LS 120 I/O device error

[institute3]

When I tried to use the Matsu****a LS 120 drive today I got the error message: B:/ is not accessible I/O device error. I also had some other anomalies: Insert disk when there is a disk in the drive; disk not formatted when the disk is formatted.
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(Had not used the drive for several months.. now that I am about to do my taxes I need last years data which is on an LS 120 disk)
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Don't get the I/O device error all of the time.. get message "insert disk" or "disk not formatted".. or a combination of all three messages

The drive will read 1.44 floppies.

BIOs is set up correctly.

No errors flagged in Device Manager.. says that this device is working normally

Powered off and removed LS power plug and IDE connector.. replaced both.. problem still there.

OS: Windows XP home edition
Hardware: Athlon 1.5 gig, 525 meg ram, master/slave hdd 80/120 gig, generic 1.44 floppy, plexwriter CD configured as master and Matsu****a LS120 slave on secondary IDE port, MOBO: Asus A7V600

What I would like to do is to isolate the problem to either S/W or the LS120 hardware. If the problem is the 120 I can get a new one on Ebay for 25 bucks including shipping.. But hate to buy another one until I am sure the problem is the 120.

Appreciate any information that you can provide..

Thanks Bob Hager

** Previewed my post and noted that the Manufacturers last four letters in its name had been **** out.. Funny

[mc2phat]

I used to use Panasonic LS 120s. I had the exact problem with two of them; they stopped reading LS120 disks but would read 1.44 floppies. I wound up with two extremely fast floppy drives, and quit using them because I had problems with newer boards' BIOS booting to them. Both instances the drives had gone bad. Yours may have some hope. try the drive in a different system perhaps, or call around to the local shops and see if they have an LS120 and can move the files to different media. I also had several LS120 disks go bad, even with infrequent use. Good luck; maybe one of the pros can give you more meaningful advice.

[glc]

That's pretty good advice. See if someone can get your data off and burn a CD for you or put it on a USB flash key. The LS-120 is going the way of the Zip drive.