Thanks again, here are the latest clues:

A>The other args should be unnecessary as well.
Try :
mount -o rw /dev/fd0

A>If that works we're narrowing it down.

Tried it - does NOT work - gives the 'Invalid Parameters' errormessage. I must use the full arg line:
mount -o rw /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy/ -t vfat

Also, another user said:
JD>If vfat is listed in the /proc/filesystems file, then it should be compiled into the kernel.

For some reason, I cannot view the /proc folder with Nautilus, only on the Linux commandline. In Nautilus, it is listed as having 90 items in it, but when I open it nothing is visible, and the cursor turns "busy". I've waited 15 minutes or so for it to resolve but it doesn't. When I view it from the commandline all the files are visible.

Could the /proc folder itself have a problem? Could this be related to my floppy write problem?

To view the filesystem part of /proc:

open a term, as root type:

cat /proc/filesystems

You should see something like this:

nodev rootfs
nodev bdev
nodev proc
nodev sockfs
nodev tmpfs
nodev shm
nodev pipefs
ext3
ext2
nodev ramfs
umsdos
msdos
vfat
iso9660
nodev nfs
reiserfs
nodev devpts
nodev usbdevfs
nodev usbfs

I imagine your ok here.
(don't ever do this with /proc/kcore)

You stated before that typing "mount" with no args
gives you this:

/dev/hda2 on / type reiserfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
usbfs on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
/dev/fd0 on /mnt/floppy type umsdos (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,sync,codepage=850,unhide,iocharset=iso8859-1)

That is while your floppy is mounted right?

The 'cat' scares me (grin). I cheated and copy-renamed the filesystems file. Output is:

nodev rootfs
nodev bdev
nodev proc
nodev sockfs
nodev tmpfs
nodev shm
nodev pipefs
ext3
ext2
nodev ramfs
umsdos
msdos
vfat
iso9660
nodev nfs
reiserfs
nodev devpts
nodev usbdevfs
nodev usbfs

Regarding your second question:
A>You stated before that typing "mount" with no args
gives you this...

That was from an earlier experiment. Currently, typing mount with no args gives the following (when the floppy is previously mounted with
your arg line):
root@Labrat:~# mount -o rw /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy/ -t vfat
root@Labrat:~# mount
/dev/hda2 on / type reiserfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
usbfs on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
/dev/fd0 on /mnt/floppy type vfat (rw)

I'm sorry jhecht, but I don't see anything wrong with your setup.
Forgive me if I ask question that you've already answered but I
can't bring myself to dig through your old posts.

When you right click on the desktop, select disks, then floppy,
does the floppy icon appear?

Are you using /bin/bash?

I'll keep looking but I'm out of ideas.

I noticed in an earlier post that you had no trouble mounting
a usb floppy without passing extra args.
Perhaps your floppy is on the way out and linux is more sensative
to it than winders.
Your setup is just fine and no amount of fiddling with fstab will help.
mtab and proc take care of themselves.

A>When you right click on the desktop, select disks, then floppy,
does the floppy icon appear?
YES, but always in ready-only mode.

A>Are you using /bin/bash?
YES, stock Slackware 9.1 distro with Gnome upped to 2.6.

A>I'll keep looking but I'm out of ideas.
Me too, that's why I'm being such a pest! (grin)

A>Perhaps your floppy is on the way out and linux is more sensative
to it than winders.
Hmmm, almost plaussible - but, but the floppy works perfectly when the arg is passed, it works perfectly in mcopy, and it reads fine in read mode at all times. All the dying flops I've seen went intermittent. Oh, and it works damn fast, too - no grinding, slowpoke action.

Still, I'll pick up another drive and swap it out. A computer tech can always use a spare drive (grin).

And WHY can't I view the /proc folder in Nautilus?!?! Can you?

Meanwhile, a tidbit for your effort from my audio engineer past...

Do you use gold and nickel plated connectors? Sure you do - computers are full of them. In audio, we do as well, and there's an outstanding contact cleaner/enhancer for them called "ProGold". No one in IT seems to know about it...

It's made by Caig Laboratories, (www.caig.com), and not only cleans, but also enhances contact. No BS! I've found that it really helps with computers too, and that flakey PCI sockets (and others) stop being intermittent after cleaning with PG. Caig makes a whole range of sprays that are worth checking out.

One of the best versions they make, is a 'pump' action can with no aerosol gas. So what's in the can is 100% cleaner, and lasts forever.

Try some, you'll like it! Then spread the word to IT techs...