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USB port problem: Drive letters changed

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Harpo, 2007/05/10.

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  1. 2007/05/10
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hello,

    I've got 2 USB ports on my 4-year-old IBM desktop that I use to access a flash drive. A few months ago, something went wrong, and I don't know what caused this new behavior.

    When I plug my flash drive into either port, it used to come up as drive E: by default. Now it comes up as drive F: by default.

    With the flash drive plugged in to either of the ports:
    - If I try to access drive E: through Windows Explorer, I get a message to insert a disk.
    - If I try to save to drive E: I get a message that says "The selected drive is not in use. Check to make sure a disk is inserted. "

    Drive E: shows up in Windows Explorer whether or not there is anything plugged in to it (drive F: does not).

    Can anyone tell me how to fix this?
     
    Harpo,
    #1
  2. 2007/05/10
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    It sounds as if you are suffering from phantom USB devices possibly caused just pulling the drive out rather than using Safely Remove Hardware. The additional drive letter could arise from having two USB drives plugged in simultaneously - Windows will give each a drive letter - and just pulling one out.

    The best shot at resolving this problem is to uninstall/remove all the USB controllers and root hubs through Device Manager, reboot and let Windows re-install them and start afresh.

    See How to prevent and remove 'phantom' devices - scroll down to Fred Langer's article.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2007/05/10
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi Pete,

    That was really interesting reading. I wonder how many other people out there don't know you're not supposed to just pull your flash drive out of the port!

    Per Fred Langa's instructions, I uninstalled everything related to the port. Here's a list:
    mass storage device (the original offender)
    composite device (no idea what this is - it wasn't there when I started)
    printing support (that wasn't there when I started either)
    my printer
    3 universal host controllers
    1 enhanced host controller
    4 root hubs

    Unfortunately, the phantom drive came back on reboot.

    What next?
     
    Harpo,
    #3
  5. 2007/05/11
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    update

    I've been working with this a little more this morning, and here's some additional info:

    Since uninstalling all the USB stuff mentioned above, now the Safely Remove Hardware icon is constantly present in the notification area, even though it is set to "Hide when inactive ".

    Since the icon is there, I opened the HotPlug Manager and "stopped" the "mass storage device" it still shows is active. Then I booted Windows Explorer and tried to access drive E:. Still no go. I fiddled around with my flash drive and the two USB ports, leaving the HotPlug Manager open so I could observe what came up each time I plugged in the flash drive.

    Also, I noticed that each time I "stopped" the device, I did NOT hear the ding-dong of it being unloaded.
     
    Harpo,
    #4
  6. 2007/05/11
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I will get back to you in more detail when I can, but in the meantime this thread is of interest .....

    http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/467043-problems-phantom-drive-letters-5.html

    Do you have Spyware Doctor installed?
    Is that sound enabled in Sounds and Audio Devices?
    The icon will only appear when removable drives are attached - AFAIK 'Hide when inactive' does not apply to that icon and Windows 'thinks' you have a drive attached - or a USB modem.

    Have you another USB drive to try?
     
    PeteC,
    #5
  7. 2007/05/15
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hello Pete,

    No, I do not have Spyware Doctor (never have).

    Yes, the sound is enabled (I hear it on a regular basis, just not while stopping the device).

    The safely remove hardware icon has gone back to hiding when inactive (its normal behavior).

    I searched my computer for all the KBs in the thread you provided a link to. I was missing KB905474 and KB892130. (I see that 5474 is related to WGA Notifications and 2130 is related to WGA validation! :mad: )

    I have been unable to download these two KBs - letting Windows Update search my computer does not reveal them as missing.
     
    Harpo,
    #6
  8. 2007/05/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Is the phantom drive shown in the Registry at ....

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

    Have you tried another USB drive?
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2007/05/16
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Yes, mounted drives are a, c, d, e, f, plus 16 volumes that look like registry keys.

    Re have I tried another USB drive: I've only got the two USB ports on the front of the machine, and I use them interchangeably. I've got a USB printer plugged into the back of the machine, and oddly enough, it's showing up as drive E: in the Safely Remove Hardware dialog. It appears as: >USB Mass Storage Device, >HP Photosmart C4150 USB Device, >Generic volume - (E: ).

    It also shows up under Safely Remove Hardware where I think it belongs: >HP Photosmart C4100 series (DOT4USB), >HP Photosmart C4100 series (DOT4), >HP Photosmart C4100 series (DOT4PRT), >Photosmart C4100 (DOT4PRINT)...if this info is helpful.

    Re the missing KBs, I have located and copied KB905474 from another networked computer. If installing it might fix the issue, how do I go about installing it so it works, as I'm sure just dropping it into the Windows dir won't accomplish this?

    BTW, since I review Windows Updates before installing them, I do remember when this particular KB came through, and I declined to install it, not liking WGA Notification's spyware-like behavior. What a headache this has caused! :(
     
    Harpo,
    #8
  10. 2007/05/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    In reverse order ....

    KB905474 - WGA has no bearing on your problem with USB drive letters. AFAIK that KB was only available through Windows Update. If you 'hid' it in Update, click on 'Show Hidden ....'

    Back to your first post now that you have mentioned a printer ...

    If your printer has an integral card reader then it will show up as a drive -
    Assuming you have a card reader in the printer can you access it if a card is plugged in?
    Before you installed the printer?
    But can you access it?

    If your printer does not have a card reader on board we have a whole new ball game :)
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2007/05/16
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I did select to show hidden updates, but none came up... The reason I mentioned the KB was because it was listed in the thread you referred me to the other day.

    I happen to have an XD card with me, which I plugged into the printer. It works.

    Hmmm. Now there's an interesting question. Because this has been going on so long, I can tell you that the phantom drive showed up approximately the same time as I got the new printer, but I couldn't swear that it wasn't there before I got the printer.
     
    Harpo,
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  12. 2007/05/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Seems to me that all is working as it should :)
     
    PeteC,
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  13. 2007/05/16
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    But I'm still stuck with the phantom drive...
     
    Harpo,
    #12
  14. 2007/05/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    If the printer is plugged in permanently it will always show up in Explorer because the card reader is seen as a drive, whether or not there is a card in it..
     
    PeteC,
    #13
  15. 2007/05/16
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    But the printer is plugged in to the BACK of the computer.

    And why does the printer show up twice in Safely Remove Hardware? (I've got a screenshot of that)
     
    Harpo,
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  16. 2007/05/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    That makes no difference - it is still in a USB socket - yes?
    Does it also function as a fax machine?
     
    PeteC,
    #15
  17. 2007/05/16
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Yes, it is in a USB port/socket.

    No, it does not have fax capability.
     
    Harpo,
    #16
  18. 2007/05/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Not being familiar with any HP printers I cannot tell you why it shows up twice in Safely Remove Hardware - post the screenshot by all means.
     
    PeteC,
    #17
  19. 2007/05/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    If you are not a Contributing Member you will need to post it on somewhere like Photobucket and post the URL here.
     
    PeteC,
    #18
  20. 2007/05/16
    Harpo

    Harpo Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Harpo,
    #19
  21. 2007/05/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Clearly HP printers are different from other printers the HP All in Ones are those which feature most on the BBS) - my Epson printers do not show up in Safely Remove Hardware. Obviously the drivers are written differently.

    I would judge that what you are seeing is completely normal and you will have seen that Drive E:\ listed there too.
     
    PeteC,
    #20
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