Why is my floppy drive running?

  • Thread starter Thread starter watha
  • Start date Start date
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watha

I just did a fresh reinstall of XP on a new hard drive, and am
enjoying the usual improved performance. But there's one odd quirk--
the floppy drive, which has no disk in it, keeps lighting up and
buzzing as if it were searching for data. It does this every few
minutes. I suppose it's haremless, but it's annoying. Besides, I'm
curious about why it would do this. Anybody ever see this before?
And how can I make it stop? Thanks.
 
watha said:
I just did a fresh reinstall of XP on a new hard drive, and am
enjoying the usual improved performance. But there's one odd quirk--
the floppy drive, which has no disk in it, keeps lighting up and
buzzing as if it were searching for data. It does this every few
minutes. I suppose it's haremless, but it's annoying. Besides, I'm
curious about why it would do this. Anybody ever see this before?
And how can I make it stop? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Try to open a file in something. Like a image in paint shop or something
similar. It probably will search for a floppy and then tell you there is no
disk in the drive. Then use the browse button and open an image from the
hard drive. That should stop xp from thinking the floppy is the default
drive and stop searching it.
 
Go to: Programs/Administrative Tools/Services/In the right pane set"Shell
Hardware Detection" service to manual startup. Set it to automatic.

Or ....

Go to Start/Run/services.msc

Start/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services. In the right pane find
Shell Hardware Detection and set it to Automatic.

Added info:

This behavior can occur if a folder that includes a .pif file that
references a program file on a floppy disk drive is opened. For example, if
you have a .pif file with a command line "a:\edit.com" in the Windows\Temp
folder, your floppy disk drive may be active when you start your computer.

To resolve this issue, change the command line reference in the Properties
of the shortcut, or delete the shortcut:

For example, if the command line reads a:\edit.com, change the line to read
edit.com

This issue most often occurs after the contents of a floppy disk are copied
to a folder on your hard disk. This can also occur if a shortcut on your
hard disk references a program that is on a floppy disk. Note that this can
also occur on other removable media.

Programs/Administrative Tools/Services/In the right pane set"Shell Hardware
Detection" service to manual startup. Set it to automatic.

"Please Insert Disk into Drive A:" Appears Repeatedly at Startup
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q282470

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner
 
watha said:
I just did a fresh reinstall of XP on a new hard drive, and am
enjoying the usual improved performance. But there's one odd quirk--
the floppy drive, which has no disk in it, keeps lighting up and
buzzing as if it were searching for data. It does this every few
minutes. I suppose it's haremless, but it's annoying. Besides, I'm
curious about why it would do this. Anybody ever see this before?
And how can I make it stop? Thanks.
Click to expand...



Just put a floppy in the drive, that sometimes solves ythe problem.
You can later remove it
 
BigJim said:
One way to solve the problem is the disable the floppy in the bios or
completely remove it.
New computers do not even come with floppy drives.
Click to expand...

Some do, or at least can, as an option (if you're smart about it).
 
I hate to clue you in, but it IS still needed, in a few instances. But
granted, the Average Joe doing his regular stuff may not ever need it.

And yes, I use a flash drive (considerably more often than the floppy!).
 
Go to:  Programs/Administrative Tools/Services/In the right pane set"Shell
Hardware Detection" service to manual startup. Set it to automatic.

Or ....

Go to Start/Run/services.msc

Start/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services. In the right pane find
Shell Hardware Detection and set it to Automatic.

Added info:

This behavior can occur if a folder that includes a .pif file that
references a program file on a floppy disk drive is opened. For example, if
you have a .pif file with a command line "a:\edit.com" in the Windows\Temp
folder, your floppy disk drive may be active when you start your computer..

To resolve this issue, change the command line reference in the Properties
of the shortcut, or delete the shortcut:

For example, if the command line reads a:\edit.com, change the line to read
edit.com

This issue most often occurs after the contents of a floppy disk are copied
to a folder on your hard disk. This can also occur if a shortcut on your
hard disk references a program that is on a floppy disk. Note that this can
also occur on other removable media.

Programs/Administrative Tools/Services/In the right pane set"Shell Hardware
Detection" service to manual startup. Set it to automatic.

"Please Insert Disk into Drive A:" Appears Repeatedly at Startuphttp://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q282470

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpacewww.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner
Click to expand...

Shell hardware detection is already set to automatic. Anything else?
Thanks.
 
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