XP wants to write on write protect disk

Hi,
Stupid XP Software
If I want to read from a floppy (with write protection)
I hear some noise from the floppy drive and then after a
while I get the message:
<<disk cannot be written to because it is write protected.
Please remove the wrinte protection from the volume in
drive A:>>
If I remove the write protection, I can read my floppy!
XP nothing has written to the floppy!

Also cannot format my disk in drive in A:
I only can format to a DOS bootable disk.
<<create an MS-DOS startup disk>>
So I format like this and then I delete these files.

No trouble on the same machine with Win98(second OS)

Is there anyone who knows the trick to solve this problem?

Gerhard

My guess is you have some other software, most possibly antivirus software
that is the source of the problem. I have no trouble reading write
protected disk in my floppy drive and there is nothing in XP's default setup
that would invoke a write command upon trying to access a write protected
floppy disk. However, some antivirus software might need unprotected access
depending upon the options setup in that software.

Also, if you have any kind of automated backup software running in the
background, it might need to change an attribute of the file which also
might trigger such an issue. Whatever the case, this is likely an issue
being caused by some other software on your system.

As to the formatting, not sure what you are doing or how you are doing it.
Are these 1.44mb floppy disks, are you trying to format the disk using the
Quick Format option on properties when you right click the floppy drive in
Windows Explorer?



--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Gerhard" <gerhard.juerjens.nospam@web.de> wrote in message
news:223401c3bf12$74fd4de0$7d02280a@phx.gbl...

> Hi,
> Stupid XP Software
> If I want to read from a floppy (with write protection)
> I hear some noise from the floppy drive and then after a
> while I get the message:
> <<disk cannot be written to because it is write protected.
> Please remove the wrinte protection from the volume in
> drive A:>>
> If I remove the write protection, I can read my floppy!
> XP nothing has written to the floppy!
>
> Also cannot format my disk in drive in A:
> I only can format to a DOS bootable disk.
> <<create an MS-DOS startup disk>>
> So I format like this and then I delete these files.
>
> No trouble on the same machine with Win98(second OS)
>
> Is there anyone who knows the trick to solve this problem?
>
> Gerhard
>

Hi Michael,

Thank you for your response.

I did not mention it, it's FAT 32

To get rid of all the background programs, I started in
safe mode.
Same result.
I get the same message.
I now I click <<cancel>> a couple of times, suddenly I can
see the files on the floppy.
If I do the same with <<continue>> or <<Try again>> I can
do this a hundred times, without any result.
It seems to be, that XP is reading every time only a bit,
but not all.
The access sound to the floppy drive is different if I
hit <<cancel>> or <<Continue, Try again>>

As I mentioned before
If I close the write protection from the floppy I can read
the content without any trouble.
Only write protect floppies are causing this trouble.
It seems to be that this happens only with those floppies
NOT written or formatted with XP.

I haven't checked this fully.

Formatting:
(surely without write protection)
There are 3 possibilities.
Normal, Quick and DOS
With Normal (no box marked)or "Quick" I get the message
"Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utility
or programs that are using this drive ...."
If I mark "DOS startup disk" XP is starting doing his job.
No different trick found.

You have any suggestions?

Gerhard

>-----Original Message-----
>My guess is you have some other software, most possibly

antivirus software

>that is the source of the problem. I have no trouble

reading write

>protected disk in my floppy drive and there is nothing in

XP's default setup

>that would invoke a write command upon trying to access a

write protected

>floppy disk. However, some antivirus software might need

unprotected access

>depending upon the options setup in that software.
>
>Also, if you have any kind of automated backup software

running in the

>background, it might need to change an attribute of the

file which also

>might trigger such an issue. Whatever the case, this is

likely an issue

>being caused by some other software on your system.
>
>As to the formatting, not sure what you are doing or how

you are doing it.

>Are these 1.44mb floppy disks, are you trying to format

the disk using the

>Quick Format option on properties when you right click

the floppy drive in

>Windows Explorer?
>
>
>
>--
>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>Windows Shell/User
>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>
>"Gerhard" <gerhard.juerjens.nospam@web.de> wrote in

message

>news:223401c3bf12$74fd4de0$7d02280a@phx.gbl...

protected.

problem?

>
>
>.
>

With regard to the reading of files on the disk, I can tell you that XP is
very unforgiving of even the slightest problems with a floppy disk,
something that was not the case for previous versions of XP. Instead of bad
disks, it may be a problem with the floppy drive. These are fairly
inexpensive and even on a new machine, they can be problematic. It might
also be a problem with the cable to the floppy drive.

If it's not a hardware problem, then again, I'm suspicious that some other
application on your system may be taking control of the drive.

Also, to play safe, you may want to be sure your antivirus software is up to
date and run a virus scan. Also, download, install and run Ad Aware to
check for any spyware that might have gotten hold of your system:
www.lavasoftusa.com

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Gerhard" <gerhard.juerjens.nospam@web.de> wrote in message
news:0ebe01c3c003$d6f54920$a401280a@phx.gbl...

> Hi Michael,
>
> Thank you for your response.
>
> I did not mention it, it's FAT 32
>
> To get rid of all the background programs, I started in
> safe mode.
> Same result.
> I get the same message.
> I now I click <<cancel>> a couple of times, suddenly I can
> see the files on the floppy.
> If I do the same with <<continue>> or <<Try again>> I can
> do this a hundred times, without any result.
> It seems to be, that XP is reading every time only a bit,
> but not all.
> The access sound to the floppy drive is different if I
> hit <<cancel>> or <<Continue, Try again>>
>
> As I mentioned before
> If I close the write protection from the floppy I can read
> the content without any trouble.
> Only write protect floppies are causing this trouble.
> It seems to be that this happens only with those floppies
> NOT written or formatted with XP.
>
> I haven't checked this fully.
>
> Formatting:
> (surely without write protection)
> There are 3 possibilities.
> Normal, Quick and DOS
> With Normal (no box marked)or "Quick" I get the message
> "Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utility
> or programs that are using this drive ...."
> If I mark "DOS startup disk" XP is starting doing his job.
> No different trick found.
>
> You have any suggestions?
>
> Gerhard
>
>
>
>

> antivirus software

> reading write

> XP's default setup

> write protected

> unprotected access

> running in the

> file which also

> likely an issue

> you are doing it.

> the disk using the

> the floppy drive in

> message

> protected.

> problem?

Hi Michael,

I would agree to to your explanation, but ...

XP can read everything if the floppy is NOT write
protected.
This clearly shows, that the floppy AND the drive are OK.
The same hardware with the some cofiguration works fine on
WIN98 on the SAME machine (2.OS)

In safe mode, same problem.
Here no virus program is running.
(Virus program updated weekly, as well as Adaware.)

Why I cant format in standard mode, only in "DOS mode"?
This shows as well, that the hardware is OK.
If I try to format WITH write protect floppy the hard AND
software shows me, that this detection is working correct.
What difference is in formatting
"DOS startup disk" and "Quick" or "normal"?
If another program will have access to the drive, why this
will not happen if I format in "DOS mode"?
This is quite strange to me.

regards

Gerhard

>-----Original Message-----
>With regard to the reading of files on the disk, I can

tell you that XP is

>very unforgiving of even the slightest problems with a

floppy disk,

>something that was not the case for previous versions of

XP. Instead of bad

>disks, it may be a problem with the floppy drive. These

are fairly

>inexpensive and even on a new machine, they can be

problematic. It might

>also be a problem with the cable to the floppy drive.
>
>If it's not a hardware problem, then again, I'm

suspicious that some other

>application on your system may be taking control of the

drive.

>
>Also, to play safe, you may want to be sure your

antivirus software is up to

>date and run a virus scan. Also, download, install and

run Ad Aware to

>check for any spyware that might have gotten hold of your

system:

>www.lavasoftusa.com
>
>--
>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>Windows Shell/User
>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>
>"Gerhard" <gerhard.juerjens.nospam@web.de> wrote in

message

>news:0ebe01c3c003$d6f54920$a401280a@phx.gbl...

can

can

bit,

read

floppies

job.

in

access a

need

is

how

protection)

after a

in

floppy!

>
>
>.
>

Quite strange to me too. Do you have a firewall? If yes, try turning it
off and see if that clears it up.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Gerhard" <gerhard.juerjens.nospam@web.de> wrote in message
news:263301c3c083$7c29d170$7d02280a@phx.gbl...

> Hi Michael,
>
> I would agree to to your explanation, but ...
>
> XP can read everything if the floppy is NOT write
> protected.
> This clearly shows, that the floppy AND the drive are OK.
> The same hardware with the some cofiguration works fine on
> WIN98 on the SAME machine (2.OS)
>
> In safe mode, same problem.
> Here no virus program is running.
> (Virus program updated weekly, as well as Adaware.)
>
> Why I cant format in standard mode, only in "DOS mode"?
> This shows as well, that the hardware is OK.
> If I try to format WITH write protect floppy the hard AND
> software shows me, that this detection is working correct.
> What difference is in formatting
> "DOS startup disk" and "Quick" or "normal"?
> If another program will have access to the drive, why this
> will not happen if I format in "DOS mode"?
> This is quite strange to me.
>
> regards
>
> Gerhard
>
>
>

> tell you that XP is

> floppy disk,

> XP. Instead of bad

> are fairly

> problematic. It might

> suspicious that some other

> drive.

> antivirus software is up to

> run Ad Aware to

> system:

> message

> can

> can

> bit,

> read

> floppies

> job.

> in

> access a

> need

> is

> how

> protection)

> after a

> in

> floppy!

Hi Michael,

I have a hardware firewall only.
I off it, same procedure, also in safe mode.
I just found out:
I must hit "cancel" as often as quantity of files there
are on the floppy.
With 10 files on, I must hit cancel 10 times!
(Empty ones do not cause this trouble... very strange!)
Then I get the content displayed.
XP is already updated with SR1 and all other fixes
available on the microsoft server.

Then I can do with this files what I want, open, alter,
change, delete etc.


Once formatted in DOS mode and the deleted all files I can
write on and read onlso in write protect mode.
So there must be on or more bytes on the floppy confusing
XP.

As my software is an OS version, I do not get ANY support
from microsoft.
The company I got the machine and software from is not
able to give any qualified support related to this problem.

Do you have some more good ideas?

Have nice day

Gerhard

>-----Original Message-----
>Quite strange to me too. Do you have a firewall? If

yes, try turning it

>off and see if that clears it up.
>
>--
>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>Windows Shell/User
>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>
>"Gerhard" <gerhard.juerjens.nospam@web.de> wrote in

message

>news:263301c3c083$7c29d170$7d02280a@phx.gbl...

OK.

on

AND

correct.

this

of

These

your

in

I

if I

message

utility

possibly

trouble

nothing

software

the

this

format

click

volume

files.

OS)

>
>
>.
>

I'm with you, it's reading something on the disks created previously that
appears to be the source of the issue. Since, you're setup is FAT32 and not
NTFS I don't think it's security related. It might be an attribute or just
how the disk was previously formatted that is given XP trouble. The format
tool in Windows 9x is somewhat different from the tool in XP.

For example, if you format your partition or hard drive using a 9x boot disk
and then run XP setup, even though the hard drive or partition is formatted,
XP setup will usually produce a message that the partition or hard drive is
unrecognized. Hence, even if you're going to use FAT32, you still have to
format using XP setup instead of the 9x floppy. In other words, even though
the drive was previously formatted, XP still might not recognize it. Since
you don't have the problem after you format the floppies in XP, my guess is
the problem is related to these differences in the format tool and XP's
ability to recognize the format.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Gerhard" <gerhard.juerjens.nospam@web.de> wrote in message
news:041201c3c0f2$a0d247e0$a101280a@phx.gbl...

> Hi Michael,
>
> I have a hardware firewall only.
> I off it, same procedure, also in safe mode.
> I just found out:
> I must hit "cancel" as often as quantity of files there
> are on the floppy.
> With 10 files on, I must hit cancel 10 times!
> (Empty ones do not cause this trouble... very strange!)
> Then I get the content displayed.
> XP is already updated with SR1 and all other fixes
>