What are those drivers for?

[jslmvl]

jslmvl (Vendor) Feb 12, 2008
Hi,

When click the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon, it shows "Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drives(F:, G: H: I".

My questions are:
1. What are drivers F: G: H: I: for (I know driver K: is for my USB key)?
2. The icon appeared although I didn't plug/connect anything. How to correct this?

Thank you in advance.

 

[smah]

Those drives are probably different slots on a card reader. These card readers are attached to the USB buss and will cause the 'safely remove hardware' icon to be displayed.

 

[mrdenny]

Look at the front of the PC and see if you have a builtin card reader setup. Many new PCs come with them built-in these days.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

My Blog

 

[jslmvl]

Thank you smah.

What is a card reader? Is that for connect a outside card?

I think displaying the 'safely remove hardware' icon is a mistake since I didn't connect any card. Moreover, in another Vista system (with the same hardware), there is no 'safely remove hardware' icon to be displayed.

 

[mrdenny]

A card reader is used for download data from SD, XD, MMC, etc memory cards. They are typically used in cameras, etc.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

My Blog

 

[jslmvl]

Thanks a lot, mrdenny.
Then, what are SD, XD, MMC, etc memory cards? I didn't plug in any card, why the 'safely remove hardware' icon is displayed?

 

[mrdenny]

Those are some of the various formats of memory cards which are available. If you have a card reader installed, even without a card in the card reader the safely remove hardware icon can pop up.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

My Blog

 

[linney]

Has anyone been connecting any Bluetooth Devices or Mobile Phones in to your machine in your absence?

Safely Remove Hardware
thread1583-1428409

 

[BadBigBen]

PS: Many all-in-one printer/scanner solutions, also come with card readers, and can cause this behavior...

here is an example of a HP all-in-one printer:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Photosmart-OfficeJet-2510-All-Printer/dp/B0000DIODF

note the card reader at the lower right side...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[jslmvl]

Thanks a lot for your helps!

In fact, I have got two Vista systems in the same PC. The 'safely remove hardware' icon is not displayed under the original Vista system but is displayed under the newly installed Vista system.

Do you think the problem is not caused by hardware?

 

[linney]

In Search Of 'Mystery' Devices

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

314464 - How to Troubleshoot Unknown Devices Listed in Device Manager

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314464&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

298504 - HOWTO: Avoid Unsafe Removal Dialog Box

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298504&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

292750 - HOW TO: View the Storage Devices That Are Displayed As "USB SCSI Storage Device"

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;292750&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/howto-07.html

Right-click your storage device drive icon/ Properties/ Hardware/ ( Select your device from list)/ Properties/ Policies. Of the two options for Write Caching and Safe Removal, what have you got checked there?

 

[jslmvl]

Thank you.

When left click the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon, it shows "Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drives(F:, G: H: I".
When right click the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon, it shows "Safely Remove Hardware" and without "Properties"

 

[Stella740pl]

Many all-in-one printer/scanner solutions, also come with card readers...

Or external hard drives.

 

[linney]

Do you have anything interesting listed at these locations?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Portable Devices\Devices

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

 

[jslmvl]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Portable Devices\Devices:
Have 10 items. 1 - 5 items pointed to "Removable Disk (k", "...(F", "...(H", "...(I" and "...(G"
and 6 - 10 items also pointed to "Removable Disk (k", "...(F", "...(H", "...(I" and "...(G"
item 1 is
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Portable Devices\Devices\WPDBUSENUMROOT#UMB#2&37C186B&0&STORAGE#VOLUME#1&19F7E59C&0&_##_USBSTOR#DISK&VEN_GENERIC&PROD_USB_FLASH_DISK&REV_2.01#20030615142150-01&0#
item 6 is
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Portable Devices\Devices\WPDBUSENUMROOT#UMB#2&37C186B&0&STORAGE#VOLUME#1&19F7E59C&0&_??_USBSTOR#DISK&VEN_GENERIC&PROD_USB_FLASH_DISK&REV_2.01#20030615142150-01&0#
the only difference is "##" and "??".

 

[linney]

I can only suggest (purely experimentally) is that you backup those Registry Keys and after that try deleting the entries for the nonexistent drives (not the genuine drives) and see what happens? You could also create a System Restore point before such action.

 

[linney]

If, like me, you are having trouble with your browser displaying this page properly. Copy and paste ...............the text into Notepad.

 

[jslmvl]

Thanks a lot for all the helps above.
I am thinking this is a Vista bug. Perhaps only few people will encounter this problem: Install two Vista systems in the same PC.

 

[smah]

You've never really answered the question - do you have a card reader built-in to your system or printer?