Can't open files saved to my floppy disk

Copied below is a message I sent to Dell Tech Support earlier this evening. I'd appreciate any supplemental suggestions from DellTalk members to help troubleshoot this problem.

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I have a most unusual and frustrating problem.

After I save Word & Excel files to a floppy disk, I can't open them again if I ever remove the floppy disk from the a: drive (even if I close the Word and Excel programs). In other words, I can't ever open a Word or Excel file on a floppy disk once I remove and re-insert the disk into the a: drive.

First, I get about 15 seconds of the floppy disk churning and churning. Then I get the following error message: " 'file name cannot be accessed. The file may be read only, or you may be trying to access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on may not be responding." I believe this error message is incorrect and/or irrelevant because (1) all the files in question are not read-only and (2) the files were stored on the floppy disk, not a server. If I try unsuccessfully to open the files several times, then the PC corrupts the floppy disk and makes it appear (to the Dell PC, anyway) that the floppy disk is unformatted. Then I have to re-format the floppy to be able to use it again.

Strangely, the problem doesn't seem to happen when I save the Word/Excel files to my hard drive, at least not so far.

Also, I'm pretty sure that my floppy disks aren't to blame because I've tested several floppies from DIFFERENT BATCHES of floppies and I get the same result -- I get the same error message when trying to open a saved file if I ever remove then reinsert the floppy back into the a: drive.

Another strange thing: Using my other PC at home, I can open Word/Excel files that the Dell Dimension PC saves onto floppies. Because my other PC is older and has older versions of Word and Excel, I have to save those files in Word 6.0 and Excel 5.0 for use on my other PC. In any case, I don't have a problem opening the Word and Excel files using my other PC.

If I had to guess, I'd say there's a problem with one or more of the following: Microsoft Word and Excel, the a: drive on my Dell PC, or Windows ME. However, you're the technical experts, so I request your assistance to resolve this frustrating problem. Bottom line is: I do want to be able to use Word and Excel on this new Dell PC, and I want to be able to save to the a: drive without having to worry that I can't open it later. Thanks.