How can i retrieve files in a floppy disk that require to be formatt?

Question

I am using a floppy disk to do my home work. But just now when i want to get files from that floopy disk, there display a message ask me to format my floppy disk. How can i retrieve all files in that floopy disk without format it? why this could happen?

Answer 1

FIRST, WRITE PROTECT THE FLOPPY !!

If this is the disk that you were using all along, then

you have just worn it out --- I know someone who did one years worth of work on a single floppy ( VERY BAD IDEA ). If you do work in the future on a floppy, use about 7 floppies, and

change the floppy each day - update the NEXT floppy, each time you use it, so that you only loose one days worth of work at the most. ALSO, I do not know what program you are using, but if you take EXCEL and some other programs, there is NO SAVE,

-- it is a hidden feature that you have to go into the menu and turn on, and then activate. Some colleges, believe it or not, tell the students to use the same floppy over and over, NEVER tell the students to save anything, and never suggest using different floppies.... Some accounting programs have no save whatsoever !! ON THE HARDDRIVE, SO THAT YOU ARE fubar -- THE PROGRAM ONLY "SAVES" WHEN YOU exit the program or switch input modes etc. and then, only if you ask...



SO....



Make absolutely certain that no " FORMAT" or REPAIR in Scandisk " etc. can take place...



Then, 1 / As someone suggested, try the floppy in another computer.... if it will not read, then you have worn out the

BOOT RECORD where the head of the floppy reads what the floppy is, and what is on it... IF it DOES work, save to harddrive, and make another floppy with the information copied from the harddrive to the new floppy...



2/ Someone suggested that you use a program to try to gather the data from... As well I would suggest searching the web for FLOPPY FIX, or FILE REPAIR etc. There are dozens of programs that read CD's, FLoppies, and HARDDRIVES that are corrupt, and these programs show you whatever the raw data is, --- sometimes this data can be copied into a " RESTORED" file, such as in EXCEL, which has a couple of programs that will re-Structure the corrupt data, into a working file - the bad data bits will be missing, but most of your work will be there.... FLOPPY COPY and FLOPPY FIX were 2 programs that I have used in the past... Search the web to see what is currently available...

Once you "have" the data, you may have to go another step and use a specific program to re-structure the file in the same format as the program that you were using... for example, you might be using ZARKADSoft, and then you would need a program that took the raw data, and re-sturctured working ZARKADSoft files - just " Repairing " the files may not be enough to get you going again... your program ( whatever you were using to create the floppy information ), may not understand the " Repaired " files if just raw data is used, and EXCEL, and Accounting software will do a CRC check or file length check, and discover that the file is missing data, or has data changed within the file, and refuse to open the document... Even if it is " Mostly " there...



The most important thing to do is to NOT TOUCH the floppy with any software - scandisk " repair" and other " FIX" software that re-writes the disk itself will usually destroy the information on the floppy. Only programs that " READ " the floppy, and make " COPIES " on the harddrive or on another floppy, should be used...



As a last resort, there are dozens of computer repair centers around the world that will take a floppy or harddrive, and read the information for you. These companies are in the phone books, and are used by LARGE Corporations, when invaluable data is lost, and millions of dollars of work are at stake... They will not even give you quote as to how much it will cost, over the phone.... ( That alone should give you a hint as to how expensive it is )...





Good Luck



RObIN

Answer 2

Generally the message indicates you have inserted a blank, unformatted floppy. However, you also get this message if the disk is inserted improperly, if the disk is damaged, or if your disk drive is dirty or malfunctioning.



If you are certain you have the right floppy disk, first eject it and re-insert it. If the drive still doesn't read it, try a different floppy. If your drive doesn't read any floppy at all, you'll know it's the drive that needs fixing/replacing. If it is only the one disk, it has probably become unreadable, although sometimes one computer will read what another one won't - so before panicing, try putting into a different pc to see it you can retrieve your files.

Answer 3

kbugiell gave you the correct answer. Try another computer.



Data is written on circular tracks on disks and sometimes the tracks do not align with the heads that read the data.



In which case, you will get a "need to format" message.



Did you create the floppy on the same computer on which you are trying to read it?



Before formatting, and losing all your data, try reading it on the original computer on which you created it, or another computer.

Answer 4

I have no idea. I thought floppy disks had gone the way of the dinosaur. I don't remember what we used to do with floppies. Sorry.

Answer 5

Try using software called "bad copy pro" it shud solve ur probs u can retrive ur data from overscratched CD's n DVD's also . i tried dem n worked 4 me !