I recently bought a new computer with Windows XP. I am trying to get
documents that were copied onto a floppy disk that was not formatted. Can
this be done? If so how?

You have to format a floppy before you can use it. If there are files on
that floppy, it was formatted. Why do you think otherwise?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"PLR" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a new computer with Windows XP. I am trying to get
documents that were copied onto a floppy disk that was not formatted. Can
this be done? If so how?

Possibly PLR thinks it's unformatted because of the moronic message
that Windows displays when it fails to read a badly damaged disk:
"This disk is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?" If you
believe the message and don't know what you're doing, and answer yes,
then anything you might have been able to retrieve from the disk is
permanently trashed.

If you answered no, there is a possibility of recovering the files
with special software. This software is too difficult and dangerous
for use by the clueless, though. If you don't know what to do with it,
find or hire a knowledgeable person to do it for you. And be prepared
for the possibility that there's nothing salvageable there.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 21:04:42 -0400, "JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]"
wrote:

You have to format a floppy before you can use it. If there are files on
that floppy, it was formatted. Why do you think otherwise?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"PLR" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a new computer with Windows XP. I am trying to get
documents that were copied onto a floppy disk that was not formatted. Can
this be done? If so how?

That's what I suspected but I figured I'd ask just in case that wasn't the
case. Chances are someone saved the file straight from Word to the floppy.

I sure hope those files weren't critical because if they
were.......................... :-(

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"Jay Freedman" wrote in message
...
Possibly PLR thinks it's unformatted because of the moronic message
that Windows displays when it fails to read a badly damaged disk:
"This disk is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?" If you
believe the message and don't know what you're doing, and answer yes,
then anything you might have been able to retrieve from the disk is
permanently trashed.

If you answered no, there is a possibility of recovering the files
with special software. This software is too difficult and dangerous
for use by the clueless, though. If you don't know what to do with it,
find or hire a knowledgeable person to do it for you. And be prepared
for the possibility that there's nothing salvageable there.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 21:04:42 -0400, "JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]"
wrote:

You have to format a floppy before you can use it. If there are files on
that floppy, it was formatted. Why do you think otherwise?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"PLR" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a new computer with Windows XP. I am trying to get
documents that were copied onto a floppy disk that was not formatted.
Can
this be done? If so how?

Jay,
Thanks. I will go to my nearest computer expert and see if he/she can get
my files.
--
PLR


"Jay Freedman" wrote:

Possibly PLR thinks it's unformatted because of the moronic message
that Windows displays when it fails to read a badly damaged disk:
"This disk is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?" If you
believe the message and don't know what you're doing, and answer yes,
then anything you might have been able to retrieve from the disk is
permanently trashed.

If you answered no, there is a possibility of recovering the files
with special software. This software is too difficult and dangerous
for use by the clueless, though. If you don't know what to do with it,
find or hire a knowledgeable person to do it for you. And be prepared
for the possibility that there's nothing salvageable there.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 21:04:42 -0400, "JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]"
wrote:

You have to format a floppy before you can use it. If there are files on
that floppy, it was formatted. Why do you think otherwise?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"PLR" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a new computer with Windows XP. I am trying to get
documents that were copied onto a floppy disk that was not formatted. Can
this be done? If so how?

JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was explained by
Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the same problem with the A
drive I purchase that I've read some have had with Windows XP.
--
PLR


"JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]" wrote:

You have to format a floppy before you can use it. If there are files on
that floppy, it was formatted. Why do you think otherwise?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"PLR" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a new computer with Windows XP. I am trying to get
documents that were copied onto a floppy disk that was not formatted. Can
this be done? If so how?

I have a floppy drive and it works just fine on Win XP. Of course that means
absolutely nothing but............. :-)

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"PLE" wrote in message
...
JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was explained by
Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the same problem with the A
drive I purchase that I've read some have had with Windows XP.
--
PLR


"JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]" wrote:

You have to format a floppy before you can use it. If there are files on
that floppy, it was formatted. Why do you think otherwise?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"PLR" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a new computer with Windows XP. I am trying to get
documents that were copied onto a floppy disk that was not formatted.
Can
this be done? If so how?

Hi PLE-

Just to elaborate slightly on the excellent responses already offered...
Minimize the potential for future problems by:

A) Not trying to save directly to a floppy disk (or any other type of
removable media), and

B) Do Not try to open a file on removable media directly from the source.

Always save new files to your hard drive, then copy/move them to the
removable media. When you need to revise a file stored on floppy, CD, etc.
copy/move it to your hard drive & open that copy. Revise & save to that
file, then copy/move back to the removable.

Regards |:)


On 7/25/05 12:28 PM, in article
, "PLE"
wrote:

JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was explained by
Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the same problem with the A
drive I purchase that I've read some have had with Windows XP.

My problem is similar in that the computer tells me the floppy is
unformatted. But it is formatted! My new computer is a Dell XPS 400, Intel
Pentium D with Office 2003 Professional Software. My old computer has Office
97 Professional and, fortunately, I still have it with the files still on it.
Do I understand you to be saying that I need to copy the file to the 3 1/2
inch floppy and insert this disk into the new computer and move it to the My
documents file, instead of trying to get the new computer to retrieve it?

Do you think I need to buy new floppies, before trying this or format the
old ones? Thank you for any help you can give!

"CyberTaz" wrote:

Hi PLE-

Just to elaborate slightly on the excellent responses already offered...
Minimize the potential for future problems by:

A) Not trying to save directly to a floppy disk (or any other type of
removable media), and

B) Do Not try to open a file on removable media directly from the source.

Always save new files to your hard drive, then copy/move them to the
removable media. When you need to revise a file stored on floppy, CD, etc.
copy/move it to your hard drive & open that copy. Revise & save to that
file, then copy/move back to the removable.

Regards |:)


On 7/25/05 12:28 PM, in article
, "PLE"
wrote:

JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was explained by
Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the same problem with the A
drive I purchase that I've read some have had with Windows XP.

Floppies are very unrealiable. If your old computer has a USB port, you
should use a USB Key to move the files over.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"SMS" wrote in message
...
My problem is similar in that the computer tells me the floppy is
unformatted. But it is formatted! My new computer is a Dell XPS 400,
Intel
Pentium D with Office 2003 Professional Software. My old computer has
Office
97 Professional and, fortunately, I still have it with the files still on
it.
Do I understand you to be saying that I need to copy the file to the 3 1/2
inch floppy and insert this disk into the new computer and move it to the
My
documents file, instead of trying to get the new computer to retrieve it?

Do you think I need to buy new floppies, before trying this or format the
old ones? Thank you for any help you can give!

"CyberTaz" wrote:

Hi PLE-

Just to elaborate slightly on the excellent responses already offered...
Minimize the potential for future problems by:

A) Not trying to save directly to a floppy disk (or any other type of
removable media), and

B) Do Not try to open a file on removable media directly from the source.

Always save new files to your hard drive, then copy/move them to the
removable media. When you need to revise a file stored on floppy, CD,
etc.
copy/move it to your hard drive & open that copy. Revise & save to that
file, then copy/move back to the removable.

Regards |:)


On 7/25/05 12:28 PM, in article
, "PLE"
wrote:

JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was explained
by
Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the same problem with
the A
drive I purchase that I've read some have had with Windows XP.

If you have written a document from Word to floppy and the PC reports the
floppy needs formatting then that floppy is corrupt. Never ever read from,
write to, or print from floppy with Word. These are the most certain methods
of ensuring document corruption.

You should be able to reformat the floppies and *copy* document to them
using Windows Explorer, but you will lose any data they contained.

If your PC(s) do not have them, you can obtain Ethernet cards very cheaply,
which in conjunction with a crossover cable would allow you to simply shunt
the files across from one to the other via an ad hoc network.

Alternatively you may have a USB key or even a digital camera with a card
reader that you could use to move the data.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org



SMS wrote:
My problem is similar in that the computer tells me the floppy is
unformatted. But it is formatted! My new computer is a Dell XPS
400, Intel Pentium D with Office 2003 Professional Software. My old
computer has Office 97 Professional and, fortunately, I still have it
with the files still on it. Do I understand you to be saying that I
need to copy the file to the 3 1/2 inch floppy and insert this disk
into the new computer and move it to the My documents file, instead
of trying to get the new computer to retrieve it?

Do you think I need to buy new floppies, before trying this or format
the old ones? Thank you for any help you can give!

"CyberTaz" wrote:

Hi PLE-

Just to elaborate slightly on the excellent responses already
offered... Minimize the potential for future problems by:

A) Not trying to save directly to a floppy disk (or any other type of
removable media), and

B) Do Not try to open a file on removable media directly from the
source.

Always save new files to your hard drive, then copy/move them to the
removable media. When you need to revise a file stored on floppy,
CD, etc. copy/move it to your hard drive & open that copy. Revise &
save to that file, then copy/move back to the removable.

Regards |:)


On 7/25/05 12:28 PM, in article
, "PLE"
wrote:

JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was
explained by Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the
same problem with the A drive I purchase that I've read some have
had with Windows XP.

Thank you for your prompt response. I will see if my old computer has a USB
port. What is a USB key??

"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

Floppies are very unrealiable. If your old computer has a USB port, you
should use a USB Key to move the files over.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"SMS" wrote in message
...
My problem is similar in that the computer tells me the floppy is
unformatted. But it is formatted! My new computer is a Dell XPS 400,
Intel
Pentium D with Office 2003 Professional Software. My old computer has
Office
97 Professional and, fortunately, I still have it with the files still on
it.
Do I understand you to be saying that I need to copy the file to the 3 1/2
inch floppy and insert this disk into the new computer and move it to the
My
documents file, instead of trying to get the new computer to retrieve it?

Do you think I need to buy new floppies, before trying this or format the
old ones? Thank you for any help you can give!

"CyberTaz" wrote:

Hi PLE-

Just to elaborate slightly on the excellent responses already offered...
Minimize the potential for future problems by:

A) Not trying to save directly to a floppy disk (or any other type of
removable media), and

B) Do Not try to open a file on removable media directly from the source.

Always save new files to your hard drive, then copy/move them to the
removable media. When you need to revise a file stored on floppy, CD,
etc.
copy/move it to your hard drive & open that copy. Revise & save to that
file, then copy/move back to the removable.

Regards |:)


On 7/25/05 12:28 PM, in article
, "PLE"
wrote:

JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was explained
by
Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the same problem with
the A
drive I purchase that I've read some have had with Windows XP.

A USB key is a USB plug-in storage device.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


SMS wrote:
Thank you for your prompt response. I will see if my old computer
has a USB port. What is a USB key??

"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

Floppies are very unrealiable. If your old computer has a USB port,
you should use a USB Key to move the files over.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"SMS" wrote in message
...
My problem is similar in that the computer tells me the floppy is
unformatted. But it is formatted! My new computer is a Dell XPS
400, Intel
Pentium D with Office 2003 Professional Software. My old computer
has Office
97 Professional and, fortunately, I still have it with the files
still on it.
Do I understand you to be saying that I need to copy the file to
the 3 1/2 inch floppy and insert this disk into the new computer
and move it to the My
documents file, instead of trying to get the new computer to
retrieve it?

Do you think I need to buy new floppies, before trying this or
format the old ones? Thank you for any help you can give!

"CyberTaz" wrote:

Hi PLE-

Just to elaborate slightly on the excellent responses already
offered... Minimize the potential for future problems by:

A) Not trying to save directly to a floppy disk (or any other type
of removable media), and

B) Do Not try to open a file on removable media directly from the
source.

Always save new files to your hard drive, then copy/move them to
the removable media. When you need to revise a file stored on
floppy, CD, etc.
copy/move it to your hard drive & open that copy. Revise & save to
that file, then copy/move back to the removable.

Regards |:)


On 7/25/05 12:28 PM, in article
, "PLE"
wrote:

JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was
explained by
Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the same problem
with the A
drive I purchase that I've read some have had with Windows XP.

It's a solid state removable memory device.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keydrive

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"SMS" wrote in message
...
Thank you for your prompt response. I will see if my old computer has a
USB
port. What is a USB key??

"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

Floppies are very unrealiable. If your old computer has a USB port, you
should use a USB Key to move the files over.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"SMS" wrote in message
...
My problem is similar in that the computer tells me the floppy is
unformatted. But it is formatted! My new computer is a Dell XPS 400,
Intel
Pentium D with Office 2003 Professional Software. My old computer has
Office
97 Professional and, fortunately, I still have it with the files still
on
it.
Do I understand you to be saying that I need to copy the file to the 3
1/2
inch floppy and insert this disk into the new computer and move it to
the
My
documents file, instead of trying to get the new computer to retrieve
it?

Do you think I need to buy new floppies, before trying this or format
the
old ones? Thank you for any help you can give!

"CyberTaz" wrote:

Hi PLE-

Just to elaborate slightly on the excellent responses already
offered...
Minimize the potential for future problems by:

A) Not trying to save directly to a floppy disk (or any other type of
removable media), and

B) Do Not try to open a file on removable media directly from the
source.

Always save new files to your hard drive, then copy/move them to the
removable media. When you need to revise a file stored on floppy, CD,
etc.
copy/move it to your hard drive & open that copy. Revise & save to
that
file, then copy/move back to the removable.

Regards |:)


On 7/25/05 12:28 PM, in article
, "PLE"
wrote:

JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was
explained
by
Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the same problem with
the A
drive I purchase that I've read some have had with Windows XP.

Thank you for the helpful and much needed definition!

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

A USB key is a USB plug-in storage device.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


SMS wrote:
Thank you for your prompt response. I will see if my old computer
has a USB port. What is a USB key??

"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

Floppies are very unrealiable. If your old computer has a USB port,
you should use a USB Key to move the files over.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"SMS" wrote in message
...
My problem is similar in that the computer tells me the floppy is
unformatted. But it is formatted! My new computer is a Dell XPS
400, Intel
Pentium D with Office 2003 Professional Software. My old computer
has Office
97 Professional and, fortunately, I still have it with the files
still on it.
Do I understand you to be saying that I need to copy the file to
the 3 1/2 inch floppy and insert this disk into the new computer
and move it to the My
documents file, instead of trying to get the new computer to
retrieve it?

Do you think I need to buy new floppies, before trying this or
format the old ones? Thank you for any help you can give!

"CyberTaz" wrote:

Hi PLE-

Just to elaborate slightly on the excellent responses already
offered... Minimize the potential for future problems by:

A) Not trying to save directly to a floppy disk (or any other type
of removable media), and

B) Do Not try to open a file on removable media directly from the
source.

Always save new files to your hard drive, then copy/move them to
the removable media. When you need to revise a file stored on
floppy, CD, etc.
copy/move it to your hard drive & open that copy. Revise & save to
that file, then copy/move back to the removable.

Regards |:)


On 7/25/05 12:28 PM, in article
, "PLE"
wrote:

JoAnn Paules,
Thanks for your response. The reason I thought otherwise was
explained by
Jay F. I'm also wondering if I'm going to have the same problem
with the A
drive I purchase that I've read some have had with Windows XP.