Editor's Blog2 mins ago
floppy disc - again!
Me again!!
Ref 2 questions below.
my previously ok floppy now won't open at all. It asks me if I want to formatt it.
Do I need to do this, wiil my floppy then open? the documents on it are really important.
I now know I should of saved them to my hard drive.
The documents were originaly done on another system.
i have a very basic knowledge of computers, so if any answers could be kept as simple as possible I would be very grateful.
Ref 2 questions below.
my previously ok floppy now won't open at all. It asks me if I want to formatt it.
Do I need to do this, wiil my floppy then open? the documents on it are really important.
I now know I should of saved them to my hard drive.
The documents were originaly done on another system.
i have a very basic knowledge of computers, so if any answers could be kept as simple as possible I would be very grateful.
Answers
1 to 5 of 5
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by cameo. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
A someone else has said, floppy disks are not very reliable.
Also, a diskette created on one computer may not be able to be read on another computer.
Firstly DONT PANIC, and DONT FORMAT the diskkete.
My guess is the data IS still on the diskette, so what you need to do is try it on a few different computers.
If you can take it back to the one you did it on originally that would be best. If not try friends and neighbours PCs till you find one that can read it, or maybe your friendly PC shop may help.
In future store data on a USB key, picture here
http://opensource.bureau-cornavin.com/belkin/u sb-key.jpg
You can buy these in any computer shop and they are very cheap (�10 or so).
You plug them in a USB slot in your computer (most computers now have a USB slot).
It is then very easy to move files from a hard disk to a USB key, or from a USB key to a hard disk.
Also, a diskette created on one computer may not be able to be read on another computer.
Firstly DONT PANIC, and DONT FORMAT the diskkete.
My guess is the data IS still on the diskette, so what you need to do is try it on a few different computers.
If you can take it back to the one you did it on originally that would be best. If not try friends and neighbours PCs till you find one that can read it, or maybe your friendly PC shop may help.
In future store data on a USB key, picture here
http://opensource.bureau-cornavin.com/belkin/u sb-key.jpg
You can buy these in any computer shop and they are very cheap (�10 or so).
You plug them in a USB slot in your computer (most computers now have a USB slot).
It is then very easy to move files from a hard disk to a USB key, or from a USB key to a hard disk.
One further thing, you should LOCK the diskette so files cannot be deleted, nor can it be formatted.
Here is a picture of a diskette.
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_app rove/1850417/2/istockphoto_1850417_diskette_4. jpg
If you look carefully at that picture you see a small square in the bottom right.
This square can slide so a "hole" appears in the diskette (you can see through it).
If the hole is showing the diskette CAN be formatted and files deleted.
Make sure the hole DOES NOT show
Leave it like this (hole NOT showing) and then you cant accidently delete any files off it or format it.
Here is a picture of a diskette.
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_app rove/1850417/2/istockphoto_1850417_diskette_4. jpg
If you look carefully at that picture you see a small square in the bottom right.
This square can slide so a "hole" appears in the diskette (you can see through it).
If the hole is showing the diskette CAN be formatted and files deleted.
Make sure the hole DOES NOT show
Leave it like this (hole NOT showing) and then you cant accidently delete any files off it or format it.
1 to 5 of 5
