Floppy disks and floppy disk drives can be very unreliable.  There's several things you should check.  First, try the obvious and make sure that the disks are for PC and not Mac, that they're the right size, 1.4mb, and also in good or new condition.

Nexr, check that the BIOS is enabled for a 1.4mb floppy drive.  On older PC's there was a choice.

Then check that the ribbon cable is correct for orientation and isn't loose.

Another possible problem can stem from dirt or a torn label inside the floppy case.

And last but not least, I've had problems with floppy disks and drives for no apparent reason at all, even on near new machines.

As a last resort, you may have to replace the floppy drive.  Get a new cable also and maybe some new disks.

Ian Porter
Computer Guys Inc.
Arrowtown
New Zealand
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  ----- Original Message ----- 

  Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 11:43 AM
  Subject: [PCSOFT] Can't raed files from floppy


  I recently installed 98se on a second hand pc.....Everything works fine until you want to go to my computer/31/2 floppy...then an error message comes up about explorer and says the program will shut down....fine then I right click the 3 1/2 floppy and go to explore and then I can read my files...but  I should be able to double click or right click the floppy to read the files. think something is missing from the install..it was a clean install also.  Thanks RC

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