«

I'd had Vista 64-bit installed for about two years, with lots of
driver and software updates and some hardware added during that time,
all Windows updates, SP1, Windows Search 4.0, IE8, very few issues,
and installed SP2 from Windows Update. After installing SP2 I noticed
when opening Computer (folder) from a shortcut in Quick Launch, the
1.44 floppy disk drive light would randomly flash and make its noise,
when it had never done that prior to installing SP2. The floppy drive
isn't used much, and after a few weeks of observing I hadn't worked
out why it did it when it did, and didn't do it if the "Devices with
Removable Storage" group was collapsed, but might if that group was
expanded after opening Computer. It's a minor but annoying problem.

So, I tried a clean new install of Vista SP1 (DVD) without Windows
Updates, drivers or software installed afterwards and there was no
floppy problem when opening Computer. Then installed the standalone
SP2 and afterwards the floppy problem started again, and no other
Windows Updates, drivers or software had been installed. After setting
up the system, installing drivers and software, another few weeks, and
without using the floppy drive, it was still happening randomly.

For the time being I've used gpedit.msc to hide A (and B) drives in
Computer and Explorer as a workaround, even though kinda inconvenient.
Does anyone know what the problem is, how to fix it without hiding the
floppy drive in Computer, seen or heard of it in Vista (SP2)?

--
Rom

Hmmm...
I have also this issue in Windows 7. I have disabled the floppy drive until
(if ever) I need it.
Carlos

"Rom" wrote:

> I'd had Vista 64-bit installed for about two years, with lots of
> driver and software updates and some hardware added during that time,
> all Windows updates, SP1, Windows Search 4.0, IE8, very few issues,
> and installed SP2 from Windows Update. After installing SP2 I noticed
> when opening Computer (folder) from a shortcut in Quick Launch, the
> 1.44 floppy disk drive light would randomly flash and make its noise,
> when it had never done that prior to installing SP2. The floppy drive
> isn't used much, and after a few weeks of observing I hadn't worked
> out why it did it when it did, and didn't do it if the "Devices with
> Removable Storage" group was collapsed, but might if that group was
> expanded after opening Computer. It's a minor but annoying problem.
>
> So, I tried a clean new install of Vista SP1 (DVD) without Windows
> Updates, drivers or software installed afterwards and there was no
> floppy problem when opening Computer. Then installed the standalone
> SP2 and afterwards the floppy problem started again, and no other
> Windows Updates, drivers or software had been installed. After setting
> up the system, installing drivers and software, another few weeks, and
> without using the floppy drive, it was still happening randomly.
>
> For the time being I've used gpedit.msc to hide A (and B) drives in
> Computer and Explorer as a workaround, even though kinda inconvenient.
> Does anyone know what the problem is, how to fix it without hiding the
> floppy drive in Computer, seen or heard of it in Vista (SP2)?
>
> --
> Rom
>

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less Spam Better enjoyable experience
Visit : news://spacesst.com

Rom,
As I have a similar issue like yours, though in Win 7, I googled for "floppy
light is permanently on" and found zillion reasons why that might happen.
So, there is not one single root cause.
I tried disabling my antivirus, no dice.
Similar issues date back to 2001.
I'll post my particular solution, if I ever find it.
Today I re-enabled my floppy and the light went on again. The mechanism was
making a noise like trying to read an absent floppy. I put a floppy in, the
noise went off, lights stayed on. The floppy could be read perfectly by
Windows Explorer. I removed the floppy, lights stayed on and the mechanism
noise returned. I just disabled the floppy again in Device Manager.
Carlos

"Rom" wrote:

> I'd had Vista 64-bit installed for about two years, with lots of
> driver and software updates and some hardware added during that time,
> all Windows updates, SP1, Windows Search 4.0, IE8, very few issues,
> and installed SP2 from Windows Update. After installing SP2 I noticed
> when opening Computer (folder) from a shortcut in Quick Launch, the
> 1.44 floppy disk drive light would randomly flash and make its noise,
> when it had never done that prior to installing SP2. The floppy drive
> isn't used much, and after a few weeks of observing I hadn't worked
> out why it did it when it did, and didn't do it if the "Devices with
> Removable Storage" group was collapsed, but might if that group was
> expanded after opening Computer. It's a minor but annoying problem.
>
> So, I tried a clean new install of Vista SP1 (DVD) without Windows
> Updates, drivers or software installed afterwards and there was no
> floppy problem when opening Computer. Then installed the standalone
> SP2 and afterwards the floppy problem started again, and no other
> Windows Updates, drivers or software had been installed. After setting
> up the system, installing drivers and software, another few weeks, and
> without using the floppy drive, it was still happening randomly.
>
> For the time being I've used gpedit.msc to hide A (and B) drives in
> Computer and Explorer as a workaround, even though kinda inconvenient.
> Does anyone know what the problem is, how to fix it without hiding the
> floppy drive in Computer, seen or heard of it in Vista (SP2)?
>
> --
> Rom
>

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:01:02 -0700, Carlos wrote:

[Opening Computer (folder) causes random FDD light to flash and its
noise]

> Hmmm...
> I have also this issue in Windows 7. I have disabled the floppy drive until
> (if ever) I need it.

Thanks for confirming the issue in Win7. I have Win7 RC in a VM and
don't connect the FDD. I prefer the workaround of hiding the floppy
icon in Computer and Explorer to disabling. Showing/hiding the icon
with it happening or not for me should have given me a clue earlier.

After your post I switched back to not hiding A (and B) drives in
Computer (in Vista SP2), and think I've found why it's happening and a
couple of ways to reproduce it. It's the thumbnail cache file:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Window s\Explorer\thumbcache_256.db
when generating thumbnails in folders, deleting Thumbnails in Disk
Cleanup, and its cache changing.

In Vista SP2, if I use (any) cleanmgr.exe to delete Thumbnails (my
files or files from all users), then open Computer the FDD light and
noise happen. Close that window and open Computer again and it'll
happen once again. Another way for it to happen is opening a folder in
Explorer with many images, say, hundreds of wallpapers and when
viewing as Large Icons (I usually use details for all, and change the
view when I want or set for specific folders) the thumbnails are
(re)generated while scrolling down and viewing, which changes the
thumbcache_256.db file. Then open Computer and it'll happen again.

Carlos, can you, or anyone else, with a FDD confirm this with Vista
SP2 and Win7? Or add anything else?

--
Rom

On Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:54:01 -0700, Carlos wrote:

> As I have a similar issue like yours, though in Win 7, I googled for "floppy
> light is permanently on" and found zillion reasons why that might happen.
> So, there is not one single root cause.
> I tried disabling my antivirus, no dice.
> Similar issues date back to 2001.
> I'll post my particular solution, if I ever find it.
> Today I re-enabled my floppy and the light went on again. The mechanism was
> making a noise like trying to read an absent floppy. I put a floppy in, the
> noise went off, lights stayed on. The floppy could be read perfectly by
> Windows Explorer. I removed the floppy, lights stayed on and the mechanism
> noise returned. I just disabled the floppy again in Device Manager.

Like you, I also searched and found similar issues with My Computer.
The FDD works fine, otherwise. My trying a clean install of Vista SP1
without installing any apps etc. and with no FDD problem then, but
after installing SP2 still without any apps etc. installed or setting
changes, I thought would have eliminated many things as the cause.

Your issue as described above is similar in that the FDD light and
noise happen, but the light stays on for you, whereas for me the light
goes off and its noise stops. Your issue also reminded me of a thread
earlier this month (June 2009) in this group, in particular these
posts (if you can find the thread or posts with the web interface):
| From: Jeff Gaines
| Subject: Win 7 (64 bit) Public RC
| Message-ID: <>
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general
| Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:21:41 -0700

| From: Jeff Gaines
| Subject: Re: Win 7 (64 bit) Public RC
| User-Agent: XanaNews/1.19.1.194
| Message-ID: <>
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general
| Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:43:08 -0700

It's the issue of the empty CD/DVD behaviour in Explorer/Computer and
with hiding empty drives.

--
Rom