Removing the write protection feature on a 3 1/2 floppy disk

If you are getting this error with every new floppy, then yes, it sounds like the sensor that detects the passage of light through the hole; or the light itself when you put the floppy into the drive isn't working.

You should be able to either pick up a cheap USB floppy drive or another floppy drive from and old computer.

Have you tried sliding the tab back down? Try this and see if it works. If you have alternated between sliding up and down, then probably your floppy disk drive is broken. These along with the power supplies are a couple of things that are usually the first to quit working on a computer.

You can purchase an external floppy disk drive such as a USB floppy disk drive which you can connect to a free USB port on your computer. If your computer does not have one, then you can install an internal floppy disk drive.

*Only if Applicable*

If you are running windows 98, you might need to run windows update so that you do not run into complications when you install your USB device.

You can purchase either the external or internal floppy disk drive from the following website:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&SubCategory= 13&N=2010020013&SpeTabStoreType=1