my computer keeps trying to read the floppy disk drive at startup

[lgg]

I have a Dell Dimension 3000 desktop and the other day I restarted the computer and now it appears that it keeps trying to read the floppy disk drive.  There is no floppy in the drive.  The green light on the front keeps flashing on and off slowly and its making the sound like its trying to read a floppy disk.  I'm running Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3.  Any suggestions what might be causing this?

[Allan]

At what point during the boot is the floppy polled?

[rthompson80819]

It's been a while since I've had a computer with a floppy drive, but it used to be standard boot up procedure to check for a floppy first during the boot process, before going to the hard drive.

Usually, though it just took a second or two to confirm no floppy was present.  Is yours taking longer than a second or two?

[Allan]

It's been a while since I've had a computer with a floppy drive, but it used to be standard boot up procedure to check for a floppy first during the boot process, before going to the hard drive.

Usually, though it just took a second or two to confirm no floppy was present.  Is yours taking longer than a second or two?

Only if the floppy is ahead of the hd in the boot order (which it should be as a rule). But it may be the av if it happens after the gui loads, which is why I'm interested in when it happens.

[Spoiler]

Norton Antivirus use to check for a floppy at start up and shut down. Have you checked your antivirus software?

[Geek-9pm]

Quick fix.
Format a floppy. Blank.
Change boot order.
Leave floppy in drive.
Don't ask why!  RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. I AM THE BORG!

[Allan]

Quick fix.
Format a floppy. Blank.
Change boot order.
Leave floppy in drive.
Don't ask why!  RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. I AM THE BORG!

You can obviously ignore this post.

[lgg]

You're going to have to help me out on this.  Computer technology is not my strength.  I don't know in what order the computer checks for the floppy.  I can only tell you that it is on the initial start-up of the computer, which I gather it is technically called booting up.  Is there somewhere on my computer that I can check to see when it is looking for the floppy drive or is there something I can watch for if I shut it down and restart it that will give you the information you are inquiring about?

Also, I don't know if this is helpful information or not, but I did insert a floppy that had data on it just to see if the floppy drive still worked and it does.  I was able to open the files on the floppy with no problem.  Upon removal of the floppy the light began to flash slowly again and is still making the noise like its trying to read a floppy.

Sorry!