Windows 11 not detecting external floppy drive

[hikerguy62]

I came across some old floppy disks a few weeks ago and decided to buy an external floppy drive to see what was on them. When I plug it into MULTIPLE USB ports, I hear it trying to read the floppy disk.

When I go to Explorer, it doesn't show up there (not as A: or any other drive letter).

Device Manager does show the floppy drive under "Floppy disk drives" (with no type of "error icon"), but Disk Management does NOT show anything beyond the drive letters I know are valid and in use already.

I tried running a DOS command (can't find that command now, but think it was something like mtcd.exe???) with no change.

Went into power settings and under USB settings, I disabled "USB selective suspend setting."

As stated earlier, I have tried 3 different USB ports on my PC.

I plugged this into my wife's Win10 PC and it detected it the first time (as Drive A. But then after unplugging and plugging it back in multiple times, it no longer detects it.

Any ideas what else I can try? I'm running Windows 11 Pro .

Win11 version 24H2

 

[hikerguy62]

After doing more digging, it appears the floppy (Sony model# MPF82E ) is only compatible with
Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Me, or Windows XP

So, never mind. I'll have to buy a more up-to-date external floppy drive reader (I know....the irony of saying "up-to-date" when referring to anything floppy-related lol).

 

[hacxx]

Try updating or reinstalling the floppy drive’s drivers via Device Manager. Also, check if the drive needs a specific driver or software from the manufacturer’s website for Windows 11 compatibility. Sometimes Windows doesn’t assign a drive letter automatically, so manually assigning one in Disk Management (if it appears there) might help. If Disk Management doesn’t show it, try running chkdsk on the drive letter once assigned. Lastly, test the floppy disks and drive on another PC to rule out hardware failure, as older drives can be flaky, especially on newer OS versions.

 

[Diguelo]

Better yet.

According to sales patter, nobody uses the 3.5" floppy (A or the 5" floppy (B drives any more. Apart from ME !!!!!

Using a USB Floppy may involve you setting the A: drive up in your BIOS. Most of the USB drives have a small code to mimic the drive itself.

PC > USB > DRIVE DOS > FLOPPY > DRIVE DOS > USB > PC

I had one brought to me saying this thing doesnt work, expexting it to be plug and play USB well some are some arent.

Plug the thing into a USB 2.0 slot (Black ones) then boot the PC to BIOS and set up the drive in there. USB 3 and above dont work, the thing runs on legacy firmware and USB 3 wasnt invented back then.

 

[Te-Slappa]

After doing more digging, it appears the floppy (Sony model# MPF82E ) is only compatible with
Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Me, or Windows XP

So, never mind. I'll have to buy a more up-to-date external floppy drive reader (I know....the irony of saying "up-to-date" when referring to anything floppy-related lol).

dude when its up and running make a ring tone only the chosen few will look at you when you get a text msg on the mobile post in resources please

 

[Diguelo]

?

Legacy USB uses USB 1 or 2. The device should be I say should be usable. However a lot had drivers that needed to be in place to get the connection to work.

As I recall back when floppy drives were swapped out for CD/DVD drives in laptops, this was the case. But even then it was NT / windows 2000 ones that had the drivers.

It might be worth your while to hunt the Drier online archives for these files. The changeover took place as I recall on Windows 7 from the use of standard legacy to plug and play stuff.

Ive had a skim through my archives and vhds for you but to no avail. SOrry.

 

[AFFASocial]

The Driver and the Bios is where the issue lies.

 

[Diguelo]

Hmm, Im staring to wonder if this is a true windows 11 PC they may have discontinued the Legacy drive system as in A and B drives are no longer used in their eyes.

Ive got a drive that works on Windows 10 I used it to upgrade the Software in my Tyros 2 keyboard earlier this year. Although I did buy a drive that didnt work on windows 10 at all and that one just came on and sat like a brisk flashing at me when I put a disk in then didnt read write or anything.

The next one I got worked fine with no issues at all.

If theres data on your disks you need to rescue, cheapest solution I got for you is to get yourself a Windows 98 laptop, they go on Ebay for around 30 GBP / 50 USD they can be fun machines to mess with. I have one that I play Golf on with friends over the net using WIndows ME on mine and they on 98 SP2