Floppy disk error

[SandiF]

I put in a floppy disk in my computer Floppy Disk drive to red some files I added to it today and got this error "No ID address mark found on the floppy disk." I went to the command prompt to read the A: drive and got the same error. Anyone ever seen this error before?

This is not the first that I've noticed that my computer FD does not read a floppy disk. Could it be something wrong with the FD, since I can read the contents of the floppy on computer?

[SandiF]

Re: Floppy disk error

This is interesting...I found an article from Microsoft on how to fix this problem. I'm usually leery about changing the regedit settings, especially when it's some type of systemm default. Going to give it a try, but if any of you tech heads familiar with this, let me know.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811840

Edit to add...
According to the instructions I must change the lines that begin with 0030 and 0078 ... thing is I don't see see 4 bytes with 0078.

Edit again...
Someone help me with this ... I was actually in the wrong section...good thing I did not change anything. Anyway, each time I changed one of the binary values, it changed all the other values. I'm afraid of screwing this up...need [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/helpsmilie.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Floppy disk error

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is interesting...I found an article from Microsoft on how to fix this problem. I'm usually leery about changing the regedit settings, especially when it's some type of systemm default. Going to give it a try, but if any of you tech heads familiar with this, let me know.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811840

Edit to add...
According to the instructions I must change the lines that begin with 0030 and 0078 ... thing is I don't see see 4 bytes with 0078.

Edit again...
Someone help me with this ... I was actually in the wrong section...good thing I did not change anything. Anyway, each time I changed one of the binary values, it changed all the other values. I'm afraid of screwing this up...need [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/helpsmilie.gif[/img] </div></div>

<span style='font-size: 17pt'><span style="color: #990000"><u>Don't edit</u></span></span> the registry. I don't think that is your problem.
Have you made any kind of changes to your computer?

<span style='font-size: 14pt'>Moved it
Turn it upside down</span>?

I think it is a format error.
Try full formatting the floppy disk.

I have never had this error but I am looking into it, just don’t edit your Registry yet!

[SandiF]

Re: Floppy disk error

I've exit the registry edit and not changed a thing...mi did get scared of messing up.

The only moving was sliding it out a few times to access the back. This is what I've noticed with the flopp drive...if I format a disk (even though I may have used it several times previously), it'll work in the computer. But, if I stick the said floppy disk in my laptop FD to read/write files, or use it in the old mavica digital camera that uses a floppy disk and insert the disk back into this computer...well, the computer will act as if the floppy disk has never been used and never been formatted. For a while I kept thinking something is wrong with these floppy disks but it definitely seem like it's the computer's floppy drive.

Thanks for the help TG...I'd really love to nail this problem.

[LinSkinny]

Re: Floppy disk error

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I put in a floppy disk in my computer Floppy Disk drive to drive some files I added to it today and got this error "No ID address mark found on the floppy disk." I went to the command prompt to read the A: drive and got the same error. Anyone ever seen this error before?

This is not the first that I've noticed that my computer FD does not read a floppy disk. Could it be something wrong with the FD, since I can read the contents of the floppy on computer? </div></div>

Common issue when the drive hasn't been used in a while. First thing I'd do is try the floppy in another drive, before changing anything in the registry. If it works in the other drive, then I'd change the registry. On the other hand if it doesn't work, then chances are your drive is bad. Even if the floppy was good before, when you put it in your drive, it screws up the floppy. You could probably format it, but if the drive is bad, the floppy might only work on your drive. In the old days there used to be a program that could fix that ID address error. It was called Pctools and they were bought out by Norton taken out of the market (or competition). If you can find an old copy of Norton Disk Doctor, you might be able to save it. BTW, just because you can get a DIR listing, (which is what I think you mean by 'contents') it doesn't mean you can actually access the data. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img] If you want a new floppy drive, they are cheap and actually work by usb connection now, or you can order one to replace the one you have. Also check the bios settings and floppy cables. Depending on how the cable is setup, it can handle one or two floppy drives. If either the bios or cable isn't setup properly, it could also cause the error. Bios issue is pretty common with the AMI BIOS and I've fixed cable issues multiple times when someone put in the cable improperly.

[SandiF]

Re: Floppy disk error

It's been a couple months since I stuck a floppy disk in the drive. The diskette works okay in my laptop...I can read the files that are on it. The same disketee was used yesterday to store pictures taken with the old mavica camera...I can read/view the pics if I stick the diskette back in the camera.

When I tried the registry following the Microsoft's instructions, if I changed the two 4-digit binary numbers, all the other binary numbers changed. I did not want to take the risk when I saw that happened. Tonight when I get home I'll work on it some more and thanks for the help.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LinSkinny</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Common issue when the drive hasn't been used in a while. First thing I'd do is try the floppy in another drive, before changing anything in the registry. If it works in the other drive, then I'd change the registry. On the other hand if it doesn't work, then chances are your drive is bad. Even if the floppy was good before, when you put it in your drive, it screws up the floppy. You could probably format it, but if the drive is bad, the floppy might only work on your drive. In the old days there used to be a program that could fix that ID address error. It was called Pctools and they were bought out by Norton taken out of the market (or competition). If you can find an old copy of Norton Disk Doctor, you might be able to save it. BTW, just because you can get a DIR listing, (which is what I think you mean by 'contents') it doesn't mean you can actually access the data. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img] If you want a new floppy drive, they are cheap and actually work by usb connection now, or you can order one to replace the one you have. Also check the bios settings and floppy cables. Depending on how the cable is setup, it can handle one or two floppy drives. If either the bios or cable isn't setup properly, it could also cause the error. Bios issue is pretty common with the AMI BIOS and I've fixed cable issues multiple times when someone put in the cable improperly. </div></div>

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Floppy disk error

From my POV it is a Formatting/Read issue.
Could be that the Cable on the Floppy Disk has come undone/gone bad.
The Floppy Disk might have gone bad because the dirt on the optical sensor due to lack of use.
Windows itself might have lost the floppy drive location.

Before you do you any Registry Changes do a couple of things.
Look to see if the Floppy Drive is in the Hardware Profiles:

Control Panel or Right Click on My Computer
System
Device Manager
Hardware Tab
Floppy Disk Drive

If you see it
Click the + sign
When the standard Floppy Disk drive shows up Right Click on it and select update driver, allow windows to check windows update service to see if you can get an updated driver.

If it is not there, then ask Windows to scan for Hardware Changes or New Hardware.
If it does not find it open the case and try to attach the cable more firmly (dust can get between the Cable and the Contacts, so this is something else to consider).

[LinSkinny]

Re: Floppy disk error

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's been a couple months since I stuck a floppy disk in the drive. The diskette works okay in my laptop...I can read the files that are on it. The same disketee was used yesterday to store pictures taken with the old mavica camera...I can read/view the pics if I stick the diskette back in the camera.

When I tried the registry following the Microsoft's instructions, if I changed the two 4-digit binary numbers, all the other binary numbers changed. I did not want to take the risk when I saw that happened. Tonight when I get home I'll work on it some more and thanks for the help.
</div></div>

Ok, since you can read the disk elsewhere, try everything listed above with the cables, bios, registry etc. General rule of thumb. Change one thing at a time. Write it down. If it doesn't help. Change it back to the original value. That way you don't introduce other problems. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img] In the registry, you usually have a choice of Hex or Decimal in the data value. Make sure you have selected the proper choice and type what the instructions tell you. Sometimes just vacuuming the dust out of the drive will make it work. If you see how much dust can build up in there...After that it probably easier to just buy a usb floppy drive and plug it in.

[SandiF]

Re: Floppy disk error

Update... I took out the FD and it is covered in dust. The inside of the computer look like a dust bowl. (cough cough) That may be the crux of the problem as the cables all sit firmly in the board. Tomorrow I blow and clean. I guess I'll have to be careful with the blower nuh, just so it doesn't blow or nudge anything out of place. Will let you know how it work tomorrow.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Floppy disk error

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Update... I took out the FD and it is covered in dust. The inside of the computer look like a dust bowl. (cough cough) That may be the crux of the problem as the cables all sit firmly in the board. Tomorrow I blow and clean. I guess I'll have to be careful with the blower nuh, just so it doesn't blow or nudge anything out of place. Will let you know how it work tomorrow. </div></div>

Yes be careful with the blower you might make it worse if you blow more particles onto the optical sensor and not get all of it off.

With that said the Floppily, the contacts between the expansion boards/cables/memory, the Fans and the CDROM are the only thing that is vulnerable to blown dust and then all you really need to do is make sure they are seated firmly after you get done.

When you get done tell us if it works!

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Floppy disk error


I should also add that it is better to suck than to blow. Blowing with all that implies might put stuff where it can potentially do more damage.
A good thing to do is to get a small hairy brush and remove as much of the unwanted stuff as possible.
After which you can get a vacuum cleaner that has a wand extension cover the suction tube with a gauze or some sort of loose woven cloth then use this to remove the finer particles.

[SandiF]

Re: Floppy disk error

Good news! FD is back in business.
The accumulation of dust has been vacuumed and cleaned. I made sure to vacuum around the motherboard but was extra careful. I tried using a gauze over the vacuum wand but it kept sucking in...so I scrapped it. I slid the floppy disk back in. Made sure cables all sit firmly. Slid the floppy disk in and voila! it read the files. Went straight to the cmd prompt and &lt;dir&gt; on the A drive and files listed ok. Copied the files to the hard drive. No error!

TG and LinS...unnu good bad. I googled the error message I got couple nights back and found some people posting said question in various forums, but no help received on how to resolve...except for the one post linking to the Microsoft link. Thank you both!

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Floppy disk error

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Good news! FD is back in business.
The accumulation of dust has been vacuumed and cleaned. I made sure to vacuum around the motherboard but was extra careful. I tried using a gauze over the vacuum wand but it kept sucking in...so I scrapped it. I slid the floppy disk back in. Made sure cables all sit firmly. Slid the floppy disk in and voila! it read the files. Went straight to the cmd prompt and &lt;dir&gt; on the A drive and files listed ok. Copied the files to the hard drive. No error!

TG and LinS...unnu good bad. I googled the error message I got couple nights back and found some people posting said question in various forums, but no help received on how to resolve...except for the one post linking to the Microsoft link. Thank you both! </div></div>

Great.
You are welcome!

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Floppy disk error


.... and oh if you ever have this problem again and your laptop reads the disk then you can network both computers and transfer the files till you get it sorted out.