Vista - Floppy caching?

I put in a 3.5" 1.44M floppy and view it's directory (usually via a command
line, but also with explorer).

Now, eject the disk and put in another one.

I get the same directory. This despite considerable activity by the drive
(light goes on, head moves around).

How do I get this thing to read the actual drive rather than what appears to
be it's cached version?

- Bill

"Bill Leary" <Bill_Leary@msn.com> wrote in message
news:09AB61F5-7EA1-4615-97EB-C1F24EC73D1E@microsoft.com...
>I put in a 3.5" 1.44M floppy and view it's directory (usually via a command
>line, but also with explorer).
>
> Now, eject the disk and put in another one.
>
> I get the same directory. This despite considerable activity by the drive
> (light goes on, head moves around).
>
> How do I get this thing to read the actual drive rather than what appears
> to be it's cached version?

Most likely a defective drive. There is a switch in the drive that tells the
computer that the disk has been changed. Try blowing the drive out with some
compressed air.

"Noozer" <dont.spam@me.here> wrote in message
news:e7ge6oXeHHA.3960@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> "Bill Leary" <Bill_Leary@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:09AB61F5-7EA1-4615-97EB-C1F24EC73D1E@microsoft.com...
>>I put in a 3.5" 1.44M floppy and view it's directory (usually via a
>>command line, but also with explorer).
>>
>> Now, eject the disk and put in another one.
>>
>> I get the same directory. This despite considerable activity by the
>> drive (light goes on, head moves around).
>>
>> How do I get this thing to read the actual drive rather than what appears
>> to be it's cached version?
>
> Most likely a defective drive. There is a switch in the drive that tells
> the computer that the disk has been changed. Try blowing the drive out
> with some compressed air.

Tried that.

Now, here's something interesting.

When I access the same drive from within a Virtual PC session, it DOES
update correctly. Even while it's NOT updating in Vista.

- Bill

I remember there being compatibility problems with floppy drives when XP
first came out. Some of the older drives that people had were not up to the
current drive standards which XP used. It is likely occurring yet again. I
have replaced 3 floppy drives in the past few months for customers.

With a quality floppy drive from Sony, NEC or Samsung) I haven't seen this
problem. They are CHEAP, less that $10 from www.newegg.com.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User


"Bill Leary" <Bill_Leary@msn.com> wrote in message
news:09AB61F5-7EA1-4615-97EB-C1F24EC73D1E@microsoft.com...
>I put in a 3.5" 1.44M floppy and view it's directory (usually via a command
>line, but also with explorer).
>
> Now, eject the disk and put in another one.
>
> I get the same directory. This despite considerable activity by the drive
> (light goes on, head moves around).
>
> How do I get this thing to read the actual drive rather than what appears
> to be it's cached version?
>
> - Bill
>

"Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OEqhrheeHHA.2316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I remember there being compatibility problems with floppy drives when XP
>first came out. Some of the older drives that people had were not up to the
>current drive standards which XP used. It is likely occurring yet again. I
>have replaced 3 floppy drives in the past few months for customers.
>
> With a quality floppy drive from Sony, NEC or Samsung) I haven't seen this
> problem. They are CHEAP, less that $10 from www.newegg.com.

What I was thinking as well. It's cheap enough to just try another one, and
the one that's in there now is a no-name.

- Bill