The virtual machine cannot access a floppy disk on the host computer in Virtual PC 2004 (834312)

SYMPTOMS

On a virtual machine in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, when you try to access a disk that is in the physical computer's floppy disk drive, you may receive the following error message:

A:\ is not accessible. The device is not ready.

Additionally, when you try to control the floppy disk in the virtual machine, you receive the following error message:

The physical floppy disk could not be controlled. There is no floppy disk in the host drive or your floppy disk is currently in use by the host or another virtual machine.

You may also receive this error message when the virtual machine is using the floppy disk, and you try to access the floppy disk from the physical computer.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the physical computer or another virtual machine is using the floppy disk. Only one computer can use the floppy disk at a time.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, quit the program on the physical computer that is accessing the floppy disk. After you quit that program, you can open or control the floppy disk on the virtual machine.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about how to use the floppy disk drive on the physical computer from a virtual machine, see the "virtual floppy disks" topic in Virtual PC 2004 Help.