Reading FAT files from external usb floppy disk drive.

[Oldoaktree]

My daughter has an old floppy disk with course work from 20 years ago on it. She is now retraining and would like this data. I keep getting a disk not recognised error message and the disk must be formatted. If I format it, all the data will be lost. How can I retrieve the data on the disk without formatting it? Any suggestions please.

 

[SIW2]

You have a floppy drive? Have you tested with a different disk to confirm there is not a problem with the drive.

Is there an imaging program that will do an all sector image of it right now, in case you screw something up?

Perhaps you could try something bootable with clonezilla on it and see if that can make an image. I think clonezilla is included in this version of parted magic Download Parted Magic - MajorGeeks


In addition, jumanji might be able to help with the data recovery.

 

[jumanji]

My daughter has an old floppy disk with course work from 20 years ago on it. She is now retraining and would like this data. I keep getting a disk not recognised error message and the disk must be formatted. If I format it, all the data will be lost. How can I retrieve the data on the disk without formatting it? Any suggestions please.

Oops! 20 year old floppy disk? !!!!!!!!. I am just curious.

Can you post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management showing the floppy disk?

Try Badcopy Pro Free trial version and let me know the results. ( If the file is shown, you will not be able to copy it unless you buy it)

If it shows your files then we shall attempt to use TestDisk and check whether it can recover the file for free.

How to Recover Data from Floppy Disk in 3 Steps

BadCopy Pro - Floppy Disk Recovery Software

 

[RolandJS]

I still have a working usb floppy diskette drive -- if OP wants, I can try the diskette in my FD.