pics on old floppys

i have pics on floppys put there years ago when my computer was using windows 98. i recenty found them, bought an external floppy drive for my new computer so i could save them. it shows that i have information on the floppy in properties, but when i try to open them it says the floppy is not formatted. I'm currently using XP, is there a recognition problem between the two different operating systems or is there a program or patch i need to try and save my kids old pics?

 

Does it list any files (.jpg, .bmp. etc) when you open the drive from My Computer? I have an external USB floppy drive and have used it to access floppies that are many years old, maybe back to Win 3.11. I'll do some experimenting with them and make sure even the oldest ones work.

 

OK, a quick check shows that floppies going back to the dawn of time, wayback to the 1980's, still read and function. I have a Nutshell database program made for a Leading Edge PC that had dual 5 1/4" floppies, from 1985. That is the oldest.The floppies themselves were made in the early 1990's.

Maybe there really isn't any information on the floppy. Or maybe the magnetic bits have dissipated over time. Sorry I can't help any more then this. But there are Wizards here, so somebody can.