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11.28.2008 at 09:53AM PST, ID: 23942617
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Attachment Details

How might I access wks files from a 5 1/4" floppy disk?

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8.3
Zones:

Microsoft Operating Systems, MS DOS, Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

Tags:

files on 5 1/4" floppy disk, 5 1/4" floppy drive
A client asked me to retrieve data stored on a 5 1/4" floppy of unknown date, but probably at least 15 years old.  I was able to purchase a suitable drive and install it successfully as drive B: in an old desktop machine with MS Win 98 as OS.  I can read the list of files on the disk; all seem to be Works files with one possible exception (no file type displays).  However, I cannot access the data within any file or copy any of the files, say, to the desktop or another floppy (3 1/2") in the A: drive.   I was able to retrieve in this drive a range of files from six floppies from another client so I am assuming there is no problem with the drive itself.   Might the next step be to build a DOS machine (I have MS-DOS 6.22 on 3 1/2" floppies) from an old desktop to see if the files can be retrieved in DOS?  I understand from a previous response that it makes a difference which OS was used to format the floppy, but I do not know the date of this floppy.  I welcome suggestions for "diagnosis and treatment."  
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Answered By: t0t0
Expert Since: 03/31/2001
Accepted Solutions: 32
Computer Expertise: Advanced
t0t0 has been an Expert for 7 years 9 months, during which he has posted 418 comments and answered 32 questions. t0t0 is just one of 4044 experts in the Microsoft Operating Systems Zone. 4 experts collaborated on this answer, which was graded an "A" by the asker.
 
 
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