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Windows Forum / Windows 98 / General Topics / April 2004Cannot copy from floppy to computer
Trying to copy files from a floppy to my Windows 98 computer, I get a message: "Cannot copy [filename]. System cannot read from specified device." Does this indicate a flaw in the floppy diskette itself, or something wrong with the floppy drive? Larry First check the format of the floppy disk. Is it 1.44mb, 1.68mb or 1.72mb? Trying to copy files from a floppy to my Windows 98 computer, I get a message: "Cannot copy [filename]. System cannot read from specified device." Does this indicate a flaw in the floppy diskette itself, or something wrong with the floppy drive? Larry or 2.88 mb's -- my old IBM 486 with Windows 3.1 had one of these --- never really caught on -- they had Superdisks with 120 mb's that could also handle normal floppies and now we have cd and dvd burners. : First check the format of the floppy disk. : Is it 1.44mb, 1.68mb or 1.72mb? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] : : Larry Either. Try copying something from a different disk and see if the error still occurs. Try the diskette in question in another drive on another computer. Those two tests should give you the clues you need. Also, some older drives will give an error when reading, if the heads are out of alignment. Try pushing in slightly on one corner of the diskette, while it is being read.  SignatureGlen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm > Trying to copy files from a floppy to my Windows 98 computer, I get a > message: "Cannot copy [filename]. System cannot read from specified [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Larry Basic logic. :-) Larry "Larry" <larry328@att.net> wrote in news:OIhGI38JEHA.3592 @TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl: > Trying to copy files from a floppy to my Windows 98 computer, I get a > message: "Cannot copy [filename]. System cannot read from specified > device." > > Does this indicate a flaw in the floppy diskette itself, or something > wrong with the floppy drive? Since you've already got answers to this, I'd like to mention something a Microsoft support tech told me on the phone once when I was trying (while he waited) to make a Windows 98 startup disk on two different machines. It took three times before I found a floppy that would work. He said something to the effect... "Over the years they've been able to develop hard drives that are almost as fast as memory, but *nothing* has been done for floppy drive technology." Actually, I think it gets worse over the years. Back in about 1998 when I started out with an old DOS machine, I don't remember hardly *ever* having any trouble with floppy disks. I still have the 6 disk installation set for Windows 3.1, and here a couple of weeks ago I installed 3.1 on an old computer without any problem at all. SignatureThere are 3 kinds of people: Those who can count & those who can't. > "Larry" <larry328@att.net> wrote in news:OIhGI38JEHA.3592 > @TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl: [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > installation set for Windows 3.1, and here a couple of weeks ago I > installed 3.1 on an old computer without any problem at all. I agree....I find quite a lot of bad diskettes in a new package these days (or diskettes that go bad soon after being written to), whereas I have a lot of floppies from years ago that are still good. I even have still-working 5.25-inch floppy disks that are at least 12 or 14 years old. SignatureGlen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm > I agree....I find quite a lot of bad diskettes in a new package these days (or diskettes that go bad soon after being written to), whereas I have a lot of floppies from years ago that are still good. I even have still-working 5.25-inch floppy disks that are at least 12 or 14 years old. I'd be curious to know what kind of computer you're still using that has a 5.25 disk drive! Larry > > I agree....I find quite a lot of bad diskettes in a new package these > days (or diskettes that go bad soon after being written to), whereas I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I'd be curious to know what kind of computer you're still using that has > a 5.25 disk drive! If he's like me, he simply cannibalized them from old XTs, 286s or 386s. They come in handy when you run into an old game or application, or want to transfer data from an old DOS machine which lacks a 3.5 drive. I have a few 5.25 drives myself in some of my PCs, and on my parts shelf, along with video cards, sound cards, NICs, external modems, etc. I can throw in a 'me three" with respect to the lack of reliability of floppy disks. I would strongly recommend that anyone who has anything of value only on a floppy immediately copy it to a hard drive somewhere and burn it to a CDR or CDRW. The floppy disk variance is all over the map. Some can be read in any drive. Some can be read in every drive bar one. Some can be read in one drive only. Some cannot be read, period. You are completely correct. : > > I agree....I find quite a lot of bad diskettes in a new package these : > days (or diskettes that go bad soon after being written to), whereas I [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] : Some can be read in any drive. Some can be read in every drive bar one. : Some can be read in one drive only. Some cannot be read, period. My IBM PCjr with 640 kb's (upgraded from 128 kb's) of memory, a 5.25 low-density floppy drive, an EGA monitor, keyboard and joystick. It is great for old games and fun to use for programming in BASIC. : > I agree....I find quite a lot of bad diskettes in a new package these : days (or diskettes that go bad soon after being written to), whereas I [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] : : Larry Oh, please don't make me go upstairs! ;-) Actually, there is an old Apple-compatible up there with no hard drive,and two 5.25" floppy drives, and a 286 PC with a 5.25" drive....plus, as Hugh suggested, the cannibalized drives and those sitting on the shelf with the rest of the recycled parts. SignatureGlen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm > > I agree....I find quite a lot of bad diskettes in a new package these > days (or diskettes that go bad soon after being written to), whereas I [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Larry My stuff is in the basement! I've got an Atari like 850XL or something... I'm not going down to look. Still works though, but the picture on the TV screen is a little fuzzy. I'm sure I have at least 3 5-1/4" disk drives down there, and I have a currently running 98 machine with one installed in it. People have had me copy stuff off some of those old 5-1/4" disks and put them on 3-1/2's for them. I have about 50 old 5 1/4" disks with my own stuff on them from way back. > Oh, please don't make me go upstairs! ;-) > Actually, there is an old Apple-compatible up there with no hard > drive,and two 5.25" floppy drives, and a 286 PC with a 5.25" > drive....plus, as Hugh suggested, the cannibalized drives and those > sitting on the shelf with the rest of the recycled parts. SignatureThere are 3 kinds of people: Those who can count & those who can't. > "Larry" <larry328@att.net> wrote in news:OIhGI38JEHA.3592 > @TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl: [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Actually, I think it gets worse over the years. Back in about > 1998.... Uh, make that 1988... :-) SignatureThere are 3 kinds of people: Those who can count & those who can't. I think the 3.5 drive is one of the cheapest components in modern day computers and the computer manufactures do not expect it to be used very much. : > "Larry" <larry328@att.net> wrote in news:OIhGI38JEHA.3592 : > @TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl: [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] : : Uh, make that 1988... :-) |
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