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A problem with my Floppy Disc?

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:28 am
by Sting
Hi!

I’m having a problem; maybe someone could help me out?

I’m trying to disable my Floppy Disc on my system, which is Windows XP Home Edition.
I never have even used it, and though my PC is about 3 years old, I don’t even know why it had this ancient device to start with. Today almost all diagnostics are run without this device.

Now my problem. I think my floppy is bad or going bad. Lately it’s coming on and seems like it’s trying to read something. When it does it makes a grinding type noise. I notice this when I open certain programs, one to be exact: ShadowProtect Desktop Edition. This is annoying and makes no sense at all. So what I want to do is disable it the correct way without harming my system. Some just open up their PC and disconnect it, then they find they can’t boot. I know that you have to go into the BIOS and disable it, and then I’ve heard that you go into Device Manager and either disable or delete it. Then you can unplug and remove it. But I’m not sure. I want to have the correct procedure, and then follow the steps. But I want someone who is better experienced then myself on the PC, and has knowledge on doing this.

If anyone could help me, I’d truly appreciate it?

Thanks for your time.

John

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:30 am
by YARDofSTUF
In the BIOS set the floppy drive to none and unplug it(when the system is powered off). Should be all set.

When you open a program and hear the floppy drive making noise its most likely because the program thinks theres info on a floppy disc for it.

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:59 am
by Sting
YARDofSTUF wrote:In the BIOS set the floppy drive to none and unplug it(when the system is powered off). Should be all set.

When you open a program and hear the floppy drive making noise its most likely because the program thinks theres info on a floppy disc for it.
Thanks friend for the help. I'll give your suggestion a try.

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:34 am
by YeOldeStonecat
I agree with Yard....yank it. First...I'd remove it within Windows....go to Device Mangler..and remove the floppy drive. Then power down. Unplug the floppy. Power up..go into BIOS...disable the floppy drive if that feature is there, also disable "floppy seek" if you see that option in the BIOS. Also check boot order..ensure Floppy is not listed or at least is at bottom of list.

Indexing/Windows Search is probably causing the drive to get hit every now and then as indexing services sweep through all your drives. Older versions of MS Office with "findfast.exe" also caused lots of misc drive activity.

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:25 pm
by Sting
YeOldeStonecat wrote:I agree with Yard....yank it. First...I'd remove it within Windows....go to Device Mangler..and remove the floppy drive. Then power down. Unplug the floppy. Power up..go into BIOS...disable the floppy drive if that feature is there, also disable "floppy seek" if you see that option in the BIOS. Also check boot order..ensure Floppy is not listed or at least is at bottom of list.

Indexing/Windows Search is probably causing the drive to get hit every now and then as indexing services sweep through all your drives. Older versions of MS Office with "findfast.exe" also caused lots of misc drive activity.
Thanks also for helping. I appreciate it.

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:35 pm
by CableDude
YeOldeStonecat wrote:Older versions of MS Office with "findfast.exe" also caused lots of misc drive activity.
Now that is something I have not heard about in years!

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:51 pm
by YeOldeStonecat
CableDude wrote:Now that is something I have not heard about in years!
You probably have lots of Office '97 installs around eh? :D

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:33 pm
by Sting
Originally Posted by YeOldeStonecat View Post
Older versions of MS Office with "findfast.exe" also caused lots of misc drive activity. :D [/QUOTE]

I have Microsoft 2000 installed. Haven't really had any problems with it so far, so as they say: "if it isn't broken"!

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 2:00 pm
by RaisinCain
YeOldeStonecat wrote:I agree with Yard....yank it. First...I'd remove it within Windows....go to Device Mangler..and remove the floppy drive. Then power down. Unplug the floppy. Power up..go into BIOS...disable the floppy drive if that feature is there, also disable "floppy seek" if you see that option in the BIOS. Also check boot order..ensure Floppy is not listed or at least is at bottom of list.

Indexing/Windows Search is probably causing the drive to get hit every now and then as indexing services sweep through all your drives. Older versions of MS Office with "findfast.exe" also caused lots of misc drive activity.
So... you want him to yank his floppy? LMAO :)