problem with floppy disk :(

M

Mollie

New Member
Ok I have about 2 years of family research on floppy disk from probably 10 years ago. I got a computer from someone that had a floppy disk drive and wanted to try and copy the info to CD. When I put the floppy's in the computer, It gives an error " A:\ inaccessible and says " no ID address mark was found on the floppy disk. Does any one know what this means????
The disk have been stored in the house in a plastic container all this time.
 
Maybe the drive is bad. Can you try another floppy drive or maybe get an external USB one to try the disk in?
 
spirit said:
Maybe the drive is bad. Can you try another floppy drive or maybe get an external USB one to try the disk in?
Click to expand...
I don't really think so. The light comes on and it acts like it is going to work and then I get the error, but I have got someone I am going to take the floppys to saturday to see if that could be the problem. This is also the original computer that these disk were made on.
 
I have a couple of drives here that do the same so they are sitting in the junk pile.
But I still have several drives that work.
 
It may be possible the floppy disk is formatted in a certain way that is unreadable by your computer, such as FAT16 or some old file system. What OS are you using?
 
Mollie said:
I don't really think so. The light comes on and it acts like it is going to work and then I get the error
Click to expand...

Just because the LED light in the drive works doesn't mean that the drive can read the disk. Try another drive, and it is possible that what Claptonman suggested is also true.
 
I am not sure if it may be a fat 16. I will be taking them to the computer they were made on tomorrow. I will go from there I guess. Thanks
 
spirit said:
Just because the LED light in the drive works doesn't mean that the drive can read the disk. Try another drive, and it is possible that what Claptonman suggested is also true.
Click to expand...
True, That's why I said I was taking them to another computer. Thanks
 
Try to read the disk using USB floppy drive as Spirit suggested.
Such as this one:
Usb_floppy_drive.jpg


Also you can use tools like NTFS4DOS which can read NTFS file system and any FAT file system and with it you can try to copy all your data from the floppy disk on your computer.
That is what I did many times in the past...
 
S.T.A.R.S. said:
Try to read the disk using USB floppy drive as Spirit suggested.
Such as this one:
Usb_floppy_drive.jpg


Also you can use tools like NTFS4DOS which can read NTFS file system and any FAT file system and with it you can try to copy all your data from the floppy disk on your computer.
That is what I did many times in the past...
Click to expand...
I have an Acer computer running Vista. I am not very computer smart. I have no Idea what NTFS4DOS is or how to use it. :( I also don't have the USB drive like you show or know any one who does. I did find the old book on that computer and I am now pretty sure that it was a 16 fat. My computer is a 32 fat. Is it easy to use the NTFS4DOS? Sorry to be so dumb about this. If I convert that old computer from 16 to 32 will it destroy any programs already on that computer?
 
NTFS4DOS is a bootable tool you burn to a blank CD drive and boot from it.
In there you have nice options you can use to get to your data.It looks like this:
ntfs4dos.png


NTFS4DOS is not a tool from Microsoft.
It was designed from someone else.Can't remember the name right now.
A pure DOS designed from Microsoft was not able to access NTFS file system.NTFS4DOS can do that!

Anyway I like it a LOT because it can access ANY FAT file system and NTFS file system! :rolleyes:
It just rules!
I am using it for years and it has never let me down.

Of course it does require some knowledge in order to use it,but let's face it...recovering data like in your case is NEVER easy as one keyboard click so you have no choice but to learn how to use it properly.

Here is a download link:

http://computerfixpro.com/recoverytool.html
 
S.T.A.R.S. said:
NTFS4DOS is a bootable tool you burn to a blank CD drive and boot from it.
In there you have nice options you can use to get to your data.It looks like this:
ntfs4dos.png


NTFS4DOS is not a tool from Microsoft.
It was designed from someone else.Can't remember the name right now.
A pure DOS designed from Microsoft was not able to access NTFS file system.NTFS4DOS can do that!

Anyway I like it a LOT because it can access ANY FAT file system and NTFS file system! :rolleyes:
It just rules!
I am using it for years and it has never let me down.

Of course it does require some knowledge in order to use it,but let's face it...recovering data like in your case is NEVER easy as one keyboard click so you have no choice but to learn how to use it properly.

Here is a download link:

http://computerfixpro.com/recoverytool.html
Click to expand...
I will have to try that if I can't get it off the old computer. Do you know if I convert the old computer from 16 to 32 fat of it will destroy the programs already on there?
 
Mollie said:
I will have to try that if I can't get it off the old computer. Do you know if I convert the old computer from 16 to 32 fat of it will destroy the programs already on there?
Click to expand...

The data loss will probably occur IF you convert newer file system to the older file system such as NTFS to FAT32.
But the opposite should cause no problems...

But why would you convert your computer to FAT32?
Why not use NTFS instead?
 
S.T.A.R.S. said:
The data loss will probably occur IF you convert newer file system to the older file system such as NTFS to FAT32.
But the opposite should cause no problems...

But why would you convert your computer to FAT32?
Why not use NTFS instead?
Click to expand...
The Old computer the disk were made on I am pretty sure is a fat 16. The book that came with it says I can convert it to a fat 32. I thought if I could convert it to the fat 32, then back up the program the family tree is on and then make copies. Grasping at straws here.lol
 
If this is that important to you just take it to a local Professional computer repair joint and for a couple of bucks they will make you a copy on CD and most likely while you wait.

What ever you do don't be changing the format of the floppy or try any writing onto it because if you mess up you will regret it.
 
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