> Or is it common that old floppies deteriorate and can no longer be read?
This is probably what's happening. The same is true for VHS and cassette tapes over time.
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Failure To Recognize 3.5" Floppies
I've tried three 10-year-old 3.5" floppies for the first time in my WinXP machine and I get these different error messages with each floppy:
1)
A:\ is not accessible.
No ID address mark was found on the floppy disk.
2)
The disk in drive A is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?
3)
The floppy can be read and it's directory appears in WinExplorer window, but running the SETUP.EXE gives an "Overflow" message.
Is it common for WinXP to be unable to read old floppies?
Or is it common that old floppies deteriorate and can no longer be read?
~ Qunck
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by: InteraXPosted on 2005-02-01 at 08:43:44ID: 13194358
Hi qunck,
It's most likely that they have deteriorated over time. If you bear in mind the structure of an FD is a thin piece of plastic with a magnetic powder glued to each side (not eaxctly true, but near enough) then leave the set glue for 10 years. The glue will have degraded. Now take into account that the read/write heads on an FDD are in contact with the surface of the disk, then it's easy to see how an old FD can get permanently damaged just by trying to read it.
Good Luck.
;-)