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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0008735MMW v4Otherpublic2013-01-30 01:53
Reporterlowlander Assigned To 
PriorityurgentSeverityminorReproducibilityalways
Status closedResolutionfixed 
Product Version4.0 
Target Version4.1Fixed in Version4.1 
Summary0008735: Is it time to review the need for IgnoreDriveLetters?
DescriptionAs Floppies aren't much in use anymore more and more people start using drives A & B for internal/external and mapped drives letters. This causes problems as this won't work. Isn't it time to maybe remove drives A & B from the default install IgnoreDriveLetters?
TagsNo tags attached.
Fixed in build1623

Activities

jiri

2011-12-27 11:29

administrator   ~0029634

Seems to make sense.

Alternatively, we could ignore only drives that return DRIVE_REMOVABLE on a call to GetDriveType() (see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa364939(v=vs.85).aspx ). However, 'removable' type doesn't have to be a floppy, so maybe stop ignoring any A&B would be better. Thoughts?

lowlander

2013-01-21 03:42

developer   ~0034546

I'm pretty sure the rational for ignoring A & B was because of floppy drives. I doubt many people have them installed and even if they have it wouldn't be a big issue (files would be unavailable when floppy is removed). So I'd remove this option, but leave IgnoreDriveLetters as a user option in the ini (ie. it isn't there by default like DBName, but users can add it and choose to ignore any drive.

jiri

2013-01-21 09:24

administrator   ~0034547

Ok, so to make a summary:

If we remove A&B from the ignore list, the risk is that for users on some older machines MM startup could be affected by an attempt to access these drives, accompanied by sounds of the drives. However, since it's probably _very_ rare to have a floppy drive, it doesn't seem to be a big deal?

One option would be to add an easy way to ignore a drive - e.g. a pop-up menu 'Ignore' on drive 'A:' would move the drive to the ignore list. That said, it probably isn't worth spending more time on this?

rusty

2013-01-21 15:54

administrator   ~0034555

Agreed--today, A&B are generally not any different than other drive letters, so no special treatment is necessary.

peke

2013-01-21 23:12

developer   ~0034563

Last edited: 2013-01-21 23:16

I know we already detect Type, but I added simple source code example to FTP that also check Drive type, but I guess it is using same calls.

NOTE: In past few years I have seen less and less Motherboards with Floppy controller/connector(Even BIOS is missing that option), also Netbooks, Ultrabooks, Tablets do not even have Optical drive.

Changed priority to Immediate for Triage as it should be easy to determine Type and easy to implement to check Drive type when using some MMW features and adjust behavior.

Additionally I do not think that anyone will play MP3 from Floppy.

peke

2013-01-21 23:19

developer   ~0034564

Last edited: 2013-01-21 23:44

NOTE: We should not forget that FLOPPY Drives are not bigger than 2.88MB so if media Inserted in A, B is Bigger than 2.88MB than it is not floppy drive. It is maybe Card Reader, but Floppy no way.

Additionally if we find the need we can read Plu'n'Play ID that can easily determine if drive is USB removable or FLOPPY (FDC\Generic_Floppy_Drive\) see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288326 and http://www-pc.uni-regensburg.de/systemsw/TECHTOOL/w95devid.htm (BIOS Floppy Disck Controller have PNP0700 id in windows drivers) I used similar ways to fingerprint My early commertial apps (back in early 90's) with Floppy Disk formatted for checking validity of program license.

jiri

2013-01-24 14:15

administrator   ~0034658

Fixed in build 1623 (new installations only).

peke

2013-01-30 01:53

developer   ~0034718

Verified 1623