DOS Floppy problem

[j4ck]

I need to get some .cpp files off of an *old* DOS machine. I need to use a 1.44 MB floppy to do this, but I am having some major problems getting the machine to properly recognize the floppy (drive a:\). I have formatted the floppy by using the DOS 'FORMAT A:' command (which seemed to work), but in no way am I able to actually copy anything to the disk.

Neither
COPY file.cpp A:\file.cpp
nor
MKDIR A:\folder

works. I just get an error (which I cant remember) asking me to abort, retry, or fail.

I should also add that the machine doesn't seem to be able to read other floppies.

Keeping in mind that I am not very familiar with DOS machines, are there any suggestions?

[DragonNOA1]

Looks like you did most of the troubleshooting already.

First I would say to doublecheck by using another floppy disk. You said you tried this so the next thing to do is to either get a new floppy drive or slave the HD to another and copy files that way. Prolly easier to just hook up a new floppy drive.

[j4ck]

Thanks for the help! I replaced the drive and it works fine. I was a little unsure whether the problem was user-error or not.

I assume the old drive was LD or broken.