"Safely Remove Hardware" but no USB key

[jslmvl]

Hi,

I installed Vista system, every thing looks fine, except that when I open the PC there is an icon "Safely Remove Hardware" appearing in the right end of the status bar though there is no any USB key.
I am not comfortable for that. Can you help me to remove that?

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

It is probably referring to your optical drive. Have you clicked on the icon to see what hardware shows up?

Joey
CCNA, MCP, A+, Network+, Wireless#

 

[jslmvl]

Thank you for your response.
It shows "Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device" when click the icon, or "Safely Remove Hardware" when right click the ican.

 

[dilettante]

Hmm, have you swept for keyloggers? These can be either inline plug or cable form factor devices or might just be attached to the motherboard header pins of a USB port. ;-)

 

[jslmvl]

Thank you.
For some reason, I got two Vista systems in the same computer. This problem is only in the second Vista and there is no problem in the first Vista.
I think this problem is not related to any hardware.

 

[linney]

Why one Vista install would have this problem and a second Vista install on the same hardware does not is a bit odd.

Safely Remove Hardware
thread1583-1428409

 

[dilettante]

Some computers contain a flash memory card reader that shows up even when no media are inserted. This machine I'm using now does this.

I think it varies with the specific flash reader.

Do you show such devices in Explorer under "Computer?

 

[jslmvl]

Thank you.
How to check that device? I do not see anything like that under "Computer".

 

[dilettante]

Well if you have one that acts this way it should apear as one or more drive letters in Windows Explorer. I would think it might show up in Disk Management as well as one or more drives with "No Media" declared.

 

[linney]

In Search Of 'Mystery' Devices

http://langa.com/newsletters/2006/2006-09-21.htm#5

There is also Device Manager to check out, select the option under View to show hidden devices.

Some Devices might be mentioned in the "Change AutoPlay settings" (near the end of AutoPlay) in the Default Programs page, Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs.

 

[N0ktar]

There is no problem with your computer. I concur, it is probably referring to your optical drive. What is listed when you click the icon AND Safely Remove Hardware ?
New window should open listing your devices.

 

[jslmvl]

It shows "Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device" when click the icon, or "Safely Remove Hardware" when right click the ican.

 

[linney]

Has Vista set the drive letters of any hard drives, external or USB, to the same letter as another already used one ie. a mapped network drive, cd/dvd drive, etc?

 

[jslmvl]

linney,
I did make a new partition and got a new drive letter!!
However, there is no repeated letter.