Windows is asking for a floppy at shutdown

[DuckDodgers]

The last few days when ever I shut down or restart Windows I get an error telling me that the A: drive is not ready. The door may be open, please insert a disk and try again, or something to that effect.

I am running Windows XP Pro Sp2

I have not installed any new programs other than updated drivers for my nVidia video card. And the usual Virus definitions and sypware updates.
I am really stumped by this on. Could not find any help on searchs here.
Thanks

[redduc900]

This normally occurs if you've selected the "Restore previous folder windows at logon" check box in Folder Options, and you shut down, or restart the computer when the floppy drive is being viewed, but the drive is empty when the desktop appears.

Open Windows Explorer | "Tools" menu | Folder Options | "View" tab | Click to clear the "Restore previous folder windows at logon" check box. You can re-enable the option after a reboot.

To avoid this behavior in the future, just exit the floppy drive in Windows Explorer before you restart the computer.

[DuckDodgers]

This normally occurs if you've selected the "Restore previous folder windows at logon" check box in Folder Options, and you shut down, or restart the computer when the floppy drive is being viewed, but the drive is empty when the desktop appears.

Open Windows Explorer | "Tools" menu | Folder Options | "View" tab | Click to clear the "Restore previous folder windows at logon" check box.
Just looked to see if it was checked, it was not. Any other ideas?
Thanks

[redduc900]

Try checking the box, then rebooting. When you get back to the desktop, uncheck the box, and reboot again.

[DuckDodgers]

Try checking the box, then rebooting. When you get back to the desktop, uncheck the box, and reboot again.
Tried that ... nada. Still doing the same thing.

[redduc900]

Do you happen to have Norton SystemWorks installed?

[DuckDodgers]

Do you happen to have Norton SystemWorks installed?

No, but I had Norton AV installed a while back and cleaned some of the residual file out. But I did that after I was getting the error.

[redduc900]

Try running Event Viewer (in order to access the error logs, and check for any critical errors especially related to the A: drive)...Start | Run | Type eventvwr.msc and click OK | Highlight "Application" and "System" independently in the LH pane | Right click any error message(s) (critical errors are in Red), and select "Properties" | Write down a couple of the latest critical error messages exactly as they appear (under the "Description" field), and post them in this thread.

Also, open the System Information tool by typing msinfo32 in the Run box | Expand "Components" | Highlight "Problem Devices", and look for any problems that might be listed there.

[DuckDodgers]

Ok, I ran Event viewer and no critical errors refering to the A; drive.
Also ran System Info and found no "problem devices".

Could it be that the drive is just heading south and sending a wrong message to Windows?

[I.M.O.G.]

No I don't think so, hardware does not tell the OS what to do, it only takes instructions... This message is propagating from some software issue.

What happens if you put in a floppy - are you able to read it?

[DuckDodgers]

No I don't think so, hardware does not tell the OS what to do, it only takes instructions... This message is propagating from some software issue.

What happens if you put in a floppy - are you able to read it?

It tells me to put a floppy in the drive. Hmmm.

[redduc900]

No, but I had Norton AV installed a while back and cleaned some of the residual file out. But I did that after I was getting the error.
The more I think about this, the more I think there's still remnants of NAV on your system...especially in the Registry. If I'm not mistaken, isn't the floppy drive scan at startup and shutdown a feature in NAV? If so, can't it normally be enabled/disabled from the Preferences screen in NAV?

Check in the MS Configuration Utility (Start | Run | Type msconfig, and click OK), under the "Startup" tab for anything related to NAV...both under the "Startup Item", and "Command" columns.

From what I understand, NAV isn't easily removed...and it's not removed completely via Add/Remove programs. Apparently there are numerous Registry entries that remain, including leftover drivers in the %WINDOWS%\System32 directory. One way to check this would be to do a "Find" in the Registry for any entries related to NAV...like for example Norton or Symantec. Start | Run | Type regedit, and click OK | Collapse all five Keys in the LH pane, and highlight "My Computer" | Do a Ctrl+F, and type in one of the examples I gave above...look for anything suspicious (especially under the "Run" Keys) related to NAV.

[DuckDodgers]

The files I cleaned up were just files and folders on a different drive. I reinstalled XP a few weeks ago after I upgraded my system. And NAV has not been istalled since. I use NOD32. So the registry should be clean of any NAV entries. Should it not?

[DuckDodgers]

Ok, so here it what I have done and here is what happened.

This is the message I was getting;

"The drive is not ready for use; It's door may be open please check drive A: and make sure the that the drive door is closed".
Here is what I did.

1. Disconnected the floppy power and cable. Reboot. Shutdown, Same message.

2. Went into Bios, set floppy to None. Left cable and power off, Reboot, Shutdown, message gone.

3. Went back into Bios, set floppy to 3 1/2 1.44, left cable off rebooted,shut down, still no message.

4. Hooked power and cable back up. Started up, floppy works and reads files. Shut down, no message.

5. All is working well.

Man I love computers ;) and the gray hair they give me.

Thanks for the effort Redduc, even though the solution was different than your directions led me, I learned a few more useful things. Thanks!