Can't mount second floppy disk

Support and Help
1

Ubuntu Version:
Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS

Desktop Environment (if applicable):
Xfce (Xubuntu)

Problem Description:
I use floppy disks frequently for transporting little files to and from the office. (I know it’s antiquated, but it’s handy for little files, and I love keeping this old technology going.) I’ve been using them for years without problems, but in the last few months, something’s gone wrong. I’m able to mount a disk once after booting, but after unmounting it, when I try to mount another I get the following:

Failed to mount "Floppy Disk".
Error mounting system-managed device /dev/sdc: mount(2) system call failed: No data available.

So far the only way I’ve found to mount a second disk is to either reboot, or reseat the USB cable: unplug and replug, but that’s not a practical solution either. It doesn’t work all the time, either.

Relevant System Information:
I’m currently using a USB floppy drive. I’ve tried swapping it out for a different one, but get the same result. I’ve also tried plugging it into my PCIe USB card instead of directly into the back of the computer, with the same result.

Screenshots or Error Messages:

image
image580×161 17.1 KB

What I’ve Tried:
I’ve tried different settings in the Disks utility, including setting it back to the session default, but get the same result.

Disks
Disks903×601 83 KB

2

Don’t unmount. Eject.

1 Like
3

Floppy disks don’t offer the eject option, since they’re manual-eject devices.

Although, so are flash drives and they do offer that option for some reason. So maybe there’s another reason; in any case, Eject isn’t offered, at least not in the GUI.

4

Exactly :wink:

FDDs have both visual and audible ways to let you know when they are and aren’t reading/writing.

5

Yes, but . . . I still can’t mount the next disk.

6

If you don’t unmount and just eject manually, insert a new one and click on the drive in any file manager.

7

When I do, I get the “Failed to mount ‘Floppy Disk’” error shown above.