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Format Disk

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by NeedsHelp, 2006/06/16.

  1. 2006/06/16
    NeedsHelp

    NeedsHelp Inactive Thread Starter

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    I'm trying to get to a file I have on a floppy disk. For whatever reason it's not able to open it saying the disk is not formatted. If I format the disk I will lose the files, correct?

    How do I get to the files on the floppy disk?

    Any help is appreciated!!! Thanks!!!
     
    NeedsHelp,
    #1
  2. 2006/06/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    NeedsHelp - Welcome to the Board :)

    This is the official explanation from Microsoft - which is not particularly helpful ....

    Floppy Disk is Not Accessible, Not Formatted, or Not Recognized by Windows

    The real life answer is that either your floppy disk has died/is corrupted and is unreadable or your floppy disk drive has failed.

    If you can read other floppy disks in the drive the drive is OK and there is a problem with the floppy disk. That is the first check to make.

    Second check is to try the disk in the floppy drive of another computer - even if your own floppy drive appears to be working
    Yes.

    If the problem is with the floppy disk you could try to recover the files using File Recovery - I don't know whether or not that would work.

    However - and this is at your own risk - you may be able to recover the files if you do a quick format - this only removes the entries from the file allocation table and the actual file remain intact, but invisible to Windows. The quick format will at least allow Windows to recognise the disk - given that the format actually works - and allow the file recovery program to see it too.

    Good luck - you may need it :)
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2006/06/19
    NeedsHelp

    NeedsHelp Inactive Thread Starter

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    OK, that almost works. I downloaded PC Inspector. I can see the files, I think I even managed to retrieve one. But I don't think I'm doing it right because I can't get to where I have the Save As option to move all of the files to my hard drive.

    Thanks for the help! I think I'm getting somewhere, just need to figure this program out. :eek:
     
    NeedsHelp,
    #3
  5. 2006/06/19
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    The program is not intuitive :)

    When you have found the files (screenshot 1) select them (highlight) and click on the floppy disk icon to dpen the Save dialogue box (screenshot 2)
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2006/06/19
    NeedsHelp

    NeedsHelp Inactive Thread Starter

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    After all the things I've tried, would you belive it let me do a disk copy. I have most of the files back now. A couple say they are corupted and I can't access them, but it's getting better!

    Thanks again!
     
    NeedsHelp,
    #5
  7. 2006/06/19
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    That may be the reason the disk will not read.

    Glad to hear that you are getting somewhere :)
     
    PeteC,
    #6

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