unbelievable problem drive A fantom file

[Guest]

The only way I can explain this is that I put a floppy disk "X" in
drive A.
Disk X has file "D".

When I put any other floppy disk in the computer, file D still comes
up.

If I take the floppy out, I can click on file D and it will open and
work !

The only way to stop this problem is to take out the floppy disk and
format the drive A. The computer tries to format the drive without a
disk in it and says : "there is no floppy in drive A"; now everything
works until I put another disk into drive A; and, the computer still
thinks there is a file on that drive!
It could be any file as far as I know. I was using TurboTax files when
this happened.

I hope I explained this satisfactorily.

Thanks for ANY help !

PS: I have Windows XP operating system

 

[Kelly]

Floppy Disk is Not Accessible, Not Formatted, or Not Recognized by Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;140060

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

Floppy Drive Seeks in Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_f.htm#xp_floppy

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Guest]

Kelly,
I didn't have any of these problems. But, to add
information to my original post: I can scan files on drive A with
Norton AFTER I remove the floppy. There is NO cache program that I
personally installed.
I can also create a file on drive A independent of my hard drive; and,
the same thing happens. So it is not referring to a file on my hard
drive either.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Guest]

OK, I am getting closer to what is going on.
I tried to delete a test file called "test.txt" after removing the
floppy.
I got the message: "can not delete test.txt ; the device is not
ready"
Does this shed any light on the matter?
Thanks again!
Joe

 

[Tim Harbison]

Kelly,
I didn't have any of these problems. But, to add
information to my original post: I can scan files on drive A with
Norton AFTER I remove the floppy. There is NO cache program that I
personally installed.
I can also create a file on drive A independent of my hard drive; and,
the same thing happens. So it is not referring to a file on my hard
drive either.
Thanks for the help.

Wow... this takes me way back...

What you have is a symptom of a bad drive changeline (at least that's
what I think we used to call it).

Either the drive is bad, the drive cable is bad, the drive controller is
bad, or the OS is not configured properly to deal with the drive.

In short, there is hardware in the drive that should "notify" the system
when a disk has been changed or removed and it ain't working. Most
common problem I used to run across was when someone would do something
with a diskette in the drive, take it out, put another one in, then try
to write to the diskette... it would completely trash the disk in the
drive by writing the directory table from the first disk to the second.

Try removing the device in device manager, re-boot and let the system
re-add it. If it still misbehaves, then either you have bad hardware or
incorrect drivers for your system board.

 

[Guest]

Tim,
Another interesting problem: when I click on empty drive A, I don't
hear that sound that usually follows clicking on the drive; but, a
light comes on; and I get the message: "please insert a disk into
drive A"; so, I think you are correct in stating that I need a new
drive.
I also uninstalled DRIVE A and let XP find the drive again; this didn't
fix anything or do anything different.
I think when Norton checks the disk every time I start and shut down
Windows, it wore out the drive somehow?? I had shut off this disk
checking a few months ago; but, apparently checking the drive for years
did the damage.
I will probably have to get a new drive; I will let you all know the
progress.
Thanks again!!
Joe

 

[Bob I]

The data cable may also be at fault for the disk change notification issue.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the very knowledgeable help.
I am going to use a floppy from an older computer.
After I install it, I will let you all know what happened.
Thanks for leading me in this direction.
I am convinced from my own tests (no strong drive sounds anymore,
etc.),
that this drive is truly defective and had gotten this way from
constant "boot up ; boot down" virus checks that were not needed
because I hardly ever used that floppy drive in the first place. The
motor on the drive got "worn out" from the constant checks. I boot up
and shut down many times in a day and I had the computer for 3 years.
Joe

 

[Steve N.]

Wow... this takes me way back...

What you have is a symptom of a bad drive changeline (at least that's
what I think we used to call it).

Yep, and some current drives still have that stupid changeline jumper.

Either the drive is bad, the drive cable is bad, the drive controller is
bad, or the OS is not configured properly to deal with the drive.

Or the drive has the changeline jumper on wrong or missing.

Steve

 

[Guest]

I actually ordered a new drive that will arrive in less than 2 weeks.
In the meantime I have a problem with random booting. My computer
boots any time it pleases. I could be multitasking; and, then, POOF...
I get a reboot !
Could this be related to the floppy drive problem?
Thanks so much for all your past help everyone!!!

 

[Guest]

I installed a new drive; it is worse than the old drive. Everytime I
put in a disk, it wants to format the disk. Now I really do not know
what to do.

 

[Guest]

OK, it is fixed now. I put the old drive back and it works normally.
What was going on? Probably a loose cable like you were all saying.
Any other ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Steve N.]

OK, it is fixed now. I put the old drive back and it works normally.
What was going on? Probably a loose cable like you were all saying.
Any other ideas would be appreciated.

I think you narrowed it down to the cable. If it acts up again replace
the cable.

Steve

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Steve. I guess this finalizes this crazy problem.

Thanks everyone!

Joe