I use Ubuntu 10.10, 32-bit, computer i.386 I mount the floppy with the command: (suggested by Seppo Aarnio) udisks --mount /dev/fd0 I Click on the icon that appears on the desktop screen, it opens a blank window I pick up any file (smaller that 1MB, example an image.jpg) and I drop it on the blank window.(Or drop it on the floppy icon) It stay there. Then I check it by openning it with gimp or an image viewer, and it works. I umount the floppy, take it out, put it back again, mount it Then I check it by openning it with gimp or an image viewer, and it works very well. I can erase the file as a normal user. I do all of this as user. Never as root. Then to format the floppy, first I unmount it second, I open a terminal and as root: sudo mformat a: and the floppy is formatted. -------------------------------------------------- NOW the TEST, i use a live cd (ubuntu 10.10)....and I can read the floppy content BUT I can NOT WRITE on it as normal user. I can write in it or erase the files using sudo, like you wrote. -------------------------------------------------- Probably the problem with the floppy recognition and function is the same with the installed Ubuntu 10.10, I have to use a command new to the software of Ubuntu 10.10 in order that the distro recognize the floppy. But for a reason that I don't know the solution for the installed version does not work 100% in the live installation. Maybe it is due to a partial install of drivers in the live cd. Sorry I can not help. 2010/11/10 Torkil Olesen