External floppy drive not recognized

No, Disk Utility cannot find the external floppy drive, although it is listed by the System Profiler. Thus, I never get to the point where I can format a blank diskette or read previously formatted diskettes (whether for Mac or PC, whether 1.44 or 800K). I do, at least, hear the diskette turning when I insert one.

Thank you and thanks, too, to Texas Mac Man. Indeed, I tried some of the Fix-It techniques to no avail, but, to fast forward, I believe that I now have the answer. Apparently, System X (I have upgraded to 10.4.11) can recognize PC diskettes, but only Mac diskettes created under System 9.2 and above. Older Mac diskettes or blank diskettes, whether PC or Mac, are invisible to the System X Finder even when the diskettes themselves are intact, as I can confirm under System 9.1. Before setting out to restore old files, I perhaps should have been aware of this limitation of System X, but Apple, I believe, was less than forthcoming in its utilities, alerts, tech notes, and telephone support, none of which were of much assistance. Isn't it curious that Windows 7, for all its faults, can go back in time and fetch Vista, XP, Windows 2000, Millenium, and Windows 95 media, whereas Apple forces the herd to move along to new pastures. Apple's penchant for incompatibility and blindsiding of customers are no way to keep them.

I have yet to experiment with your guidelnes, but I defer to your wisdom and experience. Many thanks, if belatedly. Apple should document this problem and not leave it to users to sort out on their own.

Thanks, please see below in this thread (no luck with Mac, PC, or blank diskettes).

Please see other reply in this thread (no luck with 800 K or 1.4 MB diskettes).