I had the same problem with 2 XP systems, different floppy manufacturers.
I read a long-time back on this NG a long history of the problem.
Essentially Microsoft KB 309623 says WinXP supports only 1.44MB disk
format. 3-mode FD's capable of reading/writing 720KB, 1.2MB and 1.44MB
require special driver support and support for this feature is not
included in Windows XP. See following:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309623
The writer (and I can't recall who that was) did some exhaustive research
and found a place for a driver. I downloaded that driver and it cured my
no-format problem on the PC that was giving trouble. Now both PCs can
format and read the floppy disks. Driver link (this is a download only):
http://downloads.viaarena.com/WinXPE/Oct02/XPe_3mflp132_v10.zip
Instructions as outlined in the writer's article:
1. Download driver
2. Unzip the driver - extract the file to a folder.
3. Open Windows XP's Device Manager, expand the "Floppy disk
controllers" heading, and double-click the listing for "Standard floppy
disk controller."
4. Click the "Driver" tab, then click the "Update Driver" button.
5. Select the "Install from a list or specific location" radio button
and click the "Next" button.
6. Select the"Don't search. I will choose the driver to install." radio
button and click the "Next" button.
7. Click the"Have Disk" button; then, click the"Browse" button. Browse
to the location that you extracted the files to in Step 2 and
double-click the "VIA3MFPY.INF" file. The, click the"OK" button.
8. You should now have "VIA 3-mode floppy controller" highlighted in the
drivers list. Click the "Next" button to begin the driver file copy. Once
the file copy is complete, your floppy disk drive will access 3 times
(checking all 3 "modes"). This is normal. Click the "Finish" button when
the driver installation is complete.
9a. You may, or may not , have a device labeled "Unknown Device" in
the"Other Devices" heading in Device Manager. If so, continue with step
9a. If not, skip to step 9b. If you have a device labeled "Unknown
Device" in the "Other Devices" heading in Device Manager, right-click on
it and select "Update Driver." Follow steps 5 through 8 to complete the
installation of "Floppy disk drive" (note that the naming of the driver
in the drivers list in step 8 may be different during this step - this is
normal). Once you've click the "Finish" button, continue on to step 10.
9b. If you do not have a device labeled "Unknown Device" in the "Other
Devices" heading in Device Manager, expand the "Floppy disk drives"
heading in Device Manager and double-click the listing for "floppy disk
drive." Follow steps 4 through 8 to complete the installation of "Floppy
disk drive" (note that the naming of the driver in the drivers list in
step 8 may be different during this step - this is normal). Once you've
clicked the "finish" button, continue on to step 10.
10. Reboot your PC. This should let you know if all of your hard work
REALLY paid off. Check the Device Manager one last time to be sure that
you now have the"VIA 3-mode floppy controller listed under the "Floppy
disk controllers" heading. Put a file on a floppy in Win98 (or another
non-SP OS) and you should now be able to access it in Windows XP (and
vice-versa) without issue. You made it!
If this helps anyone, the credit isn't mine -- I wish I could recall the
originator. There was much more background given about his research
including another web site. Unfortunately I only have the printed out
document. If there is any further interest in the entire article I would
be willing to scan and post it.
