Patricia Kiml wrote:
>"Cannot copy-----.Disk is => write-protected. Remove write-protection or
use another disk."
Floppy disks - The write-protection hole in the corner of the floppy disk
should be kept covered to prevent accidental wiping of the disk or the
introduction of viruses. The disk must be kept clean, dry and away from
magnetic fields or places where it might be physically damaged.

On one side of the floppy drive, (3-1/2")If you look at it from the back
side you will see two little holes on either side of the disk. The one on
the left is the lock which will prevent your from writing to the disk which
means that the information there has been protected and you can not write
over it. This is rudimentary and it is effective. If the little tab is in
the up position, you are or will be unable to write to the disk. Please bear
in mind that these disks have limited capacities and when you reach that
limit, you will have a choice to change to a larger format or use multiple
disks. I won't get into mathematical equations here but suffice it to say
that there are limitations to what you can do with floppies.

> Also, sometimes, I can jiggle the tab on the = disk, and it will let me
copy one thing, but can never get anything else = on the disk.  Can you help
me please?? Am I doing something wrong??

I'm not sure if you are doing anything wrong. I would like to answer you
questions by asking questions.

How old is the computer? This will tell us the possible condition of the
floppy drive. It may be a possibility that the drive has come to the end of
the road and needs to be replaced. Again, the size of the file has to fit
within the parameters of its capacities. What are the sizes of the files you
are trying to copy?

>My computer is about 5 years old...could it be too old?

This is pure conjecture. It may not be too old but then again the drive may
be dysfunctional and needs to be replaced.

>The disk drive reads the disks fine.

In the case of drives, you have read and write heads on the disk. What this
means is, if you hold a plate in your hand and wedge it between your index
and third finger of your other hand, this is approximately what a read write
head would look like. The read head will be on one side of the plate and the
write head on the other. You may be successful in sometimes writing to a
disk and reading all the time on the other hand.

Over time, the hardware will fail for many reasons. Dirt and debris caused
by what ever factor. Improper handing of floppies to dirt are among a few of
the factors


Sincerely,

Frank Suszka
netTek Computers
[log in to unmask]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Patti Kiml
> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 20:12
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] copying to disk
>
> Every time that I try to copy something to a disk any more, the =
> following message shows up  :  "Cannot copy-----.Disk is =
> write-protected. Remove write-protection or use another disk."  This has
> never happened before.  Also, sometimes, I can jiggle the tab on the =
> disk, and it will let me copy one thing, but can never get anything else =
> on the disk.  Can you help me please?? Am I doing something wrong??
>
> I have Windows 98, and I usually use a fresh disk.  There is no problem
> when I try to copy from other PC's.  My computer is about 5 years
> old...could it be too old?   The disk drive  reads the disks fine.
>  Patricia Kiml
>
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