How do I reformat a floppy disk?

Question

I have a floppy with a doc on it i need but when i try to open it i get a message saying it is not in correct format and to click to reformat cancel or continue but it still won't open - word then disables the doc and shuts down - when i enable it again it still doesn;t open!! The doc is a txt doc in word any ideas???

Answer 1

Most likely you've lost the file, try right clicking on it then going to properties, and go to tools and error check. If it tells you there's problems there's nothing you can do and you lose your data.

Answer 2

my guess is that this is the only copy you have of this file so...

first of all ignore all the people that tell you to reformat - if you do you will lose all your data. or at least wont/might get it back with a lot of agro.

because you get a message saying it "it is not in correct format and to click to reformat cancel or continue" - this sounds like a Windows message which means there is a problem with the actual disc itself. you may or maynot completely or partially remedy this.

first of all try closing word and just copying the file over to your 'my docs' file or where ever you want, then opening it again.

if windows wont copy the file over, then you can see if DOS will do it:
1) open a command prompt. (prob from your start menu by typing command or cmd in the run box)
2) type "copy A:\filename c:\" this will copy the file from A:\root to c:\root.

then try opening the file again

if all this fails (sometimes windows stops DOS from doing things), then its possible that you could still copy the file using DOS but without windows running.
to do this you will need a boot disc that uses a RAM-Drive. - boot using the disc then when the RAM-Drive is loaded, swap floppy discs and try the above again.

if this doesnt work then you will need to fix the disc:
1) right-click on the A drive from windows explorer and choose properties then tools.
2) chose error checking and make sure the option to fix problems is enabled and then let run.

if there is a problem with the sector that the file is on, windows will fix it but you may lose part of the file.

then try opening the file again

if your file has been partially destroyed by the fix process and will not open in word, afterwords then use NotePad

if this doesnt work then get hold of some file recovery software that can scan floppies and A: drives

after you've found the file and resaved to C:, try opening again

Answer 3

You don't say how you are trying to open it.

Are you opening up the floppy and trying directly from there or are you using a WP programme to try and open it?

If it is a text doc and not corrupt you should be able to open it with Word, works or another WP programme.

Open WP programme, go to File, Open, locate your text doc and open.

Oh! if you reformat a disc you lose all data that is stored on it.

Answer 4

Does not sound like a formatting issue with the floppy itself. Word seems to be having trouble reading the format that the file is in. Did you write it with another word processor?

Answer 5

Make sure you have a copy of the document elsewhere first then click on the start button and then click run. type in cmd and then the command prompt opent. Type in format a: (if a is the floppy drive) and press enter. it will ask you if you are sure. press y and enter. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Select "My Computer"
RIGHT click 3.1/2" Floppy and then
select 'Format' (it will tell you when format is complete

You have the option of quick or full format
Good Luck

Answer 7

Put your floppy in the drive...(Usually drive: A:) then click on My Computer. Right Click on the A: drive and choose: format

Answer 8

Sounds like the floppy is too old to begin with! Go buy a new one for 25 cents!

Answer 9

All I can think of is the disk is bad or it is not high density disk.it is not 1.4 it is 720 try to format it 720 or try to open it in old computer.

Answer 10

Floppy"s go bad. Just give it a toss