Floppy Disk in Windows 7

[Peter Geddes]

On my PC, Windows 7 seems to have trouble formatting & writing to floppy
disk.

I tried to format a floppy disk with Windows 7 but it took quite a while to
get to 100% and when it did, it came up with 'Unable to complete Format'.

To start with, I thought the drive itself was knackered but after swapping
it with a known working one, it did the same thing. I was able to format
the disk with Windows XP no problem.

This is with Windows 7 64-bit. I have seen other postings on various sites
with people having the same problem. I just wondered if there is a
solution?

Thanks

--

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[R. C. White]

Hi, Peter.

There is a thread in microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general, started by LDJ
on 10/31/09, Subject: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit - Floppy drive driver
issue.

LDJ reported a problem like yours: unable to format a floppy disk in Win7.
Reading this prompted me to try formatting a floppy, for the first time
since I upgraded to Win7 Ultimate x64. It worked perfectly for me. I even
tried - for the first time in years - to boot from the floppy diskette I
made - and that worked, too, on the first try! First time I'd seen an
MS-DOS boot-up screen in years. ;<)

Please tell us a few more facts about your computer, your Windows version
and your formatting method:

1. What kind of floppy disk drive (hardware) are you using?

2. Exactly which version of Win7 x64? Home Premium? Ultimate? RC or
RTM?

3. Step by step, HOW are you trying to format the floppy? As I said in
the other NG, I right-clicked on Drive A: in Explorer (or Computer), chose
Format, and selected to create and MS-DOS boot disk. I didn't time the
format, but it seemed normal, taking just a minute or two.

My experiment ended pretty quickly because I don't really want to use
floppies, anyhow, so then I rebooted normally, from my HDD. But I had
learned that I could (a) format a 3.5" diskette, (b) boot into MS-DOS from
that diskette, and (c) read files from that diskette, using the TYPE
command.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

 

[Gordon]

On my PC, Windows 7 seems to have trouble formatting & writing to floppy
disk.

Could I ask why you are using floppy disks?
Unless you are copying BIOS flash files or SATA disk drivers or something
similar that need a floppy, USB memory sticks FAR outclass anything floppies
ever did....in price, capacity, longevity and in read/write speed...

 

[Paul Brady]

Could I ask why you are using floppy disks?
Unless you are copying BIOS flash files or SATA disk drivers or something
similar that need a floppy, USB memory sticks FAR outclass anything floppies
ever did....in price, capacity, longevity and in read/write speed...

Floppies are not useless. I write databases for ten clients, using
Access 2000. These are all charities or nonprofit agencies, with
different operating systems, ranging from Windows Me thru XP thru
Vista. A few of them have USB connections in difficult-to-reach
places, and, for their purposes, the floppies work fine, and the
memory stick is awkward to use, requiring crawling on the floor to get
behind the computer, or even buying a USB multiple connector. Yes, I
do have a memory stick, but I do hope that Windows 7 will accommodate
floppies. I ALSO hope that Windows 7 will accommodate Office 2000.
Pete Brady

 

[Gordon]

Floppies are not useless. I write databases for ten clients, using
Access 2000. These are all charities or nonprofit agencies, with
different operating systems, ranging from Windows Me thru XP thru
Vista. A few of them have USB connections in difficult-to-reach
places, and, for their purposes, the floppies work fine, and the
memory stick is awkward to use, requiring crawling on the floor to get
behind the computer, or even buying a USB multiple connector. Yes, I
do have a memory stick, but I do hope that Windows 7 will accommodate
floppies. I ALSO hope that Windows 7 will accommodate Office 2000.
Pete Brady

Nothing to do with the OS and all to do with the hardware in the computer.
Why not buy a USB extension cable? Then a one-time plug in is done, with no
crawling about.
And err if the database fits on a 1.4 MB floppy, why not email it instead?
Sorry, floppies are obsolete, unreliable, prone to damage and just are not
good.

 

[Peter Geddes]

1. It's a Sony 1.44MB Floppy Disk drive

2. It's Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (4GB RAM).

3. I goto into Computer from the start menu, Right Click over the Floppy
Disk icon and select format. I've tried quick format and full format with
the same result 'Windows Unable to complete the format'.

I know floppy's are old and almost no use now (except for installing
WindowsXP when I need to use the F6 method).

Thanks for the replies.

Hi, Peter.

There is a thread in microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general, started by
LDJ on 10/31/09, Subject: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit - Floppy drive
driver issue.

LDJ reported a problem like yours: unable to format a floppy disk in
Win7. Reading this prompted me to try formatting a floppy, for the first
time since I upgraded to Win7 Ultimate x64. It worked perfectly for me.
I even tried - for the first time in years - to boot from the floppy
diskette I made - and that worked, too, on the first try! First time I'd
seen an MS-DOS boot-up screen in years. ;<)

Please tell us a few more facts about your computer, your Windows version
and your formatting method:

1. What kind of floppy disk drive (hardware) are you using?

2. Exactly which version of Win7 x64? Home Premium? Ultimate? RC or
RTM?

3. Step by step, HOW are you trying to format the floppy? As I said in
the other NG, I right-clicked on Drive A: in Explorer (or Computer), chose
Format, and selected to create and MS-DOS boot disk. I didn't time the
format, but it seemed normal, taking just a minute or two.

My experiment ended pretty quickly because I don't really want to use
floppies, anyhow, so then I rebooted normally, from my HDD. But I had
learned that I could (a) format a 3.5" diskette, (b) boot into MS-DOS from
that diskette, and (c) read files from that diskette, using the TYPE
command.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64




__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
signature database 4580 (20091106) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4580 (20091106) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

 

[Peter Geddes]

I use it mainly for the SATA/RAID drivers for XP installs (via the F6
method).

I agree USB sticks are far superior but the floppy isn't quite dead yet!

Thanks

Could I ask why you are using floppy disks?
Unless you are copying BIOS flash files or SATA disk drivers or something
similar that need a floppy, USB memory sticks FAR outclass anything
floppies ever did....in price, capacity, longevity and in read/write
speed...

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
signature database 4580 (20091106) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4580 (20091106) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

 

[Gordon]

I use it mainly for the SATA/RAID drivers for XP installs (via the F6
method).

As I said in my first reply!

I agree USB sticks are far superior but the floppy isn't quite dead yet!

For things like the above yes, but for data storage and transfer? No!

 

[Student]

For things like the above yes, but for data storage and transfer? No!

I AGREE

My office typing done off site and comes in via email.

I have 5 floppies. Monday to Friday

I edit the typing and store it on a floppy and give it to my secretary
who then prints it out.

The beauty of this is that I can identify the floppy with the icon
and the letter is ALWAYS A!


ES

 

[Gordon]

I AGREE

My office typing done off site and comes in via email.

I have 5 floppies. Monday to Friday

I edit the typing and store it on a floppy and give it to my secretary
who then prints it out.

The beauty of this is that I can identify the floppy with the icon
and the letter is ALWAYS A!

<sigh> You ARE joking, right?

 

[David]

FWIW, I was just able to format two 1.44 floppies, it took 4 seconds each.
Win 7 Ult 64 bit

 

[jim]

Boy I hope the floppy isn't dead - I still have my 8 floppies containing
Windows 3.1!

 

[Paul Brady]

Boy I hope the floppy isn't dead - I still have my 8 floppies containing
Windows 3.1!

Right on! In addition, I still have my 78 rpm recording of
Koussevitsky and the Boston Symphony of Haydn's Symphony 94
("Surprise"), purchased in the 1940s, which I actually listen to from
time to time.

 

[judgecrater]

Floppy drive in Win7
I too have the same problem. It seems to involve: windows 7 64 bit, and AMD chipsets. Will allow reading of floppies created on an other computer but will not allow formating or writing to floppy disk. Any solutions found? One of the motherboards involved is M4A79 Deluxe. And yes I have tried replacing drive and cable, unistalling and alowing computer to reinstall, etc.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[judgecrater]

Floppy won't run on Win7 64 and AMD chipsets

Floppy format problem happens when you are using Win7 64 and AMD motherboard chipsets. I too am looking for a fix. Any ideas?

 

[Peter Geddes]

Only other thing I can add it's a GigaByte motherboard with an SB750
chipset.

Still the same problem.

Peter

FWIW, I was just able to format two 1.44 floppies, it took 4 seconds each.
Win 7 Ult 64 bit





--
Dave Norris
Lucasville, OH

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signature database 4585 (20091108) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com




__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
signature database 4645 (20091128) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4645 (20091128) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

 

[Mr doe]

Only other thing I can add it's a GigaByte motherboard with an SB750
chipset.

Still the same problem.

Peter



__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
signature database 4645 (20091128) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

I noticed that win 7 will format a floppy. But it will not give you the
report as to if the disk has bad sectors .

 

[Metspitzer]

Floppies are not useless. I write databases for ten clients, using
Access 2000. These are all charities or nonprofit agencies, with
different operating systems, ranging from Windows Me thru XP thru
Vista. A few of them have USB connections in difficult-to-reach
places, and, for their purposes, the floppies work fine, and the
memory stick is awkward to use, requiring crawling on the floor to get
behind the computer, or even buying a USB multiple connector. Yes, I
do have a memory stick, but I do hope that Windows 7 will accommodate
floppies. I ALSO hope that Windows 7 will accommodate Office 2000.
Pete Brady

I hope floppies die a miserable painful death.

 

[fishmad]

Hello, just joined tonight.

Seems like this thread may be dead. However in case someone has found a fix could they post it here.

I have just built a new system using giga-byte ga-ma790xt-ud4p motherboard and phenom II 945 processor. Loaded with windows7 64bit. I originally installed win xp and the floppy worked fine. Howevver with Win7 it does not work. It has exactly the same symptoms as describe at the start. I found this out when I tried to update my bios. I could not get the USB pen to be accepted by the motherboard install program. I eventually managed to do it because the motherboard could read the hard drive.

 

[Jim P]

Ext Floppy Disk in Windows 7

I just bought this new HP computer with Windows 7, 64 bit for my 87 year old aunt and decided to get an external floppy drive so she can move all those files into the hard drive.

I bought an external USB floppy drive, plugged it into a USB port and began to try it out. The drive A icon appeared in Explorer, but it couldn't read any data on it. It told me I needed to format the disk.

I tried to format a new floppy disk with Windows 7 but it took quite a while to
get done, and then it came up with 'Unable to complete Format'.

Is there a simple solution so my aunt can use it without any technical knowledge?

Is a floppy drive even supported by Windows 7?