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Q139474: Cannot Access Floppy Drive When Backup Program Is Running

Article: Q139474
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): 95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): win95
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 
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SUMMARY
=======

When you are running Microsoft Backup (or another 32-bit Windows-based backup
program) you may receive the following error message if you try to access a
floppy disk drive from My Computer or Windows Explorer:

  <drive>:\ is not accessible

You may also receive the following error message:

  device is not ready

These error messages can occur even if there is a formatted disk in the drive.

In addition, if you are performing a backup, restore, or compare operation, the
operation may be canceled if you try to access the floppy disk drive from a
command prompt.

MORE INFORMATION
================

This behavior occurs when you have a tape drive connected to the same floppy
disk drive controller as the floppy disk drive you are trying to access.

When a 32-bit Windows-based program is accessing one of the drives connected to
the floppy disk drive controller, all other drives on the controller are
unavailable. When you attempt to access a floppy disk drive from a command
prompt, any active backup, restore, or compare operation is canceled because
Windows 95 cannot prevent floppy disk drive access from occurring when the drive
is accessed from a command prompt.

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Keywords          : win95 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : 95

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