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Recovering Data from 3.5" Floppy Disks in Windows 10

Anonymous
2020-02-25T09:48:57+00:00

Hi all,

I am trying to recover data from a number of old 3.5" disks without success. I'm using Windows 10 and both a TEAC uf000x usb floppy drive and also an unknown Toshiba drive (Listed as TEAC FD-05PUB under my hardware). Both are having the same issue - I can't open my files.

When I first insert the disk the drive buzzes away and is able to recognise the files on the disk. However when I go to open the files I get a notification saying the document can't be read. I think it may be a driver issue, as when I go to open the files the disk drive doesn't try to read the disk at all (There's no sound or light from the drive). It seems as though Windows 10 recognises the drive as an internal drive. Windows is telling me I have all the latest drivers installed.

The drives and disks seem to work fine otherwise. I've been able to save data to a disk that had some space, and on a seperate computer I'm able to see that the new file is there. I just can't open it - the drive once again won't activate.

Any fixes?

Thank you in advance,

William

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-02-25T11:06:16+00:00

    Since the files are unreadable when using two completely different FDDs, my guess is that the disks have not withstood the test of time. Using such an old and unreliable storage medium up to 2013 seems rather risky. You might have to restore the files from your external backup medium.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-02-25T10:40:20+00:00

    Thank you for the quick reply.

    It's a reading issue. I'm not able to get anything off the FDD onto the hard disk. The files are mostly Word documents (Some as recent as Word 2013) and PDF's. I've had no issues opening the same file types from other sources. In my various experiments I've been able to save a Word document from the current Office 365 onto the FDD. However when I go to open it there's no response from the drive on either computer I've tested it with, even though I'm able to see it in the index.

    Thanks again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-02-25T11:21:43+00:00

    I've used the built in drivers, which appear to be the most current I've been able to find online. 

    Thanks

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-02-25T11:15:28+00:00

    Hi, Did you use the built in Windows 10 drivers or have your downloaded the drivers from the manufacturers website for both those USB devices?

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-02-25T10:23:50+00:00

    Reading a file is one thing.

    Opening a file is another.

    To see if your PC can read a file, copy it from the FDD to your hard disk.

    Whether you can then open it depends on the type of file, if it is intact or corrupted and if you have an application than knows how to deal with it. What type is it? What is the file's full name (Name + Extension)?

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