When I try to access a floppy disk, a message appears saying:

"A drive is not accessible. No ID address mark was found on the floppy disk."

This message appears regardless of the disk I am opening.
Does anyone know what might be the problem?

What's a floppy disk?


Seriously though, it sounds like your drive may be knackered. If you can still buy them I'd wager they cost les than a couple of quid.

Originally posted by psyn
When I try to access a floppy disk, a message appears saying:

"A drive is not accessible. No ID address mark was found on the floppy disk."

This message appears regardless of the disk I am opening.
Does anyone know what might be the problem?

As P said, the drive has most likely had it - they can be picked up on ebuyer for 3.78 G.B.P V.A.T inclusive. (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=10471267527&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=62047)

Another thing you'll find, as the drive wears out, the heads that write the data can become misaligned - you may write some data, and find you cannot read the data on another machine. Or write data on another, and read it on your own. The first example is more likely, in my own experience; but to be fair, I threw my floppy out ages ago - USB is the way forward (512MB stick for 16.43 G.B.P including V.A.T - 256MB model (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=10471360207&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=94098).

Thanks for the replies - you have just confirmed my fears.
I do have a USB stick but I have left it in my classroom and I am trying to transfer files from home to school without being able to remember my school email address. I probably won't bother buying a new drive - school are giving me a shiny new laptop on Monday :D

Originally posted by psyn
Thanks for the replies - you have just confirmed my fears.
I do have a USB stick but I have left it in my classroom and I am trying to transfer files from home to school without being able to remember my school email address. I probably won't bother buying a new drive - school are giving me a shiny new laptop on Monday :D

If it's not blocked, download Log Me In - no spyware, no ad-ware - it's great (http://www.logmein.com), this application allows you to connect to your PC via the web (providing you've left your BB on the home machine, whilst at school). So you can look at files on your home machine from school. Although, you will not be able to look at files on your school account - you won't be able to download it at school's end.

Saves faffing about with VNC.

I've found it incredilbly useful - I can get into my computer and the dining room one whenever is needsbe. I could even take a file from my machine, and place it on dad's one. And the opposite. (Or you could just have a network with filesharing)...