Erroneous Floppy drive activety

[goodole1]

Since I’m new to the forum I figure I might as well see who I can confuse. (Teasing) I’ve grown to the point that my mind has stopped functioning trying to figure out the problem.
So lets get the specs out front with software installed first.

System Spec: Running WIN XP Pro SP1a, all updates are installed.
Abit SR7-8X (SiS648+SiS963) 1.0 mobo -BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 07.00T 06/15/02, 2.53 ghz Intel P4 CPU, 1 gig crucial DDR (two 512 modules) ASUS V9180 MAGIC v31.40F Video Card, Creative live SB, Promise 133 TX2 IDE controller (currently out of the system) Using on board Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC, U.S. Robotics 56K Fax PCI [Modem], Canon i860 Printer, Memorex 48MAXX 2448AJ [CD-ROM drive], Memorex 52MAXX 2452AJ [CD-ROM drive] Maxtor 6E030L0 [Hard drive] (30.75 GB) -- drive 0, Maxtor 6E030L0 [Hard drive] (30.75 GB) -- drive 1, Hewlett-Packard Scanjet 5470C, PC/AT Enhanced PS/2 Keyboard (101/102-Key), Microsoft USB IntelliMouse Optical and finally PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller, I don’t remember whose though.

Software:
ACD Systems, Ltd. - FotoCanvas Lite Version 2, 0, 0, 8 *
ACDSee Version 5, 0, 1, 6 *
Acrobat Assistant *
Adobe ImageReady (tm) 7.0 Version 7.0 *
Adobe Photoshop Version 7.0 *
Adobe Reader Version 6.0.0.2003051900 *
Adobe Systems Incorporated - Acrobat Catalog Version 4.0.000 *
Adobe Systems Incorporated. - Acrobat ® Distiller ® for Windows Version 4.0.000 *
Ahead Software AG Karlsbad Germany Phone: +49-7248-911-800 Fax: +49-7248-911-888 e-mail: info@nero.com - LANGUAGE_English2 Version 5, 5, 10, 35 *
Ahead Software AG - InfoTool Application Version 1, 0, 3, 3 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero CD Speed Application Version 1, 0, 2, 1 *
ahead software gmbh, karlsbad - Cover Designer Version 2, 2, 1, 11 *
CANON INC. - BJEZPRN.EXE Version 2, 0, 1, 0 *
Fellowes, Inc. - MediaFACE Version 4,0,0,140 *
Hewlett-Packard - HP Precisionscan Pro Version 3.13 *
I.R.I.S. SA - readiris Version 5, 0, 0, 1 *
Java Web Start *
javaw.exe *
Merriam-Webster *
Microsoft Clip Organizer Version 10.0.2625 *
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Explorer Version 6.00.2800.1106 *
Microsoft Office XP Version 10.0.2627 *
Microsoft Outlook Version 10.0.2616 *
Microsoft Photo Editor Version 10.0 *
Microsoft Windows Media Player Version 6.4.09.1125 *
Microsoft(R) Windows Media Player Version 9.00.00.2980 *
Microsoft® MSN Money Deluxe Version 12.00.0613 *
Nero ImageDrive *
Screen Shot Version 1, 0, 0, 1 *
SpywareBlaster Version 2.06.0001 *
Symantec Corporation – Office Pro
Yahoo! Messenger Version 5, 6, 0, 1351 *

Okay now that I put U all to sleep here is the problem. After a recent rebuild, the “A” drive gets accessed when ever I move my pointer across any Icon in the Quick Launch bar or on the desk top. Not the system tray on the right hand side. It will also get accessed when clicking on some (50%) programs submenus. If a disk is not inserted in the floppy it will grind away. Eventually stop but I don’t like to do that so I install a disk. I have disabled the floppy in the boot up sequence in the bois to see what happens and it cures the problem. My normal boot sequence is CD-ROM, IDE0 and then Floppy. Right now I have the same boot sequence without the floppy until I can find out what’s going on. I have checked all targets, shortcuts etc for the “A” drive being in the string or path. Nothing there. I’ve replaced the cable, I’ve replaced the drive, I’ve re-routed the cables (noise), I’ve checked Norton’s settings and finally I’ve searched all of MicroSoft, well almost all. Now here's the kicker, it's an intermittent problem. It does not always do it. I can get two to four start ups without having this problem.

I’ve spent four solid days trying to figure this out to no avail. Kudos to the one that gets it.

Did it do this from the start? Right after installing the OS or after you installed one of the applications?

If it's that important, I'd start from scratch to see what's causing it.

[goodole1]

To be honest, I can't remember when it started, it seems that since the last virus hit everyone, I had a constant battle keeping this puppy running. No new software or hardware has been added. I did rebuild 8 days ago and I beleive that's when it started, but until a couple of days later. To make a long story short I ended up finding a bad memory module during the last of four software rebuilds, (it kept crashing on the WIN Xp install) well I straightened that out and all the software went in without a hitch with a re-format etc..
I've been runnning this hardware and software since March of this year and had no such problem. Of course the preverbal Promise IDE controller card problem, but I'll worry about that later.

The key is, it's intermittant and for the life of me I just can't connect to any one given program or thing. It's got to be windows but what changes between re-starts etc that would change a path statement or varible. I'm not so sure that a rebuild would be the corect thing to do at this time as I don't know what's causing it.

Thanks

[RedFury]

Something goofy in file associations? Just a stab in the dark..that is a weird problem.

Worst case scenario, a full format and reinstall should either solve the problem, or point to a hardware issue.

[goodole1]

I considered that; but have U ever gone through ten rebuilds in about three months? Another rebuild is one of the last things I want to do. I haven't activated any of the installs yet because I didn't make it through a full 30 days without one burp. This is the closest I got to a trouble free install.
Just as a thought, I disabled Nortons (without using the net) just for experimenting and the problem seems to have subsided. I did five restart (after power downs) and no erroneous floppy activety yet. I'm going to continue this route for a couple of days and see what happens. If it works then I'll take Nortons off and re-install. For some odd reason; I've had other problems with Nortons Pro as well.

[goodole1]

Well, I finally found it. Nortons was or is the culprit. I turned off the Nortons Anitvirus while the problem was happening and it stopped the problem. I turned it back on and the problem came back.
I've had more problems with Nortons System works then I shake a stick at. I think I'm gonna go with a couple of other program to avoid in having to use.

Thanks for the input. I apprecaite it.

[goodole1]

Originally posted by RedFury
Something goofy in file associations? Just a stab in the dark..that is a weird problem.

Worst case scenario, a full format and reinstall should either solve the problem, or point to a hardware issue.

Well, I didn't want to do it but it was driving me crazy. I rebuilt two days ago and so far no problems. I'm still sure that Nortons Win Doctor cooked the register. Now I have the need to find out. So as soon as I clean up my webpage and post some new gun pictures; me a Norton's are gonna have a date so to speak. I'll post the results. After a few days of running afterwards.