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Retrieving info from old floppy disks

Anonymous
2018-06-16T16:21:27+00:00

I am trying to retrieve info from old floppy disks on my HP laptop that is running Windows 7 using an external floppy disk drive. The drive connects without issue but the disks can't be read. I receive a message that says "you need to format the disk in drive A before you can use. Do you want to format it now?" When I hit "cancel" (I know that formatting will wipe the disk clean), the following message comes up: "A:// is not accessible. The volume does not contain a recognized file system. Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted." Can anyone help? Thanks.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. LemP 74,930 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-06-16T17:10:01+00:00

    Unfortunately, floppy disks do deteriorate to the point where they are no longer readable, but this may or may not be the case for you.

    If the floppies were created on a Win 95 system or earlier, see this article: 

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/140060/floppy-disk-is-not-accessible-not-formatted-or-not-recognized-by-windo

    See this http://www.extraparts.info/2014/11/it-quickie-diskprobe-for-windows-7-8-81.html

    You can also take a look at this page (even though it's primarily about 5.25 and 8 inch disks) and perhaps try contacting the author for specific advice:  http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/s_drives_howto.html

    The main page for the site is http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/drive.html

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2018-06-21T02:00:48+00:00

    Floppy drives are not the best way to store data,Also,after diskmgmt.msc if you still have problems,in my computer/R.click on it/properties/hardware/properties/select floppy/properties/chk for options..Plus a floppy drive,one can/should hear its activity/W. the light,if neither work,floppy drive may be corrupted..A pc shop,usually sells a used floppy drive for 5.00 or less..Most give-em away for free...

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2018-06-19T03:06:05+00:00

    Try accessing the Floppy drive [A:] or [B:] across a Network

    preferably from another Win7 or older computer

    My Win7 notebook does not have a Floppy drive

    but accesses Floppy Drive [A:] across a wired network

    with no problem.

    Also the Floppy media should be okay assuming

    not exposed to excessive heat or cold or dust.

    Lifetime of Floppy Media 50 years per my call to 3M

    yes I know 3M became Imation. My call was made

    years ago. My Floppies are still in use.

    Also try another Floppy Drive the head alignment

    may be different from the original Floppy Drive.

    And yes I have aligned Floppy Drive heads.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2018-06-16T22:30:31+00:00

    Floppy disk drives went out with XP OS...Either way,you can read the floppy,simply go to run or cmd,type: diskmgmt.msc  in msc,locate & L.click on the drive,go up to actions/all/locate "Make Active" close out.Open in my computer....

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-06-18T16:43:28+00:00

    Thanks for your suggestions. I am stuck in that the floppy disk drive is not showing up in disk management. Any idea why? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

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