Sometimes noisy floppy drive with no disk inserted!! (PROBLEM SOLVED, READ ON)

Is Windows up to date on critical patches, with current antivirus, firewall and antispyware tools?

Try clearing the documents list (start menu - customize - clear).

 

Yes, all anti-virus, ad-aware, spybot search and destroy up to date weekly.  Cookies, files and history cleared on a daily basis.  What are you thinking?  The XP recommended updates as well as critical updates reviewed and installed regularly, at least one a week.  I don't use the floppy that often but when checking "My Pictures" for example, drive attempts to go when no floppy is in the drive.  Even when I click on different items in the Dell Support site it attempts to run a floppy that's not there.  Is this normal for Dell or what?  Other than that it's quiet as can be and it doesn't do it all the time.

Message Edited by jdog23 on 08-14-2004 12:58 PM

Message Edited by jdog23 on 08-14-2004 01:00 PM

jdog23.

See if the following post can help.

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_other&message.id=199648

Bev.

jdog23.

Here's another thread that may have an answer,

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1043873843

Bev.

Thanx Bev,

The link you provided led into a number of different possibilities, one of which should take care of it.  I just don't know if it makes any difference as to which method is preferred.  I scan with AVG and Norton everyday when done on the net.  History is killed with "ccleaner" from Nonags.com.  I think it has something to do with the computer trying to load when there is nothing required.  I will try the fixes mentioned and reporrt back soon..........

jdog23

Geez Bev,

You're a regular encyclopedia of information!  Can't you save this rookie the trouble of really screwing up and point to the one method that works.  Seriously, I don't want to mess up anything by getting in over my head.  I'm counting on you Bev.........

Thanx,

jdog23

Clearing recent documents is the first thing to try, especially if you have been saving to floppy. Right click on start- properties- customize - advanced - clear list.

A second cause for me is when I gave permission in Zone alarm to access thye internet using a floppy disk stock program - and ZA kept looking for it. I deleated it from Zone Alarms program control and the problem went away.

Always have a good look at ZA program permissions.

SOOOO - if you use the floppy - try and clear the evidence. XP loves to create millions of shortcuts for anything that we do. Sometimes I am afraid to sneeze in case my floppy drive creates a shortcut and continues to look for another sneeze forever.

I know these have been covered in previous posts and links.

Ken

 

Thanx Ken,

Although it doesn't appear to be a permanent solution, it is very simple to do.  Considering how often I use the floppy drive, which is not often, it's probably the safest thing for me to do.  Because I use AVG anti-virus along with Norton Internet Security, Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy, and Spyblaster, I had to eliminate Zone Alarm because there was just too much stuff running at the same time.  Do you have any thoughts on "best anti-virus" program, i.e. free ones such as AVG vs. Zone Alarm Pro, Norton and such.  The only reason I've been using Norton is because it's what came with the puter.  I had always used AVG free version with no trouble and it did catch a couple of bad guys before on my old Gateway.......I just don't know which way is best to proceed.  The Norton system is quite elaborate with it's internet help and such.  Plus I contacted Norton online yesterday to check out the possible bug in their program that automatically checks removeable devices on boot-up.  What are you thoughts Ken?

Thanx for your help...........jdog23   

To:  Bev, Ken, & EJN63,       (HERE'S THE ANSWER)

Thank you all for you help in trying to resolve the noisy floppy drive problem I was experiencing.  After being informed by MSN that their support for the issue would cost bucks, I went back to some of the links that you, Bev, provided and tried the one that made the most sense.  Guess what?  It worked like a charm!  Here's the solution to random floppy drive access with no disk present:

Regedit.  HKEY_LOCAL_SYSTEM \ current control \ control \ session manager \ memory management \ prefetch parameters.  Set the "EnablePrefetcher" value to "0" .  End of problem, period.

Thank you all again for your help and support.  I'm sure I'll be turning to you for guidance again......

jdog23

Message Edited by jdog23 on 08-15-2004 01:17 PM

Message Edited by jdog23 on 08-15-2004 06:16 PM

jdog23.

Congratulations, that wonderfull news.

Bev.

Bev,

Yeah, it's great and I owe it all to you guys (you!).  I don't know how you accessed the correct information for me but it does work.  Only glitch is msn wants to report it as an error since I'm overriding their default so I just shut the error reporting off.

Since I've got you, what is your opinion on "best anti-virus, firewall" system and why?  The Norton Internet Securiy pack that came with my new computer expires in early October and I need to decide if I'm going to renew.  I've never used a pay service before and had good luck with AVG free version.  I know the main drawback is no net support and Norton appears to be quite a bit more thorough in every regard.  What about the other brands?  What do you use and what do you like or not like about it?

Thanx again for the help, Bev.  I'll be watching for your reply about anti-virus..........

jdig23