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re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 3:15 pm Posted by Flozem (1 messages posted) Regretfully this options doesn't work for my floppy problem in winxp... On Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at 12:57 pm, Bob Harvey wrote: >I have a comment about Stop >Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive: >None of the items mentioned in the article appeared to work for my random floppy >seeks in Windows XP. I was getting quite frustrated till I also noticed the floppy >would access every time I opened a hard drive or CD folder window. If I opened more >folders inside this window, no seek, but close the main window, and it again activated >the floppy. > >I finally traced it down to the WinXP setting for running folder windows in a separate >process. Once I unclicked that check box under folder options, the problem disappeared. > FYI. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Friday, April 25, 2003 at 11:53 am Posted by Rudy (2 messages posted) Could you please elaborate further about the solution. I have a very similar problem with my Windows XP. I always have the floopy continuously searching everytime I startup my PC. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Thursday, June 5, 2003 at 7:02 pm Posted by bunnyslipers (5 messages posted) Rudy: The instructions referenced are found here: Click on Start > Control Panel. Double click on Folder Options. Click on the View tab. Scroll down to just below "Hidden files and folders"; the third box down is "Launch files and folders in a separate process." Mine was unchecked, and I'm still having this problem, so I checked it, clicked on Apply > OK, closed everything, did a restart, and guess what? It didn't work. Anyone have any more ideas? I'm a member of an answer board, AnswerPool.com, and I've posted this same question there. If I get an answer, I'll post back here. On Friday, April 25, 2003 at 11:53 am, Rudy wrote: >Could you please elaborate further about the solution. I have a very similar problem >with my Windows XP. I always have the floopy continuously searching everytime I startup >my PC. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Wednesday, June 11, 2003 at 8:07 pm Posted by brian (1 messages posted) I'm having a similar problem with Windows 2000 Professional. From the time I boot up until I shut down, the floppy drive will seek between one and five times pause for 10 to 50 seconds, then repeat. Any help appreciated. On Thursday, June 5, 2003 at 7:02 pm, bunnyslippers wrote: >Rudy: > >The instructions referenced are found here: > >Click on Start > Control Panel. Double click on Folder Options. Click on the View >tab. Scroll down to just below "Hidden files and folders"; the third box down is >"Launch files and folders in a separate process." > >Mine was unchecked, and I'm still having this problem, so I checked it, clicked on >Apply > OK, closed everything, did a restart, and guess what? > >It didn't work. Anyone have any more ideas? > >I'm a member of an answer board, AnswerPool.com, and I've posted this same question >there. If I get an answer, I'll post back here. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Saturday, August 2, 2003 at 8:49 pm Posted by Dan (1 messages posted) I have had this problem with my Windows XP Pro now for about 2 years and on several occasions. However the only solution I have found that works is the unfortunate task of re-installing Windows. I believe the floppy accessing randomly may be attributed to two possible causes. The first being an exploit that was recieved by the operating system via either the internet or installing tampered software. This exploit may not have exploited an open port for an assumed attacker, however, even though the Windows update will resolve such hits, the exploit may have opened up the ability to try an send any information you are accessing to the floppy drive. This is usually a way for viruses to spread, keeping in mind that exploit hits are picked up by Norton Antivirus and many other antivirus programs but cannot usually be cleaned, deleted, or quarantined. Because it is not a file, just an action. I personally have been hit with such exploits from frequent IE browsing. My second guess as to what may cause it may be a corruption in an antivirus software. I have browsed Microsoft.com for answers and I found nothing on this topic. This tells me it may be a non-microsoft software issue. On Wednesday, June 11, 2003 at 8:07 pm, brian wrote: >I'm having a similar problem with Windows 2000 Professional. From the time I boot >up until I shut down, the floppy drive will seek between one and five times pause >for 10 to 50 seconds, then repeat. > >Any help appreciated. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 10:03 pm Posted by Jorge (1 messages posted) Personally I DO think it's a miscosoft's isue... I've just installed windows XP in a computer that used to have windows Millenium Edition. Since the firtst minute I installed windows XP, the floppy reading issue has been annoying me. I regret that I have formatted my hard drive and loaded XP now... Hope any solution arrises soon. On Saturday, August 2, 2003 at 8:49 pm, Dan wrote: >I have had this problem with my Windows XP Pro now for about 2 years and on several >occasions. However the only solution I have found that works is the unfortunate task >of re-installing Windows. I believe the floppy accessing randomly may be attributed >to two possible causes. The first being an exploit that was recieved by the operating >system via either the internet or installing tampered software. This exploit may >not have exploited an open port for an assumed attacker, however, even though the >Windows update will resolve such hits, the exploit may have opened up the ability >to try an send any information you are accessing to the floppy drive. This is usually >a way for viruses to spread, keeping in mind that exploit hits are picked up by Norton >Antivirus and many other antivirus programs but cannot usually be cleaned, deleted, >or quarantined. Because it is not a file, just an action. I personally have been >hit with such exploits from frequent IE browsing. My second guess as to what may >cause it may be a corruption in an antivirus software. I have browsed Microsoft.com >for answers and I found nothing on this topic. This tells me it may be a non-microsoft >software issue. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Saturday, December 20, 2003 at 6:31 pm Posted by Richard Drdul (1 messages posted) I encountered the same problem after upgrading from Norton Internet security 2003 to NIS 2004 on my WinXP Pro machine. I wrote to Symantec, telling them that my computer accesses the floppy drive every time I click on a file folder in Explorer or Favorites in IE. Symantec's response: This can happen if a Windows shortcut points to the A drive. This situation can occur after installing any program and is an anomaly of the operating system. To correct this problem, you need to remove or change the shortcuts: -> Shortcuts on the Documents menu can cause this issue. An entry in the Documents menu (click Start and point to Documents) might have a pointer to the A drive, for example, a text file that has been opened from the A drive. The shortcuts to these documents are stored by default in the \Windows\Recent folder. -> Shortcuts on your Windows desktop can also point to the A: drive and will cause this problem. To check a shortcut, please follow these steps: -> Right-click the shortcut. -> Click Properties. -> Note the path shown in the Target box. If it points to the A:\ drive, either change it so that it points to a copy of the file on the hard drive, or delete the shortcut. However, I also suggest that you please follow the steps below to disable floppy scan: 1. Open Norton Antivirus (NAV). 2. Click Auto protect. 3. Click advanced. 4. Uncheck scan all removable media for boot Viruses every time it is mounted. 5. Uncheck floppy disk in A for boot viruses when shutting down. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Friday, January 30, 2004 at 8:13 am Posted by Geoff (1 messages posted) I was getting a similar problem and was directed to this forum - after much snooping around I got pretty much nowhere. However one of the tips from a previous link was to delete the A drive from the device drivers list and then reboot the computer and let it reinstall itself. So in desperation this is what I did. As the computer completed its boot I got an urgent message from something saying 'zlclient.exe was looking for a floppy disk that could not be found!'! I had suspected this application because I have been monitoring it in task manager and every so often it’s resource from the CPU went up at about the time I was getting a wirr from the floppy. It turned out that this file is run by zone alarm which is the firewall I use, so I switched Zone Alarm off and lo and behold the problem went away. I rebooted the computer, checked everything, then started the network connection (i.e. broadband) and I’ve had no problem since then! On Saturday, December 20, 2003 at 6:31 pm, Richard Drdul wrote: >I encountered the same problem after upgrading from Norton Internet security 2003 >to NIS 2004 on my WinXP Pro machine. I wrote to Symantec, telling them that my computer >accesses the floppy drive every time I click on a file folder in Explorer or Favorites >in IE. > >Symantec's response: > >This can happen if a Windows shortcut points to the A drive. This situation can occur >after installing any program and is an anomaly of the operating system. > >To correct this problem, you need to remove or change the shortcuts: > >-> Shortcuts on the Documents menu can cause this issue. An entry in the Documents >menu (click Start and point to Documents) might have a pointer to the A drive, for >example, a text file that has been opened from the A drive. The shortcuts to these >documents are stored by default in the \Windows\Recent folder. > >-> Shortcuts on your Windows desktop can also point to the A: drive and will cause >this problem. > >To check a shortcut, please follow these steps: > >-> Right-click the shortcut. >-> Click Properties. >-> Note the path shown in the Target box. If it points to the A:\ drive, either change >it so that it points to a copy of the file on the hard drive, or delete the shortcut. > >However, I also suggest that you please follow the steps below to disable floppy >scan: > >1. Open Norton Antivirus (NAV). >2. Click Auto protect. >3. Click advanced. >4. Uncheck scan all removable media for boot Viruses every time it is mounted. >5. Uncheck floppy disk in A for boot viruses when shutting down. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Friday, February 27, 2004 at 6:44 pm Posted by Anonymous (1 messages posted) Maybe changing the battery that keeps the CMOS BIOS settings up and running. If the battery is flat or starting loose power you may encounter random floppy access. This was what solved my problem at least Anonymous On Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at 12:57 pm, Bob Harvey wrote: >I have a comment about Stop >Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive: >None of the items mentioned in the article appeared to work for my random floppy >seeks in Windows XP. I was getting quite frustrated till I also noticed the floppy >would access every time I opened a hard drive or CD folder window. If I opened more >folders inside this window, no seek, but close the main window, and it again activated >the floppy. > >I finally traced it down to the WinXP setting for running folder windows in a separate >process. Once I unclicked that check box under folder options, the problem disappeared. > FYI. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 11:41 am Posted by jon (3 messages posted) Another perfect solution is to do what I just finished doing. Under the Device Manager, right-click your floppy disk controller and choose Properties. Then, under the General Tab, change Device Usage to DISABLE. This will physically stop the computer from accessing the floppy until you want it to. Most people these days only use the floppy rarely in any case. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Friday, February 18, 2005 at 1:55 pm Posted by Fredrik (1 messages posted) I have a similar annoying problem: The CDRW has accepted the role of being a floppy and is always searched through at bootup. I've disabled and removed every instance of floppy - dug deep in BIOS, Reg. and init-files etc. - but the floppy keeps coming back in Explorer and is virtually searched through when starting. On Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 11:41 am, jon wrote: >Another perfect solution is to do what I just finished doing. Under the Device Manager, >right-click your floppy disk controller and choose Properties. Then, under the General >Tab, change Device Usage to DISABLE. This will physically stop the computer from >accessing the floppy until you want it to. Most people these days only use the floppy >rarely in any case. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 3:30 pm Posted by burgmeister (1 messages posted) I had a similar problem that was caused by a self launched program trying to access my floppy drive. The problem could be resolved by doing the following: 1) Monitor the processes running in task manager to see if a program shows an increase in activity when the floppy is attempting to read the drive. 2) End the program to see if that stops the problem. 3) If it does, go to the startup folder in the programs folder in the start menu folder for each relavent user and see if a link to the culprit program is present. 4) If the link is present remove it. If not, check to see if you are infected with a virus. On Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at 12:57 pm, Bob Harvey wrote: >I have a comment about Stop >Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive: >None of the items mentioned in the article appeared to work for my random floppy >seeks in Windows XP. I was getting quite frustrated till I also noticed the floppy >would access every time I opened a hard drive or CD folder window. If I opened more >folders inside this window, no seek, but close the main window, and it again activated >the floppy. > >I finally traced it down to the WinXP setting for running folder windows in a separate >process. Once I unclicked that check box under folder options, the problem disappeared. > FYI. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 10:33 am Posted by Ester (1 messages posted) That worked brilliantly for me! Thanks so much. That sound has been making me crazy for far too long!! On Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 11:41 am, jon wrote: >Another perfect solution is to do what I just finished doing. Under the Device Manager, >right-click your floppy disk controller and choose Properties. Then, under the General >Tab, change Device Usage to DISABLE. This will physically stop the computer from >accessing the floppy until you want it to. Most people these days only use the floppy >rarely in any case. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Friday, July 1, 2005 at 7:52 am Posted by Mano (1 messages posted) I found the answer to the floppy drive random access Problem. It took me awhile and some restless night to get it. So Here it IS. In Window Explorer, Click Tools, Folder Option, View, Uncheck Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color. I hope this will help anyone that is experiencing this particular problem. Best of Luck, Mano On Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 10:33 am, Ester wrote: >That worked brilliantly for me! Thanks so much. That sound has been making me crazy >for far too long!! > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Possible Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at 9:46 am Posted by Otis (5 messages posted) Don't know if this will help, but the following links seemed to talk about this sort of problem and how to stop it: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=272242 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=185619 I found both links at: http://www.generation.net/~hleboeuf/diskdrv.htm --Otis On Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at 12:57 pm, Bob Harvey wrote: >I have a comment about Stop >Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive: >None of the items mentioned in the article appeared to work for my random floppy >seeks in Windows XP. I was getting quite frustrated till I also noticed the floppy >would access every time I opened a hard drive or CD folder window. If I opened more >folders inside this window, no seek, but close the main window, and it again activated >the floppy. > >I finally traced it down to the WinXP setting for running folder windows in a separate >process. Once I unclicked that check box under folder options, the problem disappeared. > FYI. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Sunday, September 11, 2005 at 6:53 am Posted by Mike Davis (1 messages posted) Many years ago I found a .pif file was causing this under windows95, so I searched for *.pif and found one DOS shortcut under Windows. I attempted to run the file & it started a floppy drive seek immediately, so I deleted it and voila' no more random floppy seek problem. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at 2:29 pm Posted by Pete Schliebner (2 messages posted) I found a different solution than any posted here. I went to Control Panel/ Folder Options/ View and unchecked "Automatically search for network folders and printers". I hope this helps somebody else. On Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at 12:57 pm, Bob Harvey wrote: >I have a comment about Stop >Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive: >None of the items mentioned in the article appeared to work for my random floppy >seeks in Windows XP. I was getting quite frustrated till I also noticed the floppy >would access every time I opened a hard drive or CD folder window. If I opened more >folders inside this window, no seek, but close the main window, and it again activated >the floppy. > >I finally traced it down to the WinXP setting for running folder windows in a separate >process. Once I unclicked that check box under folder options, the problem disappeared. > FYI. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Friday, May 26, 2006 at 4:15 am Posted by John Werner (2 messages posted) While this is not the best fix it will always work! Press your Windows icon key plus the Pause-break key to bring up the Systems Properties then click on hardware and then on floppy drives then DISABLE, this will stop all access to the floppy drive and is a lot easier than disconnecting the power cable to the drive! On Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 10:03 pm, Jorge wrote: >Personally I DO think it's a miscosoft's isue... I've just installed windows XP in >a computer that used to have windows Millenium Edition. Since the firtst minute I >installed windows XP, the floppy reading issue has been annoying me. I regret that >I have formatted my hard drive and loaded XP now... Hope any solution arrises soon. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Solution for 'Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive' Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 3:00 pm Posted by Jerry (4 messages posted) Here's yet another fix. In the registry check your policies. On my PC it was HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoFileURL. I deleted that one and another leaving only 'CDRAutoRun' and 'NoDriveTypeAutoRun' which are installed by Windows. [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows XP Discussion Forum