With AIN (AIM is an accronym for AOL Instant Messenger) enabled, the PC
querries the drive once per second to see if a CD has been inserted. If
memory serves, this enabled the auto-run feature when it first was
introduced. On machines with it, you could enable/disable via Device Manager
by checking/unchecking a box.
It sometimes interferred with scandisk and/or defrag causing these utilities
to start over, and over, and over, ad nauseum. The issue was mainly with
Presarios made in late 1997 and early 1998, specifically, the 4800 and 4500
series machines.
HH

"Leachim Sredna" wrote in message
...
I'm intrigued HH.
Just what is AIM and how does one control/enable/disable it?
FWIW, I changed the original CD drive for a burner, but the accessing of
the
HD has continued as before.
Thanks,
Leachim

"HH" wrote in message
...
Dunno about Deskpros, but on some Presarios of that era, Auto Insert
Notification on the CD-ROM drive(s) could cause the HD LED to flicker
once
per second. Check in Device Manager in Windows and see if AIN is
enabled.
HH

"Leachim Sredna" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I was given an old Compaq Deskpro with a 350Mhz PII and 6 G Maxtor
hard
drive
(snip)
something regularly accesses the hard disk every two seconds or so,
like a clock or heart beat
....
the disk acessing would not allow Scandisk or
Defrag to get under way and complete...