Hi, I don't remember how XP handles it, but older versions of Windoze will always check the floppy to see if it's there if the feature is turned on. It was invented for Laptops with removeable Floppy, but most of Windoze today still has Laptop junk. In 98 you will find it under Right click My Computer, properties, performance, file system, Floppy Disk. XP probably has something similar. It says "Search for new floppy drives each time your computer starts. Luck, Jim