Computers and Peripherals - XP, Defrag, & floppy drive light

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View Full Version : XP, Defrag, & floppy drive light


kaybyrd
04-02-05, 10:51 AM
I noticed last night while defraging the drive that the floppy light is staying on. Why would the computer be trying to access the floppy while defraging the hard drive?

eMachines W2646
XP Home, 2002, SP2 installed
2.6gz
celeron
256 M memory

The only changes I've made to the computer is installing a DVDrom in December, but the defrag-floppy deal just started. I can't tell if its trying to read the cdrw because it doesn't have a light to show activity for that one, but the light for the DVDrom doesn't come on while defraging the HD.

Kay


air biscuit
04-02-05, 11:59 AM
The only time I've run into that is when I was assembling a computer and put the floppy data cable on backwards. Doubtful in your case.

Probably just a bad floppy drive.

Can you read/write floppies? Most people may not have any floppies laying around, but if you do, try and see if you can read and write to it.

kaybyrd
04-02-05, 01:18 PM
Yes, I just saved a file to it, then deleted the file, plus formatted the floppy.

I need to get in there and clean out the inside of the machine so maybe I can see if I hooked something up in there wrong.

It may have done this before and I never noticed, but I could hear it seeking for a floppy in the drive this time (defraging).

Kay


tae
04-02-05, 07:25 PM
are you defragging from safe mode? (like you should)
turning off your antivirus before defragging?

kaybyrd
04-02-05, 08:16 PM
I didn't do it in safe mode that time. After I finish working on my website I'll try defraging again, but in safe mode, to see if it does that again.

I usually do all my cleanup in safe mode, like you all taught me to do, but for some reason I just jumped in there and started since the computer was acting goofy anyway (super slow).

I've been learning to manipulate images, so I definitely need some more memory in this thing! Sad, I don't know what kind it takes. Will have to look that up.

Kay

kaybyrd
04-07-05, 10:29 PM
forgot to post this, but when I defrag'd the drive in safe mode the floppy drive didn't not come on at all.

Learned my lesson: defrag in safe mode!

Kay

mike_s104
04-08-05, 06:52 AM
all the ones here at work that are Windows 2000 SP4 do that. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm sure there's a reason why it happens but it's just something that won't really cause an issue unless you defrag 24/7.

kaybyrd
04-08-05, 10:30 AM
Thanks for letting me know that Mike. I was just concerned that I had a virus or something really weird was happening with this computer.

I guess I'm a little more aware with this computer since I am taking online classes at college and need this computer to not bomb out on me during a test.

Kay