3.5 floppy drive error

I have not used my floppy drives in 5 or more years. I tried it yesterday and it gave a message "No ID address mark found on disk" and "Disk not formatted would I like to?". I tried the disks I have on all 4 computers I have and got the same messages. I tried a new disk I got with a new keyboard/mouse I just purchased and it brought the same results. I heard that there was a problem with drivers on XP, though I have loaded these programs from floppy years ago. Can anyone tell me if there is a max lifespan for drives and or floppy disks? I plan to move the info from floppy to CD but can't get to the info. Any help would be great... Maybe a external USB floppy is the way to go...rolleyes

 

Well there are two points here. Firstly hardware doesn't like being left for so long without being used. All the moving parts tend to seize which may well have happened to yours. To check get an old floppy that you do not need any more, slide back the shutter and mark the floppy disk with a pen. Put it into the PC and attempt to accesss it. Then remove the floppy and look under the slider and see if the mark you made has moved. If it has at least you know the disks are being spun up.

Secondly floppy disks should have their contents "renewed" on occasion as the magnetic line up of the disk fades with time eventually making a disk unreadble.

 

Thank you for your time...