Windows Explorer Does Not Refresh Disk Drives Automatically

Last reviewed: February 24, 1997
Article ID: Q132575
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you use Windows Explorer (Explorer.exe) to examine the contents of a disk drive, you see any of the following symptoms after you remove a disk from the disk drive and insert a new disk:

  • The right-hand side of the Explorer window continues to display the contents of the original disk.
  • The right-hand side of the Explorer window displays the contents of the new disk, but the left-hand side continues to display folders from the original disk.
  • After expanding the disk drive branch by double-clicking the branch or by clicking the plus sign (+) to the left of the branch, the left-hand side of the Explorer window displays folders from both the original disk and the new disk, and the right-hand side continues to display the contents of the original disk.

This problem may also occur with other types of removable media, such as CD-ROM or Syquest drives.

CAUSE

On most computers, Windows Explorer is not automatically notified when the disk in a disk drive changes.

-or-

The Auto Insert Notification check box has been cleared in Device Manager, causing media changes not to be reported by the 32-bit CD-ROM driver.

RESOLUTION

After you remove a disk from a disk drive and insert a new disk, refresh the Windows Explorer display by clicking Refresh on the View menu, or by pressing the F5 key.

-or-

To enable Windows 95 to update CD-ROM directory listings when you are using 32-bit drivers, follow these steps to enable the Auto Insert Notification option:

  1. In Control Panel, double-click the System icon.

  2. On the Device Manager tab, double-click CD-ROM, and then double-click the installed CD-ROM device.

  3. On the Settings tab, click the Auto Insert Notification check box to select it.

  4. Click the Close button. When you are prompted to restart your computer, do so.


KBCategory: kbtool kbui kbusage
KBSubcategory: posfest win95 appscomp
Additional reference words: 95


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: February 24, 1997
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.