floppy disc formatting

[gmrad]

When I try to format a floppy disk I get a message:
Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs
that are using this drive, and make sure that no window is displaying the
contents of the file.
I do not know any utility or other program that is using the drive. How can
I learn this?
I use Windows XP pro.

 

[Guest]

Is the floppy open when you are trying to format it? Put
the floppy into the computer, then just format it, dont
open it at all. You can format it from My computer, by
right clicking the floppy icon and selecting format. You
can also go START/RUN/type CMD/at the prompt type FORMAT
A: this will also format the floppy

 

[gmrad]

Thank you for your prompt reaction! No the floppy is not open when I try to
format it. I have just tried to format it using DOS level and first I have a
message that volume is in use by another process and it may be formatted
after it is dismounted. I permit it be dismounted and disd was formatted.
But you understand that it is not a solution the problem. So the question
stays how to learn what process is using the floppy drive.

 

[Dave]

Hi,

I had the same problem the other day so I restarted the PC and it sorted it.

Regards

Dave

 

[Guest]

I am guessing it is a bad floppy, try other floppies on
teh drive and try the floppies on other drives. I am
thinking either floppy or floppy drive is bad....good luck

 

[gmrad]

And you are quite right. Restart solved the problem. But what was the cause
of it? Which program used the floppy drive? It is interesting anyway, is not
it?

 

[Dave]

It is interesting, Anti Virus maybe?
Have you tried formatting one since?

 

[gmrad]

Yes. I formatted disks after restart. I do not think the problew was
connected to antivirus. I think it was connected with WinRar. I made an
archive on disks to place a big photo file on another computer and I think
now that some job was not finished. What is interesting for me how it can be
diagnosed and solved without restart if it possible.

 

[Dave]

Now you mention it - I had just run ZipGenius, but not to floppy's - that's
what was confusing me - I hadn't accessed the floppy at all...

Never mind - the beginning words of the OS are "Microsoft..." ;-)

Regards

Dave