formatting

  • Thread starter Thread starter gmrad
  • Start date Start date
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gmrad

When I try to format a floppy disk I get a message:
Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs
that are using this drive, and make sure that no window is displaying the
contents of the file.
I do not know any utility or other program that is using the drive. How can
I learn this?
I use Windows XP pro.
 
When I try to format a floppy disk I get a message:
Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs
that are using this drive, and make sure that no window is displaying the
contents of the file.
I do not know any utility or other program that is using the drive. How can
I learn this?
I use Windows XP pro.
Click to expand...

When you insert the floppy disk, do you click on the drive's icon to
display the disk's contents? If yes, don't. Instead single right click on
the drive and select Format.

If you are not displaying the disks contents, make sure that the little
slider in the corner of the floppy disk is closed.
 
Thanks for your promt answer! I always do as you have advised. This time I
am sure there is something that really uses the floppy drive but I don't
know how to learn what is it.
 
Thanks for your promt answer! I always do as you have advised. This time I
am sure there is something that really uses the floppy drive but I don't
know how to learn what is it.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... Do you have your antivirus program setup to scan floppy disks
whenever one is inserted? That could conceivably "lock" lock the disk until
the scanning process has completed.
 
Yes, there is antivirus program that scans boot floppy. But even if it is
the cause of the problem this scan must end some time, must not it.
Let me add that I found out that if there is no disk in the floppy drive
Windows asks to insert it.
 
Yes, there is antivirus program that scans boot floppy. But even if it is
the cause of the problem this scan must end some time, must not it.
Let me add that I found out that if there is no disk in the floppy drive
Windows asks to insert it.
Click to expand...

Yes, the scan should end eventually and the floppy disk would be available
once again for use. However, there are also "on demand" settings that could
be reactivated when the floppy disk is accessed that could interfere. My
antivirus program has several options for floppies: always when accessing a
disk, only when opening files on a disk and manual antivirus scans only. A
very aggressive antivirus program could be "in the way."

Not sure what your last sentence is referring to. If you ask Windows to
format a floppy disk and one is not in the drive, it will ask for a disk to
be inserted. This message is normal and expected. It also appears if the
disk that is in the drive is not readable - damaged to the point that it
cannot be read.

When I upgraded to WinME (many would argue if that was an upgrade or not),
I ran into the situation of floppies not being accepted. Very similar to
what some run into when installing XP. Floppies that worked recently, could
not be read or formatted. Did a bit of troubleshooting and made no headway.
Bought a new box of floppies. They worked immediately and without errors.
 
Thank you very much for your longing to help. I appreciate it. I do not know
the cause of the problem but it was solved with restart of my computer. I
suppose the problem was connected with my try to make an archive on disks
with WinRar. I think that some job was not finished.
Because Windows XP is a multiprogram system all the programs that did not
connected to floppy worked well .
 
Thank you very much for your longing to help. I appreciate it. I do not know
the cause of the problem but it was solved with restart of my computer. I
suppose the problem was connected with my try to make an archive on disks
with WinRar. I think that some job was not finished.
Because Windows XP is a multiprogram system all the programs that did not
connected to floppy worked well .
Click to expand...

You're most welcome. Sometimes it is hard to say exactly what has caused a
problem. If it can be repeated and interferes with work, dig deeper. When
it is a one time occurrence, shelf the memory for future reference in case
the problem pops up some time in the future.
 
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