floppy problems

[ian kirkby]

i have some floppys that i used to store files on a win 98 machine with FAT
but i cant accsess them on my win xp pro machine using NTFS is this because
of the diffrent file systems ???
the message i get is "this disk must be formatted"
which i try and then i get " windows was unable to completethe format"
these disks are not write protected.

thanks ian

 

[R. McCarty]

Floppies use their own type of FAT system called FAT-16.
The type of hard drive file system has no effect on Floppies.
If you need data off the Floppies, copy them to your hard
drive on the Windows 98 machine ( Assuming you did not
damage the data with a format attempt). Then Format new
floppies on the XP machine. Take those to the old PC and
copy the data back from the hard drive. Afterwards, you
should be able to read them on the XP computer.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

i have some floppys that i used to store files on a win 98 machine
with FAT but i cant accsess them on my win xp pro machine using NTFS
is this because of the diffrent file systems ???

No. Regardless of what operating system you have installed or
what file system is on the hard drive, standard floppies all use
the same file system--FAT12.

the message i get is "this disk must be formatted"
which i try and then i get " windows was unable to completethe format"
these disks are not write protected.

There may be an incompatibility in the way the two diskette
*drives* are aligned, preventing reading of a diskette created on
the other drive.

Also read http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=140060

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Floppies use their own type of FAT system called FAT-16.

Sorry, but that's not correct. Standard floppies use FAT12.

 

[ian kirkby]

do you know why i would still get this message it only happens since
changing my second machine to win xp pro with ntfs?

 

[Ken Blake]

In

do you know why i would still get this message it only happens since
changing my second machine to win xp pro with ntfs?

The only things I can suggest are at the end of my previous
message, quoted below.

 

[Frank]

I would highly suggest that you know what you are talking about.

Command Prompt. run format a: then read the second from the end.

The actual "File Allocation Table" structure is a relatively simple
structure, as are all of the FAT structures really. The FAT is a
simple array of 12-bit, 16-bit or 32-bit data elements. Usually there
will be two identical copies of the FAT.

Floppies use their own type of FAT system called FAT-16.
The type of hard drive file system has no effect on Floppies.
If you need data off the Floppies, copy them to your hard
drive on the Windows 98 machine ( Assuming you did not
damage the data with a format attempt). Then Format new
floppies on the XP machine. Take those to the old PC and
copy the data back from the hard drive. Afterwards, you
should be able to read them on the XP computer.

with this

This has nothing to do with the file systems.

Try the links below

In Win XP Will not read floppy drives or diskettes.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;282470

Floppy will not format under Win XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm



http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;140060&Product=win2000