floppy drive

G

Guest

Just purchased a new computer with Windows XP installed; it did not come with
a
floppy drive so I bought a good new external read/write drive. I have older
floppy
disks that I created using Windows 98 and/or 2000. When I insert and try to
read
the message tells me to format, but that will erase everything! I thought
there was a way to read them with the Compatability Wizard, but I cannot
figure it out!
Help please!
 
G

Guest

Hello Richard

As the word computer is an wide understanding i think it is an Desktop.
(Although an Desktop without an A-drive is not standard, it is an little
chance that you have one.)
And that you have used the front USB port to connect to your a-drive.
This gives sometimes problems, please change to an rear or back USB port.

If not:
Do change ports at the back of your computer.

If not:
Re-install the drivers.

Still nothing:
Complain at your local store {:blush:)

If you have made an connection trough an other device, (sample an printer or
scanner) that is allready connected by USB.
Please chance that to an direct connection at back of your Desktop.

As it may appear on a laptop as well, it could be that you are using an
USB-hub to connect to your harware.
And maybe your computer suffer of cross signalling to the connected hardware.
Or signal loss.
Disconnect the USB-hub and connect directly to the laptops own USB port.

Stil nothing??
Take an beer, an deep breath and try again.
:blush:)

Greetings from the Netherlands
Frank
 
G

Guest

Hello "FlyByFrank" and thank you for answering.
I have a desktop and I am hooked up by USB cable to the back.
The floppy drive recognizes the disk, it just cannot read it, which I
think is a problem of the Windows xp o.s. Do you know about the
Compatability Wizard? These disks were originally created years ago
with Windows 98 and or Windows 2000. I can't believe this new o.s.
doesn't recognize the formats. Any more help? Thanks.
 
T

Thomas Wendell

You don't need "Compatability Wizard" to read floppies. Floppies should be
one format only, FAT12, and be readable by any and all MS-made OS's..

But disks degrade through the years, so it might be that there is no more
info on those disks. If that's the case, you're out of luck..


--
Tumppi
Reply to group
=================================================
Most learned on nntp://news.mircosoft.com
Helsinki, Finland (remove _NOSPAM)
(translations from FI/SE not always accurate)
=================================================
 
G

Guest

To: Thomas W. Thank you for the excellent advice! I have a lot of files on
the
floppy's, it's the "extensions" (i.e. .Dll, .Lst, etc.) that are the
problem. I get a
message that states"Windows cannot open the following file: "name of file
as in
"STARTUP.lst"; then it goes on to ask me if I want to open it by picking
from a list
or if I want Windows to go on the Web and try to find the program that
created it.
When I choose the Web option, it refers me to a web site for extension files
which
does not help as it only says Windows created it. Thanks again.
 
S

Sky King

Richard said:
To: Thomas W. Thank you for the excellent advice! I have a lot of files
on the floppy's, it's the "extensions" (i.e. .Dll, .Lst, etc.) that are
the problem. I get a message that states"Windows cannot open the
following file: "name of file as in "STARTUP.lst"; then it goes on to ask
me if I want to open it by picking from a list or if I want Windows to go
on the Web and try to find the program that created it. When I choose the
Web option, it refers me to a web site for extension files which does not
help as it only says Windows created it. Thanks again.

Hi, Richard;

The .lst extension is most probably what you'd guess by the extension: a
"list" of things. It may be a script or macro full of commands to execute
when that program is started/booted.

You may be able to open the file "startup.lst" with Notepad just to view the
contents --- just don't make any changes or save the file back to the
floppy.

As to associating that file extension with some program, you may not want to
rush into doing that manually. It is most likely some application on that
floppy (or whatever created it) that needs to read that file; if you force
the association of that file extension with something else the program may
not work correctly.

One last thing: while the file "startup.lst" may be safe and a valid part
of some application, you should be aware that several virus/trojan/spyware
uglies use similar naming conventions to install/infest systems. So be
careful about what it is you are trying to grab from those old floppies. <g>
 
J

Jim Macklin

Trying to open files with special extensions, such as DLL
requires the use of the correct program, it has nothing to
do with the media, floppy, CD or on the hard drive. You can
copy any file without opening (running) because the data is
there.

Whatever program used those files will find and open them as
it needs them. A DLL is a Dynamic Linked Library file and
it is a collection of files that are used by a program or
series of programs "as needed."


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message
| To: Thomas W. Thank you for the excellent advice! I have
a lot of files on
| the
| floppy's, it's the "extensions" (i.e. .Dll, .Lst, etc.)
that are the
| problem. I get a
| message that states"Windows cannot open the following
file: "name of file
| as in
| "STARTUP.lst"; then it goes on to ask me if I want to open
it by picking
| from a list
| or if I want Windows to go on the Web and try to find the
program that
| created it.
| When I choose the Web option, it refers me to a web site
for extension files
| which
| does not help as it only says Windows created it. Thanks
again.
|
| "Thomas Wendell" wrote:
|
| > You don't need "Compatability Wizard" to read floppies.
Floppies should be
| > one format only, FAT12, and be readable by any and all
MS-made OS's..
| >
| > But disks degrade through the years, so it might be that
there is no more
| > info on those disks. If that's the case, you're out of
luck..
| >
| >
| > --
| > Tumppi
| > Reply to group
| > =================================================
| > Most learned on nntp://news.mircosoft.com
| > Helsinki, Finland (remove _NOSPAM)
| > (translations from FI/SE not always accurate)
| > =================================================
| >
| >
| >
| > "Richard" <[email protected]> kirjoitti
viestissä
| >
| > > Hello "FlyByFrank" and thank you for answering.
| > > I have a desktop and I am hooked up by USB cable to
the back.
| > > The floppy drive recognizes the disk, it just cannot
read it, which I
| > > think is a problem of the Windows xp o.s. Do you know
about the
| > > Compatability Wizard? These disks were originally
created years ago
| > > with Windows 98 and or Windows 2000. I can't believe
this new o.s.
| > > doesn't recognize the formats. Any more help? Thanks.
| > >
| > > "FlyByFrank" wrote:
| > >
| > > > Hello Richard
| > > >
| > > > As the word computer is an wide understanding i
think it is an Desktop.
| > > > (Although an Desktop without an A-drive is not
standard, it is an little
| > > > chance that you have one.)
| > > > And that you have used the front USB port to connect
to your a-drive.
| > > > This gives sometimes problems, please change to an
rear or back USB
| > port.
| > > >
| > > > If not:
| > > > Do change ports at the back of your computer.
| > > >
| > > > If not:
| > > > Re-install the drivers.
| > > >
| > > > Still nothing:
| > > > Complain at your local store {:blush:)
| > > >
| > > > If you have made an connection trough an other
device, (sample an
| > printer or
| > > > scanner) that is allready connected by USB.
| > > > Please chance that to an direct connection at back
of your Desktop.
| > > >
| > > > As it may appear on a laptop as well, it could be
that you are using an
| > > > USB-hub to connect to your harware.
| > > > And maybe your computer suffer of cross signalling
to the connected
| > hardware.
| > > > Or signal loss.
| > > > Disconnect the USB-hub and connect directly to the
laptops own USB port.
| > > >
| > > > Stil nothing??
| > > > Take an beer, an deep breath and try again.
| > > > :blush:)
| > > >
| > > > Greetings from the Netherlands
| > > > Frank
| > > >
| > > >
| > > > "Richard" wrote:
| > > >
| > > > > Just purchased a new computer with Windows XP
installed; it did not
| > come with
| > > > > a
| > > > > floppy drive so I bought a good new external
read/write drive. I have
| > older
| > > > > floppy
| > > > > disks that I created using Windows 98 and/or 2000.
When I insert and
| > try to
| > > > > read
| > > > > the message tells me to format, but that will
erase everything! I
| > thought
| > > > > there was a way to read them with the
Compatability Wizard, but I
| > cannot
| > > > > figure it out!
| > > > > Help please!
| >
| >
| >
 

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