

[fm]

Three other things I forgot to mention.
(1) Whenever I have the referenced problem my machine slows down and
sometimes freezes.
(2) This all started after I installed the last 3 MS security updates.
(3) I Restored to a period 3 weeks ago and still had the same problem.
However, it also changed my date and time setting and said that my battery
may need to be replaced. (This was a new machine last November).

 

[Rob Schneider]

Three other things I forgot to mention.
(1) Whenever I have the referenced problem my machine slows down and
sometimes freezes.
(2) This all started after I installed the last 3 MS security updates.
(3) I Restored to a period 3 weeks ago and still had the same problem.
However, it also changed my date and time setting and said that my battery
may need to be replaced. (This was a new machine last November).

RE 1 ... a symptom of file corruption. The spreadsheet is simply
"confused".
RE 2 ... probably unrelated and a red herring.
RE 3 ... no reason to do that, probably. ensure you have the security
updates else your problems will get significantly worse.
Re date/time change ... don't know. If computer thinks batter needs
replacing, and the machine was new last November ... is it still under
warranty? Battery should last many years.

 

[fm]

--
nutzel

The sad truth is that current day applications don't really work
reliably when run directly off a floppy disk. I don't know about your
Works spreadsheet program, but many programs just need more "space" to
work that is typically available on a floppy disk. Word is known to
have this problem and will corrupt files that are worked on directly off
a floppy disk.

It could be that your file has become corrupted and you'll have to go to
a backup copy. I hope you have backups?

Copying the corrupted file from A: to desktop probably does just
that--copy a corrupted file--which probably is why it doesn't work for
you after copying.

The "best practice" is to store files like this on your hard disk, say
in "my documents" folder and work on them from there. Also prudent to
*copy* these files to floppy disk (if they fit) for backup purposes.
Avoid using floppy disk as a working disk.

I sincerely hope that you are wrong in saying the files are corrupted as I
have spent countless hours creating them. I must add that this is the second
time that this has happened but the first time I was able to correct the
problem by using Restore. Unfortunately my only backup copy is one I created
with Copy Disk and therefore gives me the same problem. The only reason I
don't store it on my hard drive is that it contains private information that
I want to be kept safe from hackers and/or viruses, although I do use 2
firewalls and Norton Antivirus.

 

[Mr Nobody]

Just for grins, why don't you insert the floppy, then run scan disk on it.
It can't hurt.
HTH
Mr Nobody

 

[George King]

I know it's "after the fact" but this is another point to
remember for future reference. If you have a Word, Office
or Works file on a floppy, open the program first and then
load the floppy file into the program. I found that if
you only double clip on the floppy file and open the
application in this manner things sometimes don't work
properly. My problem was with the loading of the printer
driver. I had a file that refused to print if I loaded
Word by double clicking the floppy file.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

If your BIOS battery has failed, and this could happen even on a new
computer, then replace it. A BIOS battery is very inexpensive. It simply
helps keep your current CMOS settings. If the battery is weak one of the
indicators is that the CMOS date reverts back to it's original time and
date. If that happens then your file on the floppy, having been created
currently, will be seen as being created in the future. Therefore it may not
open. In any event you should replace the Battery if you are warned that it
needs replacing. they cost under $10 US.

--

Harry Ohrn - MS MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

Three other things I forgot to mention.
(1) Whenever I have the referenced problem my machine slows down and
sometimes freezes.
(2) This all started after I installed the last 3 MS security updates.
(3) I Restored to a period 3 weeks ago and still had the same problem.
However, it also changed my date and time setting and said that my battery
may need to be replaced. (This was a new machine last November).

--
nutzel

I have Win XP with all the latest updates.

Two days ago I everything was fine. Yesterday I tried to open a spreadsheet
I had in the floppy A drive and am unable to do so. A smaller

spreadsheet

on
the same floppy opens OK. I had worked on both of these spreadsheets the
previous day without problems. Now, when I try to access the larger
spreadsheet, the MS Works opening screen briefly appears and then disappears
and all activity in in the A drive stops. If I then try to open the smaller
spreadsheet I get the message that Works can only open one spreadsheet

at

a
time - which is not so as I have had several open at the same time in the
past. If I then go to Task Manager and End Task wherever wkss.exe shows

I

 

[E.P. van Westendorp]

There are many people that report a problem with the floppy drive in
Windows XP.
I would try to get the files on another computer, with another drive and
preferably not Windows XP.

--

Eric P. van Westendorp Tel: +31(0252)210579
Reigerslaan 22 2215NN Voorhout Netherlands

fm wrote:
I sincerely hope that you are wrong in saying the files are corrupted as I
have spent countless hours creating them. I must add that this is the second
time that this has happened but the first time I was able to correct the
problem by using Restore. Unfortunately my only backup copy is one I created
with Copy Disk and therefore gives me the same problem. The only reason I
don't store it on my hard drive is that it contains private information that
I want to be kept safe from hackers and/or viruses, although I do use 2
firewalls and Norton Antivirus.

 

[fm]

Worth a try if I knew how to run scan disk in XP!

--
nutzel

Just for grins, why don't you insert the floppy, then run scan disk on it.
It can't hurt.
HTH
Mr Nobody

I have Win XP with all the latest updates.

Two days ago I everything was fine. Yesterday I tried to open a spreadsheet
I had in the floppy A drive and am unable to do so. A smaller

spreadsheet

on
the same floppy opens OK. I had worked on both of these spreadsheets the
previous day without problems. Now, when I try to access the larger
spreadsheet, the MS Works opening screen briefly appears and then disappears
and all activity in in the A drive stops. If I then try to open the smaller
spreadsheet I get the message that Works can only open one spreadsheet

at

a
time - which is not so as I have had several open at the same time in the
past. If I then go to Task Manager and End Task wherever wkss.exe shows

I

 

[fm]

That was one of the things I tried and it didn't work. Thanks anyway.

 

[E.P. van Westendorp]

I would do nothing with the floppy before I had the files saved on other
media.
Try to copy the files on another computer, with another floppy drive and
preferably not Windows XP.

 

[Rob Schneider]

I would do nothing with the floppy before I had the files saved on other
media.
Try to copy the files on another computer, with another floppy drive and
preferably not Windows XP.

excellent idea!