"Please insert a disk in drive I" error message problem. Please help!

Question

I'm getting the "Please insert a disk in drive I" error message when I try to attach an external hard drive (in a hard drive enclosure) via a USB 2.0 cable to my Dell Dimension 8400 computer. I'm running Windows XP Prorfessional.

When I attach an external hard drive that comes with its own enclosure like a Western Digital MyBook via the same USB 2.0 cable the following happens. Windows Explorer shows new drives I and J. If I try to open Drive I, I get the "Please insert a disk into Drive I' message. However, when I try to open Drive J I am able to do so and see the files on, in this case, the Western Digital MyBook. I can also open these files.

I searched the Internet for solutions to this problem. In some cases the problem can be solved by renaming the drive letter, but this does not work in my case. Most sites I've visited fail to provide a solution. From the very many posts I've read on different sites, the problem seems to be related to (a) Microsoft Windows error message(s). The solution would appears to be to turn this/these message(s) off by editing the relevant parts of the registry. (See: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-system/logonuiexe-no-disk-there-is-no-disk-in-the-drive/7a158e14-6a56-4bfd-b1b5-796c3ccea3b0?page=2&tm=1341781513552, http://www.w7forums.com/please-insert-disc-into-drive-error-t11264p2.html, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281345)

Unfortunately, the information I've found is too vague and contradictory for me. Microsoft seems to suggest changing the ErrorMode value in CurrentControlSet so that the user no longer gets any 'hard' error messages (the edit is:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows\ErrorMode Value = 2). However, this suggestion is made in the context of backing up SQL Server databases. It also seems a bit drastic to turn off hard error messages. In another post the suggestion was to delete upper and lower filters in the section of the registry that controls the hard drive. The problem here is that you may have to reload software. I'm also afraid I'll mess up the registry.

I'd be grateful to anyone who could tell me what parts of the registry need to be edited and in what way to turn off this "Please insert a disk in drive I" message.

I suspect the hard drive enclosures that XP Professional is not opening are in some way corrupted. Unfortunately, the error message is preventing me from using any diagnostic software to examine the hard drives in these enclosures. In this regard I'd be grateful to anyone who could suggest any good hard drive diagnostic freeware.

I thank forum members for their help in advance.

I very much appreciate whatever help members can give me.

Answer 1

1st,the diagnostic software that youre looking for from WDC,is a MS-DOS

utility.Download it from WDC,install to a MS-DOS formated floppy,boot pc

to floppy,it runs auto...As for the current problem,try going to run,type:

diskmgmt.msc

In msc,locate the hd,L.click on it,go to actions,all,select "make active",

close out msc..

You can also,type: cmd  in run,in cmd type: DiskPart  In DiskPart,type:

List disk  type: List volume  type: HELP  for all cmds...

Answer 2

Thanks for the suggestion. However, my problem is not specific to Western Digital. I am having the same problem using Seagate hard drives in NextStar hard drive enclosures.

Very many people have reported this problem with all kinds of hard ware by all kinds of manufactures. If you take the trouble to search the Internet using the phrase, "Please insert a disk into drive" you quickly realize that the problem is a software issue relating to Microsoft Windows. The software issue most likely involves Windows error messages and is solved by editing the Registry.

As proof of my assertions I suggest you read the Microsoft document, "PRB: Dialog Box Opens During Backup Process Prompting You To Insert Disk in Drive A".

Thanks for your suggestion anyway.

I very much appreciate your help.

Answer 3

Hi,

The issue you have posted would be better suited in Western Digital forums.

http://community.wdc.com/

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?lang=en