Problem with diskettes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Susan
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Susan

We have a user who has a new PC running Windows XP.
Whenever she tries to save something to a diskette, she
gets a message that the diskette is not accessible and may
not be formatted. But she is using diskettes that come
formatted. She is able to use previously used diskettes,
just not new ones. Is there some setting we should know
about, or could it be a hardware problem, or what?

Thanks in advance!
 
If you can access previously used diskettes, then the
3.5" Drive is O.K. Try inserting a new diskette, click on
My Computer, highlight the 3½ Floppy and right click on
the icon. From the Drop Down Menu, chose Format and
perform a quick format on the new diskette (even if you
say they are already formatted).
See how it goes.

Poltonis
 
Susan said:
We have a user who has a new PC running Windows XP.
Whenever she tries to save something to a diskette, she
gets a message that the diskette is not accessible and may
not be formatted. But she is using diskettes that come
formatted. She is able to use previously used diskettes,
just not new ones. Is there some setting we should know
about, or could it be a hardware problem, or what?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

seems to be that floppy support is not as good in XP ...reformat the disk in
the XP machine and it should work fine
 
If you would take the time to investigate the situation you will discover how
ridiculous
your comment is. "Not as good in XP'---------ridiculous.
 
Susan said:
We have a user who has a new PC running Windows XP.
Whenever she tries to save something to a diskette, she
gets a message that the diskette is not accessible and may
not be formatted. But she is using diskettes that come
formatted. She is able to use previously used diskettes,
just not new ones. Is there some setting we should know
about, or could it be a hardware problem, or what?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I'd wager that it is a hardware problem. Typically what you describe happens
when the track-zero sensor of the floppy drive is misaligned. You see, there
is a firm set of specifications for these drives that says where each track
is to fall and if your drive does not meet these specs it will be unable to
work reliably with media that DOES meet the specs (such as your
pre-formatted media). Of course if the user re-formats the floppy on the
misaligned drive the diskette produced will probably work on THAT drive but
only on that drive and will become effectively useless for data transfer
purposes since any in-spec drive will be unable to work reliably with it.
Any competent tech should be able to re-calibrate the drive in a few minutes
if (s)he has the proper calibration media and has access to the proper
equipment but given that just the calibration media can cost as much as 6-10
new drives http://www.accurite.com/AAD.html most organizations don't bother
with such niceties and simply swap out the drive.
--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]

Return address will not work. Please
reply in group or through my website:
http://johnmcgaw.com
 
Susan said:
We have a user who has a new PC running Windows XP.
Whenever she tries to save something to a diskette, she
gets a message that the diskette is not accessible and may
not be formatted. But she is using diskettes that come
formatted.
Click to expand...

A diskette *ought* to have a 'media type' byte set in its initial
parameter block. For some reason old versions of Windows format, and
most preformatted disks leave it out. Windows 98/ME does not mind; XP
does. Way around is to reformat the diskettes in XP (r-click the drive
in My Computer, take Format)
 
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