Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers (
More info?)
joanrosiebar wrote:
> A novice p.c.user,I copied files from my old desk-top
> computer onto floppy disks prior to purchasing a Toshiba
> lap-top & a seperate floppy disk drive described as plug
> and play - no installation required for windows XP.
> However I find I cannot access my files using the lap-
> top. The message is "disk is not formatted would you like
> to format now?"
> On selecting "Yes" the message is "Disk cannot be
> formatted"
> I CAN access files from an identical disk copied from
> a computer belonging to a friend and also my pictures on
> a disk provided by "Boots".
> Using my old desk-top I can access all the files. It
> also tells me the disks ARE formatted.
>
> The disks involved are PC Line 3.5 DS DD
> 1.0 Mb
> Double sided Double Density
> 135 TPI Track 80
>
> I am really struggling with the lap-top, finding it
> much more complex than the desk-top. Any assistance would
> be greatly appreciated.
Courtesy of Gene Hora:
"I had the same problem with 2 XP systems, different floppy manufacturers.
I
read a long-time back on this NG a long history of the problem. Essentially
Microsoft KB 309623 says WinXP supports only 1.44MB disk format. 3-mode FD's
capable of reading/writing 720KB, 1.2MB and 1.44MB require special driver
support and support for this feature is not included in Windows XP. See
following:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309623
The writer (and I can't recall who that was) did some exhaustive research
and found a place for a driver. I downloaded that driver and it cured my
no-format problem on the PC that was giving trouble. Now both PCs can format
and read the floppy disks. Driver link (this is a download only):
http://downloads.viaarena.com/WinXPE/Oct02/XPe_3mflp132_v10.zip
Instructions as outlined in the writer's article:
1. Download driver
2. Unzip the driver - extract the file to a folder.
3. Open Windows XP's Device Manager, expand the "Floppy disk controllers"
heading, and double-click the listing for "Standard floppy disk controller."
4. Click the "Driver" tab, then click the "Update Driver" button.
5. Select the "Install from a list or specific location" radio button and
click the "Next" button.
6. Select the"Don't search. I will choose the driver to install." radio
button and click the "Next" button.
7. Click the"Have Disk" button; then, click the"Browse" button. Browse to
the location that you extracted the files to in Step 2 and double-click the
"VIA3MFPY.INF" file. The, click the"OK" button.
8. You should now have "VIA 3-mode floppy controller" highlighted in the
drivers list. Click the "Next" button to begin the driver file copy. Once
the file copy is complete, your floppy disk drive will access 3 times
(checking all 3 "modes"). This is normal. Click the "Finish" button when the
driver installation is complete.
9a. You may, or may not , have a device labeled "Unknown Device" in
the"Other Devices" heading in Device Manager. If so, continue with step 9a.
If not, skip to step 9b. If you have a device labeled "Unknown Device" in
the "Other Devices" heading in Device Manager, right-click on it and select
"Update Driver." Follow steps 5 through 8 to complete the installation of
"Floppy disk drive" (note that the naming of the driver in the drivers list
in step 8 may be different during this step - this is normal). Once you've
click the "Finish" button, continue on to step 10.
9b. If you do not have a device labeled "Unknown Device" in the "Other
Devices" heading in Device Manager, expand the "Floppy disk drives" heading
in Device Manager and double-click the listing for "floppy disk drive."
Follow steps 4 through 8 to complete the installation of "Floppy disk drive"
(note that the naming of the driver in the drivers list in step 8 may be
different during this step - this is normal). Once you've clicked the
"finish" button, continue on to step 10.
10. Reboot your PC. This should let you know if all of your hard work
REALLY paid off. Check the Device Manager one last time to be sure that you
now have the"VIA 3-mode floppy controller listed under the "Floppy disk
controllers" heading. Put a file on a floppy in Win98 (or another non-SP OS)
and you should now be able to access it in Windows XP (and vice-versa)
without issue. You made it!
If this helps anyone, the credit isn't mine -- I wish I could recall the
originator. There was much more background given about his research
including another web site. Unfortunately I only have the printed out
document. If there is any further interest in the entire article I would be
willing to scan and post it."
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram