Diskette Clicking for No Reason

weewood · 06-10-2008, 06:49 PM

My 3.5" diskette drive makes a repetitive clicking sound, as if Windows is trying to read it, over and over, but there is no diskette in the drive. I thought maybe it was my BIOS, but I've updated that, and I've update all my drivers, and I still can't figure this out.

I've had this problem for at least 6 months, and only seems to happen when I'm installing some software package. I've done many of searches to see if I could find an answer, but I've not been successful. It could be software, but searching that has not been fruitful either.

Any ideas, would be greatly appreciated.....

scorps65 · 07-10-2008, 05:30 AM

Do you have software that automatically scans disks for viruses or errors such as an antivirus or any other monitoring software?

jaggy · 07-10-2008, 05:41 AM

Most machines check diskette presence in the drive.. Once, twice, maybe three times durring boot-up, and sometimes dirring installation. In my opinion it's completely normal... unless it does it constantly without stop.

In that case...
-Check another floppy drive, if it continues then it's not the drive.

Otherwise, Scorps65 has a good idea.

Anti-Trend · 07-10-2008, 10:33 AM

Do you actually use the floppy for anything? I sure don't, and it slows down boot times when the BIOS polls it for bootable media. If you're like me and don't use floppies, you can disable the floppy controller in your BIOS. You can always re-enable it if you need it, but at least it will prevent random spin-ups and slowdowns -- especially in Windows.

weewood · 07-10-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorps65

Do you have software that automatically scans disks for viruses or errors such as an antivirus or any other monitoring software?

I have Norton Internet Security (which includes Norton Antivirus), and a product called Spyware Doctor, but I can't say that either one of these is targeting the diskette.

Anti-Trend · 07-10-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weewood

I have Norton Internet Security (which includes Norton Antivirus), and a product called Spyware Doctor, but I can't say that either one of these is targeting the diskette.

Norton does. It will poll your floppy regularly.

scorps65 · 07-10-2008, 08:33 PM

It must be some 3rd party software because i don't think Windows would be doing doing it.
Just in case, check Task Scheduler

weewood · 08-10-2008, 04:29 PM

Could not find a place in the BIOS setup to disable the diskette, only in the boot sequence (which I removed). In the Hardware Manager, I disabled the floppy drive, and it has been quite ever since. So, I think I looking good now. Thanks, for all your advise!

06-10-2008, 06:49 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
weewood Geek Trainee Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Status: Offline	Diskette Clicking for No Reason My 3.5" diskette drive makes a repetitive clicking sound, as if Windows is trying to read it, over and over, but there is no diskette in the drive. I thought maybe it was my BIOS, but I've updated that, and I've update all my drivers, and I still can't figure this out. I've had this problem for at least 6 months, and only seems to happen when I'm installing some software package. I've done many of searches to see if I could find an answer, but I've not been successful. It could be software, but searching that has not been fruitful either. Any ideas, would be greatly appreciated.....

07-10-2008, 05:30 AM	#2 (permalink) Top
scorps65 Mega Geek Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 20 Male Posts: 375 Times Helpful: 22 My Mood: Psychadelic Status: Offline My Computer	Do you have software that automatically scans disks for viruses or errors such as an antivirus or any other monitoring software? __________________

07-10-2008, 10:33 AM	#4 (permalink) Top
Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 4,880 Times Helpful: 536 Status: Offline My Computer	Do you actually use the floppy for anything? I sure don't, and it slows down boot times when the BIOS polls it for bootable media. If you're like me and don't use floppies, you can disable the floppy controller in your BIOS. You can always re-enable it if you need it, but at least it will prevent random spin-ups and slowdowns -- especially in Windows. __________________ See My Desktop \| Try Linux \| Install Linux \| Visit My Server \| Support Hardware Forums \| Easily rip DVDs in Linux \| Remember Everything

07-10-2008, 08:33 PM	#7 (permalink) Top
scorps65 Mega Geek Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 20 Male Posts: 375 Times Helpful: 22 My Mood: Psychadelic Status: Offline My Computer	It must be some 3rd party software because i don't think Windows would be doing doing it. Just in case, check Task Scheduler __________________

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07-10-2008, 05:41 AM	#3 (permalink) Top
jaggy Geek Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 73 Times Helpful: 1 My Mood: In Love Status: Offline My Computer	Most machines check diskette presence in the drive.. Once, twice, maybe three times durring boot-up, and sometimes dirring installation. In my opinion it's completely normal... unless it does it constantly without stop. In that case... -Check another floppy drive, if it continues then it's not the drive. Otherwise, Scorps65 has a good idea.

08-10-2008, 04:29 PM	#8 (permalink) Top
weewood Geek Trainee Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Status: Offline	Could not find a place in the BIOS setup to disable the diskette, only in the boot sequence (which I removed). In the Hardware Manager, I disabled the floppy drive, and it has been quite ever since. So, I think I looking good now. Thanks, for all your advise!

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