vable
asked on
Looking for a Disk
Can someone please tell me why a Dell OptiPlex - GXa that is running Win98se is always looking for a disk? It's a newly formatted computer with no hardware conflicts and with all of the windows updates, however, whenever I open up an application, surf the web or do simple operations the computer checks the disk drive. It doesn't sound like too much of a problem, but when you're surfing the web you don't want to hear that annoying empty disk sound that the disk drive makes when checking for a disk whenever you click a link. It's just driving me nuts, and I bet it's some stupid little check I gotta uncheck or something like that, that I cannot find.
Anyway any suggestions would be appreciated,
Vable
Anyway any suggestions would be appreciated,
Vable
It could also be a virus. Unless you did an
fdisk /mbr
a virus could exist even after a format.
You may need a free web based antivirus, since newer viruses disable the local antivirus program !
http://housecall.antivirus.com/pc_housecall/
Norton Web Services
Go to this page and click on Scan for Viruses
http://security2.norton.com/ssc/vc_about.asp?langid=us&venid=sym&plfid=22&pkj=RKNYPJUIYCZRWEJGSSK
http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/diskhealth.asp remote diagnostics free web antivirus free antivirus
I hope this helps !
fdisk /mbr
a virus could exist even after a format.
You may need a free web based antivirus, since newer viruses disable the local antivirus program !
http://housecall.antivirus.com/pc_housecall/
Norton Web Services
Go to this page and click on Scan for Viruses
http://security2.norton.com/ssc/vc_about.asp?langid=us&venid=sym&plfid=22&pkj=RKNYPJUIYCZRWEJGSSK
http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/diskhealth.asp remote diagnostics free web antivirus free antivirus
I hope this helps !
just out of wondering
do you ever use the floppy disk drive?
you could have the write-back cache or something like that enabled
just check it by right-clicking on my computer
and going to performance...
or something like that
sorry its sketchy but im tierd and its late, and its been sooo long since i used 98se
ill post an add to it tomorrow when i wake up :)
ta
djx
do you ever use the floppy disk drive?
you could have the write-back cache or something like that enabled
just check it by right-clicking on my computer
and going to performance...
or something like that
sorry its sketchy but im tierd and its late, and its been sooo long since i used 98se
ill post an add to it tomorrow when i wake up :)
ta
djx
ASKER
dogztar -
You and SysExpert actually bring up another question of mine. I cannot install Norton AntiVirus. When it asks where do I want it to be installed, I leave it at the default location (C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus) and it comes up with an error saying that it is an invalid directory or drive. Anyway, that is another topic. However I did check the Documents folder in the Start Menu, it's empty.
SysExpert -
I did that online virus scan (since I cannot get Norton installed) and it didn't come up with anything. And just for .... and jiggles, I did do a "fdisk /mbr" but no difference
djxtreme -
The only time I used the floppy drive was during the OS installation when creating a back-up disk. I did check the File System Properties from the Performance tab of the System Properties. In the Floppy Disk tab, there was a check mark next to "Search for new floppy disk drives each time you computer starts." Well, I unchecked it and restart the computer...and still the disk drive is going off on a rampage.
Vable
You and SysExpert actually bring up another question of mine. I cannot install Norton AntiVirus. When it asks where do I want it to be installed, I leave it at the default location (C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus) and it comes up with an error saying that it is an invalid directory or drive. Anyway, that is another topic. However I did check the Documents folder in the Start Menu, it's empty.
SysExpert -
I did that online virus scan (since I cannot get Norton installed) and it didn't come up with anything. And just for .... and jiggles, I did do a "fdisk /mbr" but no difference
djxtreme -
The only time I used the floppy drive was during the OS installation when creating a back-up disk. I did check the File System Properties from the Performance tab of the System Properties. In the Floppy Disk tab, there was a check mark next to "Search for new floppy disk drives each time you computer starts." Well, I unchecked it and restart the computer...and still the disk drive is going off on a rampage.
Vable
just out of wondering,
you didnt install it off a bootable floppy?
it sounds like windows is trying to depend on a file on a floppy somewhere...sounds daft i know but...?
if you did, fdisk again
and install 2k or me or another os
or, disconnect the floppy cable, it may be a hardware fault with your FDD controller.
disable it in bios too, thats a temporary fix
hope that helps a little
djx
(nite all its 2am)
you didnt install it off a bootable floppy?
it sounds like windows is trying to depend on a file on a floppy somewhere...sounds daft i know but...?
if you did, fdisk again
and install 2k or me or another os
or, disconnect the floppy cable, it may be a hardware fault with your FDD controller.
disable it in bios too, thats a temporary fix
hope that helps a little
djx
(nite all its 2am)
ASKER
The process of installing the OS was I formatted the drive. Put the cabs files in a directory and started up startup.exe. The hard drive is not partition up for other OS's. This computer will be given away to someone who doesn't know computers all that well. So, I can't really disable the disk drive and say here you go. Although I would like to :).
Right now, the best temporary fix is just putting a floppy into the drive therefore it will be quiter.
Vable
Right now, the best temporary fix is just putting a floppy into the drive therefore it will be quiter.
Vable
start again from a known clean bootable and virusfree installation. borrow from a friend, but not from the person from whom you got it before...
check out this link from EE and see if it has any bearing on what is happening to you.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20323797/Floppy-drive-seeks-at-boot.html
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20323797/Floppy-drive-seeks-at-boot.html
Strange that NAV would not install.
I would recommend that you download a diagnostic disk from your harddrive manufacturer's url. This will tell you right off where you are at and if
you can recover from it. It may be under warranty, the hard drives are usually covered for three years and you can make out the RMA on their site
also. Depending on the manufacturer of the hard drive, you can download diagnostic utilities from their sites to check the drives.
www.seagate.com
www.maxtor.com
http://www.wdc.com/service/ftp/drives.html
www.ibm.com
http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/support/download.htm
www.fujitsu.com
I would run the Start-windows update to make sure that you have the newest updates.
In addition Cleanup the startup stuff. In win98/Win ME/Win XP - Do a Start - Run - msconfig, startup Tab , or for win95 , NT or win2k,
Download the Startup COP a free pcmag utility from
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,2173,00.asp
Run it and it will show you everything that is listed in all the possible startup places, and allow you to disable things one at a time until the problem is eliminated.
A lot of probelms are caused by excess old baggage - programs that have not been properly un-installed. Startup Cop will eliminate leftovers and un-wanted programs that you no longer want.
Older Antivirus programs and Norton Utilities have been known to cause problems
try disabling them also !
I hope this helps !
I would recommend that you download a diagnostic disk from your harddrive manufacturer's url. This will tell you right off where you are at and if
you can recover from it. It may be under warranty, the hard drives are usually covered for three years and you can make out the RMA on their site
also. Depending on the manufacturer of the hard drive, you can download diagnostic utilities from their sites to check the drives.
www.seagate.com
www.maxtor.com
http://www.wdc.com/service/ftp/drives.html
www.ibm.com
http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/support/download.htm
www.fujitsu.com
I would run the Start-windows update to make sure that you have the newest updates.
In addition Cleanup the startup stuff. In win98/Win ME/Win XP - Do a Start - Run - msconfig, startup Tab , or for win95 , NT or win2k,
Download the Startup COP a free pcmag utility from
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,2173,00.asp
Run it and it will show you everything that is listed in all the possible startup places, and allow you to disable things one at a time until the problem is eliminated.
A lot of probelms are caused by excess old baggage - programs that have not been properly un-installed. Startup Cop will eliminate leftovers and un-wanted programs that you no longer want.
Older Antivirus programs and Norton Utilities have been known to cause problems
try disabling them also !
I hope this helps !
ASKER
For the people who are concerned about my NAV installation problem. I found out the solution of their website. One of the installations I have done must have set my Temp folder to be the C drive. When that is set then NAV will not install. Instead the temp folder should be set to C:\windows\temp (for Win98 and ME)
Chris
Chris
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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What programs are running on your machine (Ctrl+Alt+Del)?
Regards
/RID
Regards
/RID
ASKER
After taking a break from all of this, I went back to this project and trying to install other programs. I was getting errors left and right. So, I finally took your advice, djx, and format the computer again. This time disabling the fdd in the bios. Once the OS was completely installed, I enabled the fdd and now it is working like it should.
Thanks,
Vable
Thanks,
Vable
-dog*