I recently found three 3.25 floppy disks from my college days. I would like to be able to see what type of things I was writing in college. I cannot see what is on the disks because the computer is telling me that they are not formatted. To format means I will lose the data. Does anyone know what can I do to see what is on these disks. I am especially interested in viewing the word files that may be on them.

jbchavez said:

If you know for certain that you have files on that disc, and yet your current computer is telling you they are not formatted, probably means you're using a computer with a different operating system than the system that created the files.

Like for example, you're trying to view files on a disc that were created by a Mac on a PC. Or perhaps if the files were created on an Atari system and now you're trying to view it on a Mac. Because you're right; if you format those discs now - you'll erase all of your old porn.. uh, oh, I mean your old word files .

If possible, try to access those discs on exactly the same type of system that you created them on in college.

Thanks for the info. I am not sure if I will be able to find a computer with the same operating system. I believe the operating system of the day was one of the first window systems. I know that the word files are word 5.0. I do have a few desktops in the attic, but they are not working.

Hold on to your discs. At some point in the future, you'll probably come across a system that can access them (assuming the entire disc has not been corrupted - which is a possibility).

I've had the discs since 92. I want to read some of the papers I wrote back then. I also have a few other personal writings that I want to revisit. Maybe I can buy an old computer with windows 3.1 on it.

jbchavez said:

...or you could partition your current hard drive and install Windows 3.1 on that part of your hard drive. Then all you'd need to do is find a copy of Windows 3.1. Probably a good bet that someone still has an old 3.1 disc laying around. But then all things considered, that's a lot of work to go through just to access a few old "word files". And then even if you went through all that work, it could be that the discs are corrupt and wouldn't be readable on ANY system. Guess it's all a matter of how important it is getting to those old "word files".

Why don't use try going into "Dos" mode and try accessing the dir of the disk from there?

Also, I would consider fixing and using those computers you have in the attic. I haven't come across a system yet that couldn't be refurbished (unless it was just totally destroyed, like in a fire).

If those floppy's aren't corrupt - you CAN get the files that are on there. It'll just take a little work.

Graycap23 said:

Excellent idea!

One other thing u can try, goto a program like Excel and do file open, when the open box comes up change the option from type of files to "All files" and then choose the disk.

PDogz said:

I will try this. I did think about doing it, but I was at work and I cannot access dos from work. I will try it here at home.

PDogz, I am trying to access "word files." In my younger days, I would attend writing conferences and had many articles, stories, and a few poems published. I hope to find some of these writings.

Thanks

jbchavez said:

I truly hope you're able to access your files. I'm sure you had saved them to disc for a good reason.

JB

Good to see you posting