copying floppies from Win 95 to XP

[masuk39]

I have some important files on an old computer HD, which I want to transfer to my newer XP computer. I've copied these to 3" floppies and tried to copy on the XP unit. So far, all I get is 'unable to format disk' whenever I move the disk over to the XP unit.

Is it possible to copy discs between Win 95 and XP? The Win 95 is running on FAT and the XP on whatever the newer system is.

I just bought 2 new discs and inserted one in the XP computer, and the whole unit closed down and then booted up and did a CHKDSK.

[eddds40]

Yes it is possible for a xp machine to read floopies
I would think that your bios setup isnt set to identify your floopy correct
Or in computer mgt check under device mgt floopy disk drives for settings their

[SpywareDr]

You might try ti this way:

1. (re)Format the floppy diskettes in the system running XP.
   (Note: Use a full format instead of a quick format).
   
   
2. Copy the files from the system running 98 to the floppy diskettes
   
   
3. Copy the files from the diskettes to the system running XP

[prouton]

Id SpywareDr's sugestion doesn't work, it probably means that the old computer's floppy drive is too far out of alignment. The directory structure/format used on floppies hasn't changed since Win95 (when long filenames were introduced).

A couple of possible alternatives:

1. If the old computer has an ethernet (network) port, buy a crossover cable and set up a quick and dirty network between the two. If you've got less than a dozen diskettes' worth of data, this may not be worth the time/trouble.

2. Email the files from the old computer to yourself. Be sure and turn off automatic retrieval of emails on the old computer before starting to send. This method is limited by the space allowed you by your ISP, so for more than 10 meg (size of all files) you might have to break it up into multiple passes.

[SpywareDr]

The PC Guide: Care of Specific Components
http://www.pcguide.com/care/care/compFDD-c.html

Floppy Disk Drives

Unlike hard disk drives, which are sealed and have their read/write heads in a controlled environment, floppy disk drives are exposed to the outside air, and all the contaminants that go with it. The drives should be cleaned about quarterly, and more if you use your drive a great deal.

The most important part of cleaning the drive is cleaning the read/write heads, which over time will tend to accumulate dirt and residue from disk media (which they contact while in operation). This cleaning can be done using alcohol or special cleaning kits. While cleaning the heads is an important part of overall maintenance, make sure not to overdo it; you can wear the heads out if you clean them too often (like on a daily basis.)

In addition, the inside of the floppy disk drive should be cleaned of dust as well, since it can accumulate on other components. This is best done the same way other components would be cleaned, using either a vacuum or compressed air. You can do the cleaning right through the drive slot; you don't have to open up the drive.

One maintenance activity that used to be part of the routine for floppy disks was to check and adjust their alignment. If the alignment of a drive drifts from what it should be, it will lose the ability to read disks written by other drives, and they will lose the ability to read those that it writes. When floppy drives cost several hundred dollars, computer repair labor was about $20-30 an hour, and alignment made sense. Now, a new floppy drive costs less than an hour of labor--often much less--so if a drive seems to be out of alignment, it is almost always better simply to replace it.