Windows 7: USB Floppy Drive driver error

Has anyone else had trouble using a USB floppy drive in Windows 7? The drive does not appear in My Computer, I have tried troubleshooting the device, uninstalling it and re-installing it and trying to install other drivers to resolve the issue (windows will not accept others as it already has the best driver apparently...). I'm at a loss now I have even tried using drivermax to correct the problem but even that does not recognise the device.

To ensure it wasn't an issue with the Floppy drive itself I have even tried using another, with the same result.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi not sure if this is related at all but i am having similar issues with a USB memory stick, I have tried the same stick on 4 desktops and 2 laptops and only those running windows 7 do not recognise the drive. Nothing in my computer and nothing in disk management. Could this be some kind of USB security in place, but all other devices has cause no problems.

Not sure if they are related either to be honest but the Drivers sfloppy.sys and USBSTOR are installed in the directory ok, so I can only assume that there is an issue with the new Windows 7 .sys files. I'm not sure either whether there are any other USB related files required to make the device operate correctly that may also be at fault. All I know is that I get error 10 "device unable to start". However if I restart the computer with a floppy in the drive it does recognise it and says it's a non system disk.
I was hoping that someone may have found a solution to the problem but I'm aware that there are few people using USB floppy drives now. My only reason for using one is because I use a DOS program that looks only for Drive A to load new files to it. Good luck with your USB pen hopefully if they are related one of us may find the solution!

I am also having the same problem. When i first received the Beta, i did a Clean install, and everything worked fine. I plugged in a USB Floppy, and it seemed to install, but then it says "Failed". I went to Device Manager, and there was the Floppy, but it had a "Code 10". So i tried to install the driver that came with it, but the system said the driver i had was "good enough" and wouldn't install another diver. So I tried a totally different Floppy drive and got the same thing. So i uninstalled Windows 7 and did a new clean install of Vista. I made sure BOTH floppies worked, then i tried an UPGRADE. Again, both floppies do not work. The system recognizes them, but they have a code 10, and will not let me install a different driver.

Just a note, I'm a PC technician, and I use the floppy drive everyday for IBM and DELL computers. IBM for updating BIOS's on older systems that don't have CD-ROM's, and DELL servers without CD-ROM's. Some of us are still required to use them in our work, and I LOVE the new Windows 7, but this has been the only problem.

Hi thanks for your reply, I have found out more about this now. I also deal with software and I have found out that this is an issue with the default drivers for usb devices. Because Windows 7 is a new platform it is not supported by many manufacturers yet and is unlikely to be supported for outdated devices such as floppy disc drives. You will not find a driver that work at the manufacturers site and we will depend on the devices compatability with Windows 7 in the future. Rolling back the drivers or using XP/vista drivers will not work either.
Unfortunately I doubt if this is a serious issue for the developers of the Windows 7 platform, but I am hopeful that this may be addressed in the future before it's official release.
I also had trouble running MSDOS programs and despite wanting to be part of the test of this platform unfortunately I have had to go back to the useless vista, which I can at least operate the programs and hardware I need to function on a work basis.
If these "minor" issues are ironed out I will definitely be swithing to the new platform, as I was very happy with it's speed and ease of use. Although I'm sure that if, at a later date, a service pack is required these will be impaired.

By the way it took me over 8 hours to reinstall the appalling vista and updates, I could have chewed my toes off......

i also use to use the floppy drive with my Sony mavica Camara to upload pics to ebay ..Now the floppy is useless in Seven .. Also My HP Touchsmart is not working ..Was one of the reasons I bought this New HP iq504.. Vista seemed Ok .. but stupid me wanting the latest OS DL ed Seven ... Now I would like to uninstall it and go back to Vista.. at least till it's finally all together.. So HOW DO I UNINSTALL SEVEN

That's exactly what I was thinking. Thanks for the reply and finding that out. Also, i might note that it first installs the generic driver with no problems, it gives a green checkmark, then 2 seconds later after installing the generic driver, it goes to load the device specific driver and this is the one that fails. Whether it was the Sony or the Y-E-Data drive, it didn't matter, i got the same failure. First driver, okay, second driver fails.
Well, it depends on how you installed Windows 7. I always just reformat. The only files you really need are in the User folder, and any extra folders you have on the drive. I also re-installed Vista, just by putting in the Vista disk, and re-installing without formatting. The Vista installation sees the Windows 7 installation as an "old windows" installation, and puts all the files in a Windows.old folder and doesn't erase them.
I'm sure they'll work the bugs out. At least they better, because Windows 7 looks extremely promising so far. Very fast and easy. I'm loving it. Good luck.

I know how to make the floppy to work but you will do it at your own risk . I said "own risk" because i saw that on other windows 7 after restart the windows will crash . I have a multiboot system and i copied this file from Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 :

/Windows/System32/Drivers/sfloppy.sys
to the same path in Windows 7 and now i can see the floppy drive .

My problem is that i have a USB stick with a virtual Floppy Drive for a Password Security Program and now the program is not working because of this error :

Please insert the device or run this utility as privileged user .

This is an error from the program because floppy drive is working 100% .

Cya

PS : Sorry for my english but i`m from Romania .

justme - your English is fine. Thanks for the tip... I just wished I had nerve enough to try it. I think that you have the solution, but the "own risk" and crash thing kind'a scares me.

@jgapa

You will not loose your data(I think ) . On my laptop I had no problem but a friend of mine made the same thing and after restart there was a blue screen error at the loading screen. I turned off his computer and on again and I got the Repair Tools menu from Win 7 and I must say that they are perfect . You can choose to make a startup repair and the system will be operational after the next restart but without floppy drive .

Now I`m not sure that anyone can use the repair tools from Windows 7 after that blue screen error that is why I said "own risk" . Windows 7 is beta and this is why we have to test it to see whats bad and good . My opinion is that Windows 7 will be the perfect Windows . Even if I get errors I still use it . I didn`t used Vista for about 2 weeks .

Cya