| Author |
Message |
    
bella
Citizen
Username: Bella
Post Number: 586
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 10:34 pm: | 
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The disk on which I have a huge portion of my grad work saved is suddenly saying that it isn't formatted. I took the disk to work and it isn't working on that computer. I don't need the electronic files, I have the paper versions, but I'd really like them.
So: Why did this happen? Can I fix it? |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3047
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:01 pm: |
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when you say disk, you are referring to a CD, CD RW, DVD, DVD RW, hard drive?
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bella
Citizen
Username: Bella
Post Number: 587
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:14 pm: |
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actually, a 3.5" diskette. I still think of them as disks and the others as just "CDs"} |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 23051
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:45 pm: |
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Oh bella. Why??? Is this the first time one has crapped out on you?
Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything you can do. Try sliding the metal sheathing on the bottom back and forth, and make sure it's not write-protected (though that wouldn't cause that error message).
Working in a tech support environment for close to 20 years has taught me one extremely valuable lesson: back up important files to at least 3 different locations.
I'm sorry I don't have better advice.  |
Glock 17
Citizen
Username: Glock17
Post Number: 837
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 12:17 am: |
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get a jump drive. 3 and a half inch floppys are horrible |
Phil
Supporter
Username: Barleyrooty
Post Number: 1032
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 6:53 am: |
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Disk drives sometimes have slightly different head alignments and disks won't work in a drive different to the one used to format them. While I don't hold out too much hope, it's worth trying the disk in several different machines.
Did a search and found this... http://www.jufsoft.com/badcopy/floppy_recovery.asp
Good luck, Phil |
bella
Citizen
Username: Bella
Post Number: 588
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 10:11 am: |
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Thanks everyone. This is why I always keep a paper copy of everything. If nothing else, I have learned over the years that computers and I don't get along.
I really just need to break down and get a new computer so that I don't have to rely on diskettes. I've never had a problem with the diskettes before, so I've just made do. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1509
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 10:58 am: |
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First... I'm home today with bad allergies - if you want to drop the disk by the house (I'm near maplewood village) I will play with it and try to recover your files - no guarantees, sadly, because... well... just because, I guess.
Second - if you buy a new PC that is fine, but that will NOT solve your issue of making backups. It is CRITICAL to make backup copies of all your data; you can burn DVDs, CDs, or use an external hard drive - but sooner or later everyone experiences these problems.
You can send me a PM if you'd like to drop the disc off.
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Politicalmon
Citizen
Username: Politicalmon
Post Number: 145
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 1:33 pm: |
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There are recovery application that will bring your data back. Your problem could be related to what Phil is saying in addition to the fact that the speed at which a floppy drive rotates will vary over time ; so trying another machine may resolve the problem. Regardless, google 'floppy data' 'recovery' I'm sure you will find some nice shareware applications that should bring your data back. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7388
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 7:43 pm: |
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Case:
I believe Bella is still living in Ohio.
Bella:
How many times did you try to open the file on the disk? I have found that my computer will sometimes claim that a removable disk isn't formated when it actually is.
Try rebooting your computer and then reinserting the disk. See if you can open the file now. I know this sounds very basic but sometimes it works.
Another thing you can try which could make things worse but you can't access the disk now anyway is to try running defrag to see if that program can repair any easily correctable problem with the way in which your data is stored on the disk. I've been able to rescue a few floppy files that way.
Good luck. |
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